14 Jan Bribery
Bribery
Definition:
The offer or exchange of money, services, sex, or other valuables to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of entrusted power. The benefit does not need to go to the official in question directly – it can go to a spouse, a child, another relative, a friend, or even to the official’s political party as a donation. A bribe is sometimes paid after the fact – for instance, in monthly instalments to the official issuing permits to street vendors as long as they are allowed to operate. This form of bribery is called a kickback. Bribery is widely criminalized, and both the party paying the bribe and the party receiving may be liable (see active bribery/ passive bribery). However, in practice, certain forms of bribery are often exempt from prosecution (see facilitation payments).
Source:
https://www.u4.no/terms#passive-bribery with edits from UNISHKA
Word in Use:
“By the time he was 30, Johnson had spent half his life in prison. A penchant for causing trouble, he was involved in bribery, thievery and pimping.” Biography of Bumpy Johnson (1905-1968)
See Also:
Equilibrium Bribes; Active Bribery; Passive Bribery; Yaochō; et.al
Colloquialisms
| Afghanistan | Money for tea; Beans for the kids | |
| Angola | Gaseoso | |
| Argentina | Cohecho; Soborno; Coima; Cometa | |
| Brazil | Propina; Jetto; Jetinho; Caixinha; Graxa; Troco; Nota; Acerto / A little coffee | |
| Bulgaria | Rusvet | |
| Cambodia | Tea money | |
| China | Huilu; Chaqian; Hongbao; Money for Tea. Chinese also refer to Zou Hou Mie, Meaning “the backdoor” | |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Something small; Swahili expression kitu kidogo literally means “a small thing”. | |
| Croatia | Mitto; Podmititi (v.) | |
| Czech Republic | Little carp or fish | |
| East Africa | Chai | |
| Egypt | Baksheesh; shay; The term ashaan ad-dukhaan means “something to get cigarettes with ”. | |
| France | Pot-de-vin; arroser (v.); graisser (v.); a glass of wine | |
| Gambia | maslaha | |
| Germany | Shmiergeld (“smoothing money”) | |
| Greece | Bakssissi; In Greek fakelaki means “a little envelope” | |
| Hausa (West African Language) | Toshiyar-baki | |
| Honduras | Pajada | |
| Hong Kong | Hactzien | |
| Hungary | Megvesztegetes; Kezet fogni (v.); Keno penz; Csuszo penz; Lekenyerezni; Lefizetni | |
| India | Rishwat; Baksheesh; Ghoos; Hafta; Chai-pani | |
| Indonesia | Suap; Pungli; Uang sogok | |
| Iran | Roshveh / Money for Tea; Beans for the Kids | |
| Italy | Tangento; Omaggi; Spintarella; Bustarella; the term Spintarella translates as “giving a little push”. | |
| Japan | On; Wairo; Kuroi kiri | |
| Kiswahili (East African Language) | Kutu-kidogo | |
| Malaysia | Suap; Duit kopi | |
| Mexico | Soborno; Mordida; Refresco; Gratificaci—n; Dinero por debajo de la mesa | |
| Mozambique | Gaseoso | |
| Nigeria | Kola; Egunje; Dash | |
| Pakistan | Rishvat | |
| Peru | Coima | |
| Philippians | Lagay; kotong; suhol; | |
| Romania | Rasplata | |
| Russia | Vzyatka; otkat; dat’ na lapu (v.); The Russian dat’ na lapu translates to “give something on the paw”. Russian language and culture contains a few more ambiguous phrases that conceal acts of bribery: dogovorit’sia or “come to the agreement”, pomoch’ drug drugu, meaning “help each other out” and ponimat’ drug druga,“to understand each other” | |
| Serbia | Mitto; Podmititi (v.) | |
| South Korea | Noemul; Gum eun don; dŸ don; chonji; custom called ttokkap or “rice cake expenses” in South Korea which includes giving envelopes; a glass of soju; Noemul means “giving goods in secret” | |
| Southeast Asia | Kumshaw | |
| Spain | Untar (v.); Soborno | |
| Sweeden | Muta | |
| Syria | Rashwah; Finjaan Ôahwa; A cup of coffee; | |
| Thailand | Sin bone; Tea Money | |
| Turkey | Rusvet; Cash for Soup | |
| Ukraine | Habar; Oplata | |
| UK | Bent | |
| USA | Bribe; Kickback, Payola; Sweetener; Backhander; Hush money; Grease; Wet my beak | |
| Zaire | Tarif de verre |
Comment
Bribery is thought to be around one trillion dollars worldwide according to BBC news UK, although UNISHKA believes this number to be grossly understated (“BBC NEWS – Business – African corruption ‘on the wane'”. bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22.).
Professor Matthew Stephenson (Harvard) has criticized the term “Passive Bribery” because of its connotation of being “less bad:”
Describing the act of taking (or demanding) a bribe as “passive bribery” is both an abuse of language and potentially confusing or misleading.” . . . It’s an abuse of language because “passive” doesn’t mean simply “being on the receiving end of,” certainly not in the context of a transaction. . . . Furthermore, to refer to [a corrupt official] as engaged in “passive bribery” is misleading because it connotes a kind of helplessness, or mere acquiescence. . . . These connotations are understandable because they are implied by the actual meaning of the word “passive,” but they’re often wholly inappropriate in the context of a bribe-taking or bribe-demanding official.
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