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Bishops who live like princes: Bishop Tebartz-van Elst and the challenge of defining corruption

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 02:37 authored by Iñaki Albisu Ardigó, Dan HoughDan Hough
This article contributes to the debate on defining corruption. Rather than attempting to provide a definitive definition, it uses the case of Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, a German bishop from the diocese of Limburg who stepped down in 2014, to illustrate that the disciplines of law, political science, economics, and anthropology all make important contributions to understanding what corruption is and how it should be conceptualized. Seen through these different lenses, the article argues, the case of “Bishop Bling” can be understood in strikingly different ways. This has ramifications not just for the case itself but also for how analysts understand corruption more broadly. Adopting an overtly interdisciplinary approach does not represent a way to “solve” the definitional dilemma, but it can help analysts understand more about corruption’s multiplicity.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Public Integrity

ISSN

1099-9922

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

1

Volume

20

Page range

64-79

Department affiliated with

  • Politics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-08-24

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-05-18

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-08-24

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