When is bribery ethical?
Its a question of morals, and given the chance im sure most people would prefer a fair world where people didnt have to pay bribes.
However, I think its a question of consequence, When I was on holiday in Morocco staying in an all inclusive resort, it was expected for you to flash some money at the bar to get the barman to serve you first, and serve you better drinks! If you did not, you would simply be ignored. This was normal, and most people saw it as a but of fun, a game. The barman did not earn alot of money and so relied on these 'tips' to survive. In theory of course, this is a bribe, but no-one batted an eye lid at this game.
Thats because of the scale and effect of this bribe was small and insignificant, but what happens when you are talking about millions of pounds? When the bribe involves effecting the lives of millions of people, or feeding an inhumane and cruel foreign regime?
Is that when it becomes unethical?
What do you think about bribery? Have you ever paid a bribe? Do you think that as long as you dont know, it doesnt matter? Especially if it benefits you?
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It is a really difficult one really as in a lot of countries it is 'normal' for bribary to take place. It even happens in governments..
ReplyDeleteIt is a matter of culture, not being ethical or not. what is ethical in one country is not ethical in another country and vice versa. Here is a prime example of when cultures collide because to 'us' bribary is unacceptable and illegal yet to others it is a way of life.
Who is to say who's right and wrong?? I do not believe that it is right to bribe especially on a large scale but if I was brought up somewhere else, this may not be the case.
Do you think as a British company, that BAE systems just like any other company, should behave in a way that does not encourage bribery and corruption, as they are representive of our country in world business, or do you think its naive to think we can survive in the international world without playing the game like every one else? do you think it matters which industry we are talking about? is it ok for the arms industry and not others?
ReplyDeletewhat do you think?
I think, as Jenna has pointed out, Bribery is such a difficult issue to tackle when it is so normal in some countries, and not in others. Like you said you had experience of in Morocco, when I visited Egypt in the summer, it was normal to flash money at everyone to get them to help you with something, which here in England would be a bit strange, and flashy, but over there is completly normal!
ReplyDeleteSometimes bribery is needed in business, and yes what you don't know doesn't hurt you, but then again, what you don't know could be hurting someone else.