Thumbs Up or Down to Corruption? A Study of Inhabitants in Addis Ababa
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Corruption is on the agenda of the Ethiopian societies including residents of Addis Ababa. Some people have sayings and verbal encouragements to those who changed their economic life through corruption. Some others stand against it though their number seems insignificant. It is to have the real picture of the position where the residents of Addis Ababa stood this research was initiated. So that it raised some relevant questions. How do the people of Addis understand and perceive corruption? Do they recognize it as a problem that obstacles their personal and national development? Are they fighting or adapting it? Why in either case? What is the linkage between culture and corruption?
Quantitative and qualitative methods of research were applied in the data generation procedure. 500 questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected respondents in all the ten Sub Cities of Addis Ababa with almost 83 % return. A heterogeneous Focus Group Discussion was conducted and in-depth interviews were held with six key informants.
The findings of the research showed that the people of Addis Ababa recognized corruption as a major problem that hinders their personal and national economic problem. Both the qualitative and quantitative data showed there is no social sector or institution free of corruption but the government with its constituencies plays the leading role in getting infected with and diffusing corruption. Residents of Addis have both positive and negative reactions against corruption. They have the mentality of fighting it with the old values and norms still retained but contributing to diffuse and promote it mostly out of lost hope and lack of protection by the system. The societies in Addis Ababa have values that disapprove corruption but they also have encouraging gestures and appreciating paroles be it in despair or in choice.
In general, the research showed that the residents of Addis Ababa are not just showing their thumbs only one way, i.e., up or down to corruption. Most of them are against it regardless of their demographic variation. Nevertheless, still many of them seem that they are feeling powerless and losing hope on the system to fight corruption
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Social Anthropology