It's been like that for millennia. SE Asia is filled with historically corrupt nations: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam. They are all corrupt.



My personal experience in SE Asia (I spent over two years there) is that Japan is the least corrupt. But even there they have purges now and then to clear out the corruption.





I think it stems from the historical fact that these countries have been or are ruled by dictatorships. And as you've probably heard, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Our Constitution was aware of that, which is why our US government has built in checks and balances...to keep corruption down to a minimum. I think it stems from the historical fact that these countries have been or are ruled by dictatorships. And as you've probably heard, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Our Constitution was aware of that, which is why our US government has built in checks and balances...to keep corruption down to a minimum.





The people there have no history of watchdog-ing their govts via democracy or otherwise. When a govt has no strong people oversight nor free press, corruption can grow easily.





Its mainly ingrained in their values towards lives and culture.

A shitty guy with shitty values and ethics will go and do what he does , regardless he is a Police,peasant or Politicians.

Its the Indivual People and Society that needs to be educated.

Most poor people are scared of speaking up.

Human rights are violated.







