Family, Corruption, and Family Corruption

This chapter provides a sociological analysis of the family as a fundamental social unit, examining its connection to corruption. Beginning with an overview of the concepts and functions of family, the chapter discusses how kinship ties—biological, affinal, adoptive, and fictive—form complex networks of intimacy, power, and economic exchange. Families are depicted not only as private spheres of love and identity formation but also as structured social organizations characterized by norms, hierarchies, and instrumental functions. The chapter then shifts to the concept of corruption, contrasting utilitarian and constructivist approaches before presenting a novel sociological framework used in this book. Corruption is defined here as the covert transfer of organizational resources for the benefit of particularistic actors, typically in violation of formal rules. Finally, the chapter explores the concept of family corruption —the convergence of family and corrupt practices—as an under-theorized yet globally pervasive phenomenon. Drawing on classical sociological dichotomies, the chapter critiques the conventional view that the incursion of family into public and organizational life inherently leads to corruption. Instead, it advocates for a more nuanced understanding of family corruption.