<![CDATA[Corruption is a socio-political phenomenon that is deeply unsettling but has always been present throughout Indonesia’s history. This article dissects the genealogy of corruption in Indonesia and critically analyze it through the systematic reflection framework of Anton Bakker’s philosophy of history. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method is applied to collect, analyze, and synthesize literature data using a historical-philosophical approach. The findings reveal that corruption practices have been identified since the ancient Nusantara kingdom era through patron-client systems that facilitated the abuse of power. This pattern underwent massive institutionalization during the colonial period due to exploitative monopoly systems and has continued to evolve, permeating all sectors of life in the modern era. Bakker’s theoretical analysis exposes that the dimension of materiality—such as bureaucratic complexity and weak law enforcement—serves as the structural pillar of corruption, while distorted spirituality—marked by opportunistic mentality—strengthens the persistence of such practices. Human existential freedom, however, offers the potential for historical transformation through the reorientation of integrity and honesty values. A holistic approach integrating structural reform (materiality) and cultural transformation (spirituality) is concluded to be the key strategy for effective and sustainable corruption eradication]]>
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