Subject(s): Political corruption -- Fiscal system -- Great Britain -- Social forces, reform, Runciman's approach, military competition, problem of taxation, recapitulation -- Prussia/ Germany : Prussian reaction to French revolution, reforms to judiciary and bureaucracy -- France : Flawed fiscal system, attempts at reform, revolution and reform -- US : Civil service reform, political machine, city politics -- Britain in Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries : Fiscal system, fiscal reform, England after Napoleonic wars, reform of civil service -- Britain's Indian connection : Task of British government in India, struggle to end patronage, patronage debate, ideal of public service -- Evolution of independent judiciaries : France and Germany, malpractices in courts, impeachment of lord Macclesfield, basis of English judiciary's independence, judges, US -- Twentieth century : Changing nature of military competition, effect of cold war in advanced countries, habit of mendacity, cold war and competition for natural resources, bribery in arms trade, internationalization of government, position at end of century -- Britain in first half of twentieth century : Sale of honours and electoral reform, Lloyd George's electoral excesses, inter war years, mid century peak -- Britain in second half of twentieth century : Law against corruption, politicians, public service