In the framework of the forum "Corruption in Colombia: the worst form of violence", our CEO Eduardo Salcedo-Albarán was interviewed by El Espectador, about Corruption as a problem not only in Colombia, but also at transnational level. El Espectador questioned Eduardo Salcedo-Albarán about how this phenomenon works, and what is the proposal of Scientific Vortex to fight it.
How can social networks serve to combat corruption? In Colombia we have faced corruption from very traditional frameworks. In Vortex, through social networks, we have developed concepts, methodologies and technologies to be able to investigate both the micro level and the macro level of the agents involved in corruption. We also deployed analysis protocols identifying criminal structures, seeking to understand and analyze them according to their way of acting. What does neuroscience tell us about our tolerance for corruption? People are not as indignant about corruption as it is, usually, a robbery. The brain is very good at identifying cause and effect relationships that are very close to us. It allows us to receive and easily feel the pain of another person when we perceive it, something that does not happen with a bribe. It is one of the serious problems to understand corruption. From that point of study of crime, how do you perceive the situation in the country? In Colombia, crime phenomena, including corruption, have few referents in the world. We arrived at some scenarios in which already one did not average the payment of bribes or donations, are scenarios that became complex to investigate. There have even been criminal training processes in the development of lamentable sophisticated technologies. How to fight corruption if there is no transnational structure? In addition to the complexity of corruption in each country, it is important to understand transnational flows because, for example, money in a large-scale corruption case in Colombia does not remain here. Cooperation agreements have been established in many countries to combat crime, but they are insufficient. Society is at the mercy of such transnational networks of crime and corruption. What is the proposal of Vortex to fight corruption? The foundation's aim is to make institutions and the general public think of crime and corruption as an issue of transnational networks, that is indispensable. When we realize this concept, States will begin to carry out reforms in justice that will allow us to face this problem globally. Do you think that the forum "Corruption in Colombia. The worst form of violence, "really contribute to a change in mentality? This forum is indispensable. The number of myths and closed-minded approaches to corruption in all sectors of society, from the scientists investigating this problem, to policy makers and judicial operators is worrying. We have to understand that corruption is not an administrative issue, it is not only a matter of bribes or money, but is a problem that has very serious social effects and in some countries becomes a crime against humanity.
To see the full interview go to this link http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/la-sociedad-merced-de-la-corrupcion-director-de-la-fundacion-vortex-articulo-690025