When Power Corrupts

by Paul Russell

When Power Corrupts is the remarkable true story of Paul Russell, who arrived in Africa as a young police officer during the final years of colonial rule, never imagining he would stay, let alone dedicate his life to the continent.

Spanning decades and countries, his memoir traces a career confronting corruption, organised crime, and wildlife trafficking at the highest levels. From advising Presidents Kaunda and Chiluba to leading investigations across Zambia, the UK, India and beyond, Russell reflects with unflinching honesty on power, justice and personal integrity.

He exposes the uneasy truths behind donor aid, the dangers of unchecked authoritarianism and the hard-won lessons from post-war recovery work in Sierra Leone and Liberia to reform efforts in Bhutan, the Philippines and Nigeria.

A rare insider account, this is both a gripping personal journey and a call to a new generation-especially in Zambia-to question, understand and engage with the deeper forces shaping their nations.

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Paul Russell received his doctorate from Cornell in 1983 for a dissertation on the novelist Vladimir Nabokov and is currently a Professor in the English Department at Vassar College.

His fourth novel, The Coming Storm won the 2000 Ferro-Grumley Award for Gay Male Fiction.

His short fiction has appeared in literary journals such as Black Warrior Review, and Carolina Quarterly.

Reviews

[Michael Muntisov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essentially a memoir of an expatriate Englishman in Africa - predominantly in Zambia and Malawi - focusing on his law enforcement experiences. The title is somewhat misleading because it never analyses the premise of "When Power Corrupts" but rather describes his personal experiences. Also missing is any great insights into the lives of the locals. The main criticism I have is the lack of a map or two of Southern Africa and Zambia/Malawi as virtually all town and district names are unfamiliar to most western readers. But these are minor quibbles in the scheme of things. As a first-hand account of life in the expat community in Zambia and Malawi and the challenges of running law enforcement in those countries, it is a fascinating and well written memoir.

[Larry Sosebee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir of an Englishman, born in Upwell who moved to Africa. The book is based on his memories of the distinct phases in his life. He became a police officer in Northern Rhodesia, Zambia and Malawi. He worked on drug-trafficking cases, corruption investigations and wildlife conservation. This is a well written memoir. Not much is written about the locals. Well worth a read. I would like to thank Paul Russell for a free copy to write a review.

[Roberta Kruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read! Took me back to the years I lived in Zambia in early 70’s.