Conflict of Interest as Structural Vulnerability

Sor Juana's analysis of power dynamics revealed how personal interests distort judgment and rationality. She observed how institutional hierarchies create dependencies that compromise integrity—how those seeking advancement compromise principles, how those fearing loss of status silence themselves. Modern conflict-of-interest frameworks operationalize this insight: requiring disclosure of financial stakes, separating decision-makers from beneficiaries, rotating officials to prevent entrenchment, and creating structural barriers between regulators and regulated industries. The goal is not to find pure people, but to design systems where ordinary self-interest doesn't produce corruption. This includes rules around revolving doors between government and industry, restrictions on officials investing in sectors they regulate, and transparent gift and favor disclosures. Juana's psychological sophistication suggests that individuals are not reliable—systems must be. Effective anti-corruption requires architectural changes that make corruption harder than integrity, not reliance on virtue.