On Corruption: Tales from Latin America

by Ryan Butta

Corruption scandals continue to shake the political and business elite of Latin America. Across the continent there are daily revelations of misdeeds and crimes committed by those in places of power and privilege. These collected articles focus on the experience in Colombia where an economic boom attracted companies that were only too willing to buy favour to advance their business prospects and found a local business and political culture that was happy to accept their money. The fallout of corruption scandals in Colombia has impacted the country's ambitious development plans and the lives of every citizen in some way. Now as the fight against corruption becomes a catchword for the political elite, a new kind of 'lawfare' has evolved where even the honest can be targeted by their enemies under the guise of fighting corruption. These articles ask, 'What can be done when all is corrupted?'.

13 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2018

About the author

After starting out life on the opal fields of western NSW, Ryan was raised among the vineyards and horse studs of the Hunter Valley. His first work of historical non-fiction, The Ballad of Abdul Wade, recounted the previously untold story of the Afghan men that came to Australia in the1800s to work in the mining and wool industries. The Ballad of Abdul Wade was longlisted for the Indie Book Awards non-fiction book of the year for 2023. Ryan's latest work, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli, retells the remarkable life story of Harry Freame, a Japanese-Australian adventurer, soldier of fortune, Anzac, orchardist and spy.

Ryan's feature writing has appeared in the Good Weekend Magazine and he is a regular contributor to Galah Press, writing about the people and places of regional Australia. Ryan’s works of historical non-fiction look to reveal and understand the hidden and forgotten stories of Australia and the Australians who, like his own family, came across the seas to make their home here. Ryan believes that only by dismantling the myths of the past can we build the country of the future. Ryan now lives on Dharawal country on the NSW South Coast.