In the eyes of the Chinese public, government officials are venal, incompetent, and interested solely in getting lucrative appointments.

Admittedly, the country s dire economic condition and its urgent need for energy made the agreement venal in a way.

Just imagine a more virtuous Europe encountering a more decadent China, whose venal elites are starting to turn on each other?

Things have changed since the days when venal men from poor countries were paid off to further Western political or commercial interests. This still occurs, of course.

ALBERTA As the twentieth century neared, Pope Leo XIII, grieving for humanity s choice between atheistic socialism and venal liberalism, commissioned Catholic intellectuals to devise a better solution.

Understandably, the exposure of the IPL as a morass of deceit, discredited by spot fixing episodes engineered by unscrupulous bookies and venal players, has deflated such heady notions.

Moreover, Putin s Kremlin has used the West eager for engagement and a policy reset with Russia to legitimize its authoritarian rule and to provide opportunities for its venal cronies integration into Western society.

For now, in the struggle for the Russian soul, its venal politics seems to have the upper hand. But, although the country remains mired in violence and fear, there are signs of light in the darkness.

Zhao s campaign had been based on the widespread belief in China that while local officials or individual businesspeople may engage in venal or criminal activities, the central government, once informed of the truth, will see to it that justice is done.