GV317-6-SP-CO:
Corruption
2025/26
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
18 September 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
In this module, we'll examine corruption, a global problem that is present in dictatorships as well as democracies, in developing and more developed societies alike. In particular, we'll focus on the impact of corruption on democratic regimes.
At the extreme, corruption hampers economic development, reinforces social inequality, and undermine democratic development generally. We start by defining corruption and discuss alternative tools to evaluate the extent of corruption within a given polity. We'll then examine the causes and consequence of corruption (both political and bureaucratic). Last, but not least, we'll evaluate existing strategies to contain and control this problem.
The module is meant to encourage students to think on their own, while ensuring that their thoughts are coherent and logically sound. At the end of the class, students should be able to articulate cogent answers to questions such as: Can corruption lead to positive economic outcomes? How does corruption affect the wellbeing of citizens and their satisfaction with democracy?
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce students to the topic of political and bureaucratic corruption, a global problem that is present in dictatorships as well as democracies, in developing and more developed societies alike.
The aim of this module is:
- To encourage students to think on their own, while ensuring that their thoughts are coherent and logically sound.
At the end of the module, students should be able to articulate cogent answers to questions such as:
- Can corruption lead to positive economic outcomes?
- How does corruption affect the wellbeing of citizens and their satisfaction with democracy?
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Online test |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sotirios Karampampas, email: s.karampampas@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Sotirios Karampampas
Please contact govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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