Is the devil dressed in greed? Toward a peaceful, just, and sustainable world order

Decades ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that corruption is inherent in the way governments function and cannot be curbed without government agencies changing their practices or reforming their states. Moreover, the integrity of leadership towards corruption and the zero-tolerance policy, as well as a transparent and non-discretionary policy, including the financing of political parties, are essential for a successful fight against corruption. Greed fosters corruption when descriptive norms or standards are low, promotes systemic failure, and increases inequality. In this study, I examined the related cognitive processes intermestically. In particular, I have researched the role of the UN (United Nations) in facilitating a “mafia-like culture of power with impunity” characterized by authoritarianism, which encourages low moral standards, psychological entrapment, stunted human development, irrational preferences, societal divisions, and negative herd behavior. Therefore, I advocate for a paradigm shift that embraces more humanistic approaches to governance, as well as systemic reforms to create a universal order with participatory democracies.