How to prevent political corruption - Stephanie Honchell Smith

Prevodilac: Jovana Babic Lektor: Milenka Okuka

On October 23, 2015, Mcebisi Jonas, South Africa’s deputy finance minister,

23. oktobra 2015. godine, Mcebisi Džonas, zamenik Ministra finansija Južne Afrike

faced a harrowing, yet enticing, decision.

suočio se sa užasavajućom, ali privlačnom odlukom.

He had thought he was attending a normal business meeting

Iako je mislio da prisustvuje običnom poslovnom sastanku,

but ended up in the home of the powerful Gupta family,

završio je u kući uticajne porodice Gupta,

sitting with the Gupta brothers and the president, Jacob Zuma’s, son.

sedeći sa braćom Gupta i sinom predsednika Džejkoba Zume.

Jonas was offered a promotion and $45 million.

Džonasu je ponuđeno unapređenje zajedno sa 45 miliona dolara.

In return, he would be expected to use his position

Zauzvrat, od njega su očekivali da koristi svoju poziciju

to advance the Gupta’s many business interests.

kako bi se zauzimao za brojne poslovne planove porodice Gupta.

This included firing officials who opposed the construction

Ovo je uključivalo otpuštanje zvaničnika koji su se protivili izgradnji

of new power plants,

novih elektrana,

which were slated to run on fuel from Gupta-owned mines.

koje bi radile na gorivu dobijenom iz rudnika u Guptinom vlasništvu.

The deal was simple— but would Jonas accept?

Ponuda je bila prosta, samo je ostalo pitanje da li će Džonas prihvatiti?

This kind of corruption in politics is nothing new.

Ovakav tip korupcije u politici nije ništa novo.

It plagued the ancient world—

Mučila je i drevni svet -

the “Arthasastra,” an Indian political treatise

Arthašastra, indijski politički traktat

that dates back to the 3rd century BCE,

koji potiče iz 3. veka pre nove ere

lists 40 types of embezzlement alone.

i navodi čak 40 vrsta samo pronevere.

So, what exactly is corruption, and what can we do to combat it?

Dakle, šta je tačno korupcija i kako da se borimo protiv nje?

Corruption is often defined as a misuse of a position of power for personal gain.

Korupcija se često definiše kao zloupotreba položaja zarad lične dobiti.

For example, this could be a city clerk accepting bribes

Na primer, to može biti gradski službenik koji prima mito

in exchange for issuing permits;

u zamenu za izdavanje dozvola,

or a mayor appointing a campaign donor to an influential position.

ili gradonačelnik koji imenuje donatora kampanje na uticajnu poziciju.

But corruption isn’t limited to the political sphere;

Korupcija nije ograničena samo na politiku,

it can happen in schools, sports, businesses, or religious institutions.

ona se može pojaviti u školama, sportu, firmama ili religijskim institucijama.

In ancient Greece, the power-hungry Alcmaeonid family

U Staroj Grčkoj, pohlepna porodica Alkmeonida

notoriously bribed the priestesses at Delphi to deliver false prophecies,

je bila poznata po podmićivanju proročica u Delfima da izriču lažna proročanstva

like telling the Spartans they should invade Athens.

kao kada su Spartancima govorile da treba da napadnu Atinu.

It may seem like all corruption is driven by greed,

Iako deluje da je svaki vid korupcije rezultat pohlepe,

but individual motives are often complex.

motivacije pojedinaca su često složenije.

There can be economic drivers,

Mogu postojati ekonomski pokretači,

like family pressure on an underpaid civil servant

poput pritiska porodice na slabo plaćenog državnog službenika

who exaggerates his expenses to get more money back.

koji preuveličava svoje izdatke da bi dobio više novca nazad.

This might not seem like a big problem, but corruption can snowball.

Ovo možda ne deluje kao veliki problem, ali korupcija može stvoriti domino efekat.

If anti-corruption laws aren’t enforced,

Ako se zakoni protiv korupcije ne sprovode

or if loopholes are continuously exploited,

ili ako se kontinuirano koriste pravni propusti,

a larger culture of corruption can emerge.

može se razviti šira kultura korupcije.

For example, in 2009, numerous British MPs were exposed

Na primer, 2009. je otkriveno da su brojni britanski poslanici

for using taxpayer money to cover personal expenses,

koristili novac iz državnog budžeta kako bi pokrili sopstvene troškove,

from home renovations to luxury purchases, and even having a moat cleaned.

od renovacije kuća do luksuznih kupovina, pa čak i za čišćenje kanala.

And corruption isn't always directly about money.

A i korupcija nije uvek vezana za novac.

In 2016, a Department of Justice investigation found widespread patterns

Godine 2016, istraga Ministarstva pravde otkrila je široko rasprostranjene obrasce

of unconstitutional policing, abuse, and corruption

protivzakonitog policijskog postupanja, zloupotrebe i korupciju

within the Baltimore Police Department.

u policijskom odeljenju Baltimora.

In just one elite task force, eight officers were convicted of crimes,

U samo jednoj jedinici elitnih snaga, osam policajaca je osuđeno za zločine,

including planting evidence and robbing citizens during traffic stops.

uključujući podmetanje dokaza i pljačku građana tokom zaustavljanja u saobraćaju.

Corruption like this causes people to lose faith in government

Ovaj tip korupcije dovodi do gubitka vere građana u vladu

and can deplete much needed resources.

i može dovesti do iscrpljivanja potrebnih resursa.

The more taxpayer money that goes into people’s pockets,

Što više državnog novca ide u džepove pojedinaca

the less there is to spend on services that benefit the community—

manje je na raspolaganju za projekte od javnog interesa -

like repairing roads, building schools, or providing healthcare.

popravljanje puteva, građenje škola ili finansiranje zdravstva.

In the case of South Africa,

U slučaju Južne Afrike,

the Gupta family plundered billions of dollars from the country’s funds

porodica Gupta je pljačkala milijarde dolara iz fondova zemlje

through their wide-ranging corruption schemes,

kroz svoje široko rasprostranjene metode korupcije,

devastating the nation's economy.

uništavajući državnu ekonomiju.

In Baltimore, the police department cost taxpayers more than $22 million

U Baltimoru, policijsko odeljenje je koštalo državu više od 22 miliona

in court settlements and gravely eroded public trust.

u sudskom procesu i ozbiljno narušilo javno poverenje.

So, how can we prevent corruption?

Dakle, kako možemo sprečiti korupciju?

While it’s important that laws set a high price for corrupt behavior,

Iako je bitno da se zakonski korupcija strogo kažnjava,

punishment is only one piece of the puzzle.

kazna je samo jedan deo rešenja.

Transparency in terms of budget and paper trails

Transparentnost u pogledu budžeta, javni pristup dokumentima

and support for freedom of the press are hugely important.

i podrška slobodi medija su od velike važnosti.

In Botswana, the government has built public trust

U Bocvani, vlada je izgradila javni fond

through their ongoing commitment to respond to corruption

kroz svoju kontinuiranu posvećenost odgovoru na korupciju

openly, quickly, and decisively.

otvoreno, brzo i odlučno.

In Denmark, government ministers must publish monthly reports

U Danskoj, ministri vlade moraju objavljivati mesečne izveštaje

cataloging their spending on entertainment,

kojima se vodi evidencija njihovih troškova za zabavu,

official travel, and any gifts they’ve received.

službena putovanja i primljene poklone.

As citizens, we can vote out those who engage in corruption

Kao građani, možemo na izborima ukloniti one koji se bave korupcijom

and question officials who push back against transparency measures.

i preispitati zvaničnike koji se protive merama transparentnosti.

And we can stand up against corruption when we see it.

I možemo se suprotstaviti korupciji kada je primetimo.

In South Africa, Jonas refused the Guptas’ offer,

U Južnoj Africi, Džonas je odbio ponudu Gupta

and despite threats against his life, spoke out,

i, uprkos pretnjama po njegov život, izneo istinu na svetlo,

exposing a sprawling web of corruption that toppled Zuma’s regime,

otkrivajući mrežu korupcije koja je oborila Zumin režim

and sent the Gupta family into exile.

i poslala porodicu Gupta u progonstvo.

But it wasn’t just Jonas’ revelation that mattered.

Međutim, nije samo Džonasovo otkriće bilo važno.

Once the scale of corruption was unearthed,

Kada je jednom otkrivena razmera korupcije,

everyday South Africans took to the streets,

obični građani su izašli na ulice

insisting that “Zuma must fall.”

insistirajući da “Zuma mora pasti”.

By using our civic voices,

Korišćenjem naših građanskih prava,

we can fight back to ensure that tax dollars don’t line pockets,

možemo se boriti da državni novac ne koristi samo pojedincima

but instead benefit everyone.

već svima.