Thing is the Dutch, English and German all have the same stereotypes though

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Corruption might be fought against in Belgium and Holland but it quite clearly still is omnipresent. I don't think there's some sort of unability to cut down on corruption though. It must be lack of will. That and the fact that it has deeper roots in Italy than in any other country.
It reminds me of the vendetta culture there was in Italy in the Middle Ages. Somewhere along the 11th century Italian cities started fighting over some catholic issue and they were still fighting in the 15th century when the issue had been resolved for over three hundred years. Somewhere along the way you just don't realise it anymore.