Wikipedia is a source for basic information on anti-corruption

Wikipedia.com - the huge online "open" encyclopedia, has a political corruption section at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption

It is an interesting source of background on definitions, concepts, etc.  However, remember that Wikipedia allows anyone to edit information on

a page, so someone might post how a country has a really low ranking in the Transparency International anti-corruption index, and someone from

that country could edit that section out later.

Below is an extraction from the introduction:

In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse by government officials of their governmental powers for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of

government power for other purposes, like repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political

corruption. Illegal acts by private persons or corporations not directly involved with the government is not considered political corruption

either.

All forms of government are susceptible to political corruption. Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism,

patronage, graft, and embezzlement. While corruption may facilitate criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and

trafficking, it is not restricted to these organized crime activities. In some nations corruption is so common that it is expected when ordinary

businesses or citizens interact with government officials. The end-point of political corruption is a kleptocracy, literally "rule by thieves".

What constitutes illegal corruption differs depending on the country or jurisdiction. Certain political funding practices that are legal in one

place may be illegal in another. In some countries, government officials have broad or not well defined powers, and the line between what is

legal and illegal can be difficult to draw.

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