Approaches to understanding corruption in international and national legislation

affects all aspects of social life and consciousness, undermining the foundations of social values and state authority. The authors draw attention to the lack of a single definition of corruption in international documents, which calls for a deeper analysis and understanding of corruption. At the same time, it is emphasized that Ukrainian legislation, in response to this, is trying to provide legislative regulation of corruption, directing efforts to adapt to international standards and develop a comprehensive approach to defining and fighting it. It has been established that, compared to Ukraine, countries such as Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Finland approach the issue of corruption differently. They do not have a clear legal definition of corruption, nor do they classify it as a separate category of offenses. This approach is aimed at ensuring flexibility in solving issues related to corruption, adapting to national characteristics and needs. The review of scientific approaches to the definition of corruption also made it possible to demonstrate its diverse interpretation depending on the context and discipline. The analysis confirms two main directions in the study of corruption: as a criminal act and as a social phenomenon affecting various aspects of public life. In the first case, corruption is viewed through the prism of the illegal use of state powers for personal enrichment, while in the second case, it is seen as a manifestation of social problems, including the abuse of power. In the conclusions, the author states that corruption, as a complex multifaceted phenomenon, requires an integrated approach to its analysis and understanding, which covers both legal and social factors. The limited perception of corruption exclusively within the legal framework does not allow to fully cover all its complexity and multiplicity of manifestations. Thus, research on corruption and efforts to reduce it must be multifaceted, taking into account a variety of factors, including historical, cultural, social, and economic contexts.