DIOCLETIAN’S REFORMS OF STATE ADMINISTRATION AND CORRUPTION LIVE TODAY?
DIOCLETIAN’S REFORMS OF STATE ADMINISTRATION AND CORRUPTION LIVE TODAY?

Summary/Abstract: One of the main areas of Diocletian’s reforms was the state administration. His interventions, made in the administrative mechanism, were so far-reaching and fundamental that there is almost nothing left from the old system. Diocletian's measures were aimed to strengthen the authority of the Emperor and to made states governance more centralized. Inevitably, those changes have resulted in the increased bureaucracy and also in the enormous enlargement in the number of civil servants. When entering the service civil servants take an oath, and they were also obligated to pay a certain sum of money to their superiors. In all those facts mentioned one should find the roots for bribery and corruption. In order to get to the position of civil servant, which has been appreciated and which provided certain privileges, one did not hesitated from giving money and other valuables. Attempts to stop the bribery and corruption with espionage and mutual denunciation were quite unsuccessful, as even the abuse of the secret police. The aim of Diocletian and his central government, which consisted in building well-organized administrative machinery, which would be able to manage all affairs of the state, was not met. Bribery and corruption are the main reasons for the failure of this well-conceived system. However, we should not forget that time in which Diocletian lived certainly require new ways of governance.

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