| ABSTRACT | | | | that corruption in Africa has led to increased poverty |
| Corruption is both a major cause and result of | | | | and social inequalities. It also argues that the roots of |
| poverty and social inequality around the world. It | | | | corruption lie in poverty and unequal distribution of |
| occurs at all levels of society, from governments, civil | | | | resources in society. The paper will analyze how |
| society, judiciary functions, military and other services | | | | corruption leads to poverty and social inequality on |
| and so on. Corruption has been identified by the | | | | the one hand and how poverty and social inequality |
| World Bank, the IMF, the United Nations and other | | | | breed further corruption on the other hand. |
| International organizations as a major obstacle to | | | | In this paper I offer an argument I call the viscous |
| development, economic growth, social and Political | | | | cycle of poverty, social inequality and corruption in |
| stability. | | | | Africa . This paper illustrates that corruption in Africa |
| Statistics by the World Bank have revealed that | | | | leads to poverty and social inequalities and as |
| Africa has the worst corruption. Africa also has most | | | | poverty and social inequalities increase, levels of |
| of the countries grasping with poverty and social | | | | corruption also increase thus creating a vicious cycle |
| inequalities. Corruption costs African countries an | | | | of poverty, social inequality and corruption. Corruption |
| estimated 25% of its combined national income | | | | leads to more poverty and social inequalities and |
| This paper seeks to analyze the causes of poverty | | | | more corruption. |
| and social inequality in Africa . It will show that | | | | This paper will also show that if corruption in Africa is |
| poverty and social inequalities in Africa are a result of | | | | eliminated, Africa will also say goodbye to poverty |
| both internal (corrupt governments, inter-ethnic and | | | | and social inequality. This paper will make an analysis |
| religious violence and irresponsible economic | | | | of the attempts which have been made by African |
| management.) and external (unequal and unfair trade | | | | states to fight corruption, it will show that despite |
| agreements, undue political pressure applied by | | | | this fight, corruption is still prevalent in the same |
| wealthy countries and ongoing legacies from the | | | | continent, It will examine why the fight against |
| colonial past) causes. | | | | corruption has not yielded successful results, |
| The paper will examine the relationship between | | | | particularly looking at how the legal and institutional |
| poverty, social inequality and corruption and how | | | | framework in African states themselves facilitate and |
| these three phenomena interact. The paper argues | | | | enhance corruption. |