Problem
Abuse of government power
Experimental visualization of narrower problems
Other Names:
Misuse of political powerAbuse of public power
Political coercion
Nature:
The abuse of power involves the deliberate use of power for specific aims that could not be legitimately justified since they are often for the exclusive benefit of power itself, for the maintenance of a political regime or of an unjust social and economical system. High public officials who, protected by their position, accumulate unjustifiably their wealth, undertake all manner of business, favour their protégés and receive donations or improper "commissions".
Incidence:
In the UK in 1994 a survey indicated that nearly 30% of those questioned believed that government was corrupt or abused its power.
Broader Problems:
Abuse of powerAbuse of authorityUnethical practices of governmentUnethical practices of government leaders Narrower Problems:
Parole violationForced confessionPolitical repressionCoercive enforcementMisuse of statisticsPolitical aggressionExtortionate bureaucracyAbuse in government policyExcessive extralegal powersBorder incidents and violenceIllegal search without warrantAbuse of bureaucratic proceduresGovernmental abuse of extraditionMisuse of food as a political weaponUnchecked power of government bureaucracyPolitical party manipulation of electionsInadequate assistance to victims of tortureUnethical practices of public service employeesMisuse of government surveillance of communicationsMisuse of nonprofit associations as front organizations by governmentCease-fire violations Related Problems:
Abuse of international cultural, diplomatic and commercial exchanges Aggravates:
Torture schoolsPolitical alienationPolitical mass murderInfringement of privacyForced participation in social processesExcessive leniency in sentencing of offendersInadequate system of political checks and balancesDifficulties in administrative organization in new states Reduced By:
Government limitationsStrategies:
CoercingUsing government power References:
Airaksinen, Timo: Ethics of Coercion and Authority: a philosophical study of social lifeBoggs, Carl: Social Movements and Political Power: emerging forms of radicalism in the west Subject(s):
Government → Government Government → Political
Government → Public
Metapolitics → Metapolitics
Societal Problems → Maltreatment
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
C: Cross-sectoral problems Date of last update
10.07.2019 – 19:34 CEST