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THE CORRUPTION IN
FRAGILE STATES BLOG

Bribes, Gratuities… and Passing the Buck

Bribes, Gratuities… and Passing the Buck

Bribes, Gratuities… and Passing the Buck

The United States is facing an emerging corruption problem that so far has drawn relatively little notice. Relying primarily upon federal prosecutors to check state and local corruption has always been a questionable strategy, and it is now about to become even less of a deterrent.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Michael Johnston and Oguzhan Dincer

Apr 127 min read

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Bribes, Gratuities… and Passing the Buck

Bribes, Gratuities… and Passing the Buck

Bribes, Gratuities… and Passing the Buck

The United States is facing an emerging corruption problem that so far has drawn relatively little notice. Relying primarily upon federal prosecutors to check state and local corruption has always been a questionable strategy, and it is now about to become even less of a deterrent.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Michael Johnston and Oguzhan Dincer

Apr 127 min read

Money Laundering: It's the Political Economy, Stupid!

Money Laundering: It's the Political Economy, Stupid!

Money Laundering: It's the Political Economy, Stupid!

We must not ignore the nexus between the state and the politically well-connected lobbies in business.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Sanaa Ahmed, University of Calgary

Dec 10, 20245 min read

Does Religiosity Provide a Shield Against Corruption? Not Necessarily...

Does Religiosity Provide a Shield Against Corruption? Not Necessarily...

Does Religiosity Provide a Shield Against Corruption? Not Necessarily...

Adherence to a faith does not mean no tolerance for corruption.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Aloysious Nnyombi, CJL

Jul 8, 20245 min read

Factors and Actors: Fundamental Elements of Corruption Analysis

Factors and Actors: Fundamental Elements of Corruption Analysis

Factors and Actors: Fundamental Elements of Corruption Analysis

Systems mapping and stakeholder analysis are two excellent tools for corruption analysis.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Peter Woodrow, CJL

Apr 26, 20245 min read

Addressing Endemic Corruption: There’s Reason to Hope

Addressing Endemic Corruption: There’s Reason to Hope

Addressing Endemic Corruption: There’s Reason to Hope

More effective ways to address endemic corruption are emerging, here are three from CJL's Jared Miller.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Jared Miller, CJL

Mar 17, 20246 min read

An Editor’s Three Provocations for the Anti-Corruption Field

An Editor’s Three Provocations for the Anti-Corruption Field

An Editor’s Three Provocations for the Anti-Corruption Field

A writer and editor on the anti-corruption field’s communication problem.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Alex Ralph, CJL

Oct 22, 20235 min read

Tired Language and Ineffective Reforms

Tired Language and Ineffective Reforms

Tired Language and Ineffective Reforms

Michael Johnston on the anti-corruption field’s stale language problem—and how it contributes to lazy thinking and ineffective reforms.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Michael Johnston, Colgate University (Emeritus)

Oct 1, 20238 min read

Fast Forwarding to Systems Maps of Corruption: Getting to Usable Analysis More Quickly

Fast Forwarding to Systems Maps of Corruption: Getting to Usable Analysis More Quickly

Fast Forwarding to Systems Maps of Corruption: Getting to Usable Analysis More Quickly

For AC practitioners, systems mapping is essential but also difficult. To lessen obstacles, Peter Woodrow proposes a scaffolded approach.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Peter Woodrow, CJL

Jul 9, 20235 min read

Who’s who? Rules of thumb for corruption stakeholder analysis

Who’s who? Rules of thumb for corruption stakeholder analysis

Who’s who? Rules of thumb for corruption stakeholder analysis

While consensus exists that stakeholder analysis is essential for any anti-corruption practice, we’re still missing a sound, usable process.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Rosemary Ventura, CJL

Nov 17, 20216 min read

The Limits of the Rule of Law to Address Systemic Corruption

The Limits of the Rule of Law to Address Systemic Corruption

The Limits of the Rule of Law to Address Systemic Corruption

To José Ignacio Hernández, calls to fight Venezuelan corruption through reinstating the rule of law are fool’s gold.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

José Ignacio Hernández, Harvard Kennedy School

Nov 3, 20215 min read

“Bad Apples” or Systemic Failure? What a European Private Sector Scandal Teaches Us About Corruption

“Bad Apples” or Systemic Failure? What a European Private Sector Scandal Teaches Us About Corruption

“Bad Apples” or Systemic Failure? What a European Private Sector Scandal Teaches Us About Corruption

Rosemary Lark uses systems thinking to illuminate the dynamic of private-sector corruption in Europe’s financial heart.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Rosemary Lark, CJL

Oct 19, 20215 min read

Three Things Matthew Stephenson Got Wrong

Three Things Matthew Stephenson Got Wrong

Three Things Matthew Stephenson Got Wrong

Bo Rothstein responds to Matthew Stephenson’s critique of his September 22nd post, “Three Reasons Anti-Corruption Programs Fail.”

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Bo Rothstein, University of Gothenburg

Oct 10, 20215 min read

Three Reasons Anti-Corruption Programs Fail

Three Reasons Anti-Corruption Programs Fail

Three Reasons Anti-Corruption Programs Fail

Bo Rothstein asks why so many anti-corruption programs have failed. His answer? Misapplied theory, poor conceptualization, and misdiagnosis.

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Bo Rothstein, University of Gothenburg

Sep 21, 20215 min read

The “Big Reveals” from Stakeholder Analysis can be Central to Effective Change

The “Big Reveals” from Stakeholder Analysis can be Central to Effective Change

The “Big Reveals” from Stakeholder Analysis can be Central to Effective Change

By Rosemary Lark, Practice Fellow, CJL Stakeholders wield formal and informal power and influence that can importantly impact reform. ...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Rosemary Lark, CJL

Jun 4, 20214 min read

The Cost of Democracy: How Dark Money is Funding Democratic Backsliding

The Cost of Democracy: How Dark Money is Funding Democratic Backsliding

The Cost of Democracy: How Dark Money is Funding Democratic Backsliding

By Jared Miller, CJL The most worrying parts of the 2020 election to me have not been the seemingly daily bombshells reported in the...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Jared Miller, CJL

Nov 8, 20206 min read

How Micro-corruptions Can Make Many a Journey Miserable

How Micro-corruptions Can Make Many a Journey Miserable

How Micro-corruptions Can Make Many a Journey Miserable

By Kim Wilson As part of the Journeys Project, I, with teams of Fletcher students, have explored the financial journey of refugees. We...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Kim Wilson, Tufts University

Oct 25, 20205 min read

Social Norms vs Anti-Corruption Laws: And the winner is???

Social Norms vs Anti-Corruption Laws: And the winner is???

Social Norms vs Anti-Corruption Laws: And the winner is???

By Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church Visualize this: you walk into a meeting in a government ministry office and one of the officials is wearing...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church - CJL

Oct 5, 20205 min read

Corruption: Is the Law Blindsiding a More Meaningful Discourse?

Corruption: Is the Law Blindsiding a More Meaningful Discourse?

Corruption: Is the Law Blindsiding a More Meaningful Discourse?

By Jane Ellis This post is based on the book Corruption, Social Sciences and the Law: Exploration Across the Disciplines. Edited by Jane...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Jane Ellis, International Bar Association

Oct 20, 20196 min read

Everything You Need to Know about Social Norms and Corruption

Everything You Need to Know about Social Norms and Corruption

Everything You Need to Know about Social Norms and Corruption

By Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church and Diana Chigas Did you know … … that social norms can act as the brake to sustainable behavior change? …...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church - CJL

Oct 2, 20195 min read

Top Three Challenges and Good Practices in Anti-Corruption

Top Three Challenges and Good Practices in Anti-Corruption

Top Three Challenges and Good Practices in Anti-Corruption

By Diana Chigas and Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church We were asked to identify the top challenges and “good practices” for developing countries...

CORRUPTION AS A SYSTEM

Diana Chigas, CJL

Jul 10, 20195 min read

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