Why have anti-corruption efforts often failed? Current thinking on corruption has largely overlooked the profound implications of its contested nature, which paradoxically makes it an effective yet highly dysfunctional 'tool of government.' As a tool of government, it helps execute policies and guarantees a degree of political order. Moreover, anti-corruption measures are wielded as political instruments, strategically embraced by governments and oppositions to further their respective agendas. Based on an analysis of Russia, Brazil and the United States, Rethinking Corruption takes a fresh look at corruption and critiques the prevailing view of anti-corruption policies. Embarking on a captivating journey through these countries, this book encompasses the notion of legal corruption and invites a comprehensive reconsideration of corruption, with a focal point on questions of economic and political equality.