Difference between revisions of "Korapsen (Papua New Guinea)"

There might be reservations about seeking to understand ''korapsen'' through its vernacular meaning. As homonyms, ‘corruption’ and ''korapsen'' are indeed difficult to distinguish. Even speakers of Tok Pisin would find it difficult to articulate whether they were referring to the English or Tok Pisin meaning; and the research<ref>Walton, G. W. 2009. ''Rural Peoples' Perceptions of Corruption in Papua New Guinea''. Port Moresby: Transparency International Papua New Guinea</ref><ref><br>Walton, G.W. 2013. 'Is All Corruption Dysfunctional? Perceptions of Corruption and Its Consequences in Papua New Guinea', ''Public Administration and Development'', 33(3):175-190</ref><ref>Walton, G.W. 2015. 'Defining Corruption Where the State Is Weak: The Case of Papua New Guinea', ''Journal of Development Studies'', 51(1): 15-31.</ref> did not try to distinguish the two. However, if one is sensitive to the meaning of ''korapsen'' shared by local communities – whereby the definition of the concept is determined by the views of Papua New Guineans – is it easy to see that ''korapsen'' and ‘corruption’ are related but distinct concepts. The latter focuses on wrongdoing by those in positions of power, where ‘wrongdoing’ is determined by the rules and laws of the state. In a distinctly Papua New Guinean sense, ''korapsen'' is associated with informal practices necessary for the daily workings of the community and reflecting Papua New Guinea’s social, cultural and economic conditions.

There might be reservations about seeking to understand ''korapsen'' through its vernacular meaning. As homonyms, ‘corruption’ and ''korapsen'' are indeed difficult to distinguish. Even speakers of Tok Pisin would find it difficult to articulate whether they were referring to the English or Tok Pisin meaning; and the research<ref>Walton, G. W. 2009. ''Rural Peoples' Perceptions of Corruption in Papua New Guinea''. Port Moresby: Transparency International Papua New Guinea</ref><ref><br>Walton, G.W. 2013. 'Is All Corruption Dysfunctional? Perceptions of Corruption and Its Consequences in Papua New Guinea', ''Public Administration and Development'', 33(3):175-190</ref><ref>Walton, G.W. 2015. 'Defining Corruption Where the State Is Weak: The Case of Papua New Guinea', ''Journal of Development Studies'', 51(1): 15-31.</ref> did not try to distinguish the two. However, if one is sensitive to the meaning of ''korapsen'' shared by local communities – whereby the definition of the concept is determined by the views of Papua New Guineans – is it easy to see that ''korapsen'' and ‘corruption’ are related but distinct concepts. The latter focuses on wrongdoing by those in positions of power, where ‘wrongdoing’ is determined by the rules and laws of the state. In a distinctly Papua New Guinean sense, ''korapsen'' is associated with informal practices necessary for the daily workings of the community and reflecting Papua New Guinea’s social, cultural and economic conditions.

==Notes==

==Notes==