Corruption in Russia Deters International Businesses
By Stephen Shepherd, Marketing –
The corruption rampant in Russia makes the country’s market a risky business partner for international expansion.
Our world is facing a toxic disease that is spreading like a cancer throughout many nations. We’re not talking about Ebola or any other physical disease in its literal sense, but a philosophy that is as deadly to democracy as violent wars or lack of education ― corruption in government and business.
We all know corruption exists, thanks in great part to the anxious and ever-active media. As rampant as corrupt behavior is in the U.S., I’m still thankful we don’t live in Russia.
Risky Business
Transparency International (TI), an organization that gauges nations’ levels of corruption, labeled Russia as “highly corrupt,” ranking it as more corrupt than 126 other nations in the study. This report card causes many to agree ― expanding international firms into the corrupt Russian market is simply too risky.
The risk factor increases as the country continues to ignore Interpol Red Notices, which are requests for international police cooperation in order to find and arrest wanted persons, usually with the end of “extradition or similar lawful action.”
Many trials in Russia are blatantly false, shady products of “political interference, corruption and the collusion of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials,” according to Amnesty International.
This rotten behavior is creating rifts in the country’s relationships with Interpol and other member nations.
The Cure for Corruption
What is the cure to moral decay in the world’s governments? What is to be done? A number of solutions have been concocted to combat corruption, from NGOs and stricter law enforcement to lie detection technology and social-media-driven protests. While all existing solutions spread awareness and help decrease effects of unjust behavior, the problem remains deeply rooted in the simplest unit of society ― the individual.
We know wealth, power and recognition are powerful motivators than can influence an individual to become corrupt, but what motivates us to be ethical?
