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How social and legal standards define the abuse of power

Agency Corruption Learning Monitoring yourself Power

Time

30 min

Group size

5-25

Applicable to
digital tools

NO

Difficulty

5/5

Time

30 min

Group size

5-25

Applicable to digital tools

NO

Difficulty

5/5
Social and legal standards may be different, especially when we talk about abuse of power. This activity enables participants to learn what legal standards are and compare them with the social standards in various contexts
Social and legal standards may be different, especially when we talk about abuse of power. This activity enables participants to learn what legal standards are and compare them with the social standards in various contexts

THEORY OF REFERENCE

GOALS

  • Understanding the difference between social and legal standards to define and sanction corruption
  • Understanding how these standards can change depending on where we stand in space and time

AGE OF PARTICIPANTS

13 years old

METHODS

Brainstorming, teamwork

EQUIPEMENT

Two stories

MATERIALS

Two stories Download PDF

ESCAPE GAME

Not provided

Instructions

  • Read the stories (See ‘Materials’) to the group (10 min)
  • Discuss them in group using the questions proposed below (20 min)
  • Conclude about the activity following the suggestion ‘For youth workers’ (See ‘Materials’) (10 min)
  • Story 1
  • At the end, no one is prosecuted, and no crime has been officially committed. Still, both politicians are forced to resign from their office and leave politics for a while because of what they did (or did not avoid). So, what happened here?
  • Think about how differently the social standards are set in the two stories: do you agree that buying a chocolate bar with public money should be considered an abuse of entrusted power? Do you agree that sanctions were applied in the luxury watch case? Why? Do you think that the role of an entrepreneur in the watch case, or the fact that the minister did not directly benefit from the gift, can make any difference in the relevant social standards?
  • If the ‘chocolate case’ had happened in the second country, would there have been the same reaction? Similarly, what would probably have been the reaction if the ‘watch case’ had happened in the first country?
  • On a scale from ‘chocolate bar’ to ‘luxury watch’, what in your opinion can and should be considered corruption? Present your arguments and discuss with others.
  • Story 2
  • The stories above concern two European countries which you are familiar with: do you think it makes any difference if these companies made a corrupt deal at ‘home’ or abroad? Why?
  • How would you react if you knew that a company based in your country or region has paid bribes abroad? What about if a foreign company has ‘imported’ corruption into your country?
  • Think about the actors involved in these stories: who are the corrupt agents that profit from these acts of corruption? Who are the victims? Who should sanction the companies?

POSSIBILE VARIATION

Present the group with just one or both stories. You can also assign each story to one half of the group, then share and discuss the conclusions of both stories in plenary

DIGITAL TOOLS

Not provided
Momo — More Monitoring Action in the EU