THE CORRUPTION IN
FRAGILE STATES BLOG

Without deliberate attention to sustainability from the outset, even strong technical interventions remain externally dependent and struggle to outlast donor funding.

If corruption persists despite legal and institutional reforms, the explanation lies elsewhere. The decision to explore social norms was not theoretical abstraction but an empirical necessity.

Donor decisions made without attention to conflict dynamics or internal vulnerabilities can deepen corruption risks.

The conceptual understanding of endemic corruption as a collective action problem does not mean the field has mastered how to pursue collective action as an effective strategy for change.

Enthusiasm for adopting strategies to capitalize on the role of social norms in sustainable behavior change has varied significantly by sector. The anti-corruption and good governance fields seem to have come later to the party.

Gender norms and social norms matter: Paul Bukuluki offers insight into the intersection between these norms and corrupt behaviors

Challenging assumptions about the drivers of vote-buying: It’s not the economy.

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

Strategic Corruption must become part of the anti-corruption lexicon.

Corruption in Fragile States blog editor Catherine Garson chooses ‘five of the best’ from 2023. Find out what makes them excellent!

Conflict sensitivity in AC programs: Preliminary research shows how AC programs can unintentionally fuel conflict

Conflict sensitivity in AC programs: why standard approaches might not be enough.

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

Nayma Qayum calls for AC programming that better understands the demand side motivations of ordinary citizens and the rural poor.

To do good without doing harm: Lara Olson calls for anti-corruption programs to embrace conflict sensitivity.

How should anti-corruption programs address police corruption? Riccardo D’Emidio calls for rethinking individual deterrence and punishment.

Yes, corruption worsens conflict, but Scharbatke-Church and Chigas call for greater emphasis on knowing how and why.

How can anti-corruption messaging work better? Jean-Benoit Falisse provides lessons from the field.

Our editor chooses the top five posts of 2022.

Though intersectionality of social norms remains a black box, CJL’s co-directors suggest that programming may need to reckon with it.