Abstract

Introduction Government corruption remains one of the most pervasive and persistent challenges faced by societies across the globe. From democratic states to authoritarian regimes, the misuse of public office for private gain undermines trust, development, and social cohesion. Understanding the root causes of corruption requires not only political and legal analysis but also a comprehensive scientific exploration of the psychological, sociological, biological, and systemic factors that make corruption behavior manifest. Corruption, in its essence, reflects the failure of balance—between self-interest and collective interest, between power and accountability, and between human nature and institutional control. This paper applies insights from evolutionary psychology, sociology, political science, neuroscience, and systems theory to provide a unified explanation of why corruption emerges and persists in governments worldwide.