The difference, in my opinion, is that at least in Western countries people pretend this isn't acceptable behaviour and they go through lengths to make it less

The difference, in my opinion, is that at least in Western countries people pretend this isn't acceptable behaviour and they go through lengths to make it less obvious. You might view this as hypocritical or a charade - but when corruption becomes a social norm it kills trust in institutions and it spreads to every part of society, etc.