TY - JOUR AB - The main aim of this article is to look at how corruption takes place through democratic practices and institutions, and their particular features, with the intention of considering their negative effects with respect to encouraging corruption. In addition, possible alternatives for such institutions are examined as well as their advantages and shortcomings for democracy, in order to detect if the existing practices are a “necessary evil”, or whether there are other means that could reduce and/or abolish corruption. After examination of the effects of lobbying, campaign finance laws, and electoral systems and their alternatives, it is concluded that such institutions and practices are vital for democracy, as their absence or eradication would put the democracy itself in jeopardy. However, only certain changes within such institutions can be taken in order to decrease the possibility of corruption without causing harm to democracy. AU - Bozena Fesiukaite DA - 2016/1// DO - 10.5526/esj27 IS - 1 VL - 8 PB - University of Essex Library Services PY - 2016 TI - Corruption through Political Practices and Institutions T2 - Essex Student Journal UR - http://publications.essex.ac.uk/esj/article/id/27/ ER -