Please read the case study entitled Mordidas that you find online. Based on what

Question

Please read the case study entitled Mordidas that you find online.

Based on what you have learned in this unit, answer the following questions:

About the bribery in Mexico City, not only is it the way things have been done as long as anyone can remember, but the process actually makes a lot of sense; it’s even very economically efficient because the middlemen are being cut out. Instead of having to pay an administrative staff to process traffic tickets, then accept deposits into the city’s account, and then redistribute the money back out as part of police salaries, here the money goes straight into the officer’s pocket.

What is cultural relativism, and how does the vision of ethics associated with it diverge from the traditional ethical theories?

The Mexico City process of getting and paying off a traffic ticket is different from the process in other countries. What values and advantages can be associated with the process in Mexico City? How can it be justified in ethical terms?

What values and advantages can be associated with the process of getting and paying off a traffic ticket in your country? How can it be justified in ethical terms?

How can the difference between the Mexico City process of getting and paying off a traffic ticket and the process in your country be converted into an argument in favor of the idea that cultural relativism is the right way to look at things? Does the argument convince you? Why or why not?

Submit a paper that is well constructed using APA format. The paper should be a minimum of one typewritten page (approximately 300 to 400 words) with an introduction and conclusion. This paper shall demonstrate use of standard written English with respect to: organization, grammar, spelling, composition, sentence structure, punctuation, and construction.

Explanation / Answer

Ans 1: Cultural relativism is the principle of regarding the beliefs, values and norms of that culture from their own viewpoint. The vision of ethics as seen through the lenses of that culture is different from the standard definition of ethical conduct proposed by the traditional ethical theories. Some practices which may be labelled as unethical elsewhere,may be perceived as acceptable in certain cultures because they don't see anything wrong in it, given the local conditions, customs and cultural elements that prevail there. The case here is the lower wages of policemen, that give such behaviour a social acceptance.

Ans 2: There is no such value associated with such behavior, because it discourages those who abide by the rules and encourages those who violate them, enticing more and more drivers to make a mockery of the rules, because they know that they will get away with it anyway. Once it is accepted that the process is ok, only chaos is the outcome. The only way it can be justified is that without these bribes, the policemen will not be able to make the ends meet in their day to day lives. This can be sorted out by making their salaries competitive.

Ans 3: In my country, the ticket is handed over to the one who has really violated a law, with its evidence like a camera grab or a recording for pprosecution to take place. Minor offenders are sometimes let off with a warning, while major offenders would have to be prpesent in the court of law and pay the fines. The cops don't harass the law abiding drivers, however, in remote and backward areas, such incidents do happen, though not frequently, and the targets are mostly truck drivers carrying cargo.

Ans 4: Cultural relativism may influence the way one looks at a practice that is seen in different manner in other cultures. A developing country is grappled by many ills like bribery, corruption, population explosion, illiteracy, unawareness, complex legal procedure, long and taxing process of conviction and red tape of bureaucracy. In this context, going through the legal and ethically correct way may be an extremely arduous task, leading to waste of time, money and efforts, thus people see the bribe as the most convenient way of getting the work done without ay hassles. When it comes in practice, there is hardly one who is bothered about ethical conduct. The factor of sympathy with low salaried policemen gives the practice a social acceptance, when it is seen as helping those who are paid peanuts.

Any effort to bring forced ethical conduct in a society like this, needs correction of many other causes that actually led the people to accept such practices as a norm.

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