Is Gene the Real Cause of Corruption?

Abstract

          This article aims to explain gene and corruption. One of Thai political problems is corruption which has many types of it as follows: 1) the pursuit of economic rent, such as monopoly, market share; 2) taking the government resources into the family, such as privatization; 3) conflict of interest; 4) using of political influence to benefit from the stock market; 5) concealed the unfair administration, etc. Do these types concerned with gene? According to Richard Dawkins, human beings are selfish which is in general gene. But gene does not influence to decision or conscious mind of human beings. In Buddhist view, corruption has occurred from unwholesome root of mind (Akusala Mulla), such as desire, hatred, and delusion which are the inner factors of human beings and these are related to external factors. Hence, human beings’ gene is not only the cause of corruption but also has another factor to influence. A person will be a good or bad depends on his behaviors which are related to external environment.

          In final, Thai political problems which occurred from corruption are analyzed as follows: 1) it happed from desires which are immorality of human beings; 2) it happened from politics and economics which are not related to good governance; 3) it is because of politics without checks and balances; 4) it is concerned with the patronage system and pyramid structure of Thai society, for example patron-cousin system, patron-friend system, patron-organization system, and patron-career system; 5) actions (Karma) which are from two factors: (1) inner factors mean defilement; and (2) external factors mean social structure that supports to make a mistake.