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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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Looking Back at 2024: Reason to Celebrate

Looking Back at 2024: Reason to Celebrate

Looking Back at 2024: Reason to Celebrate

Three connected blogs from 2024 that stood out.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Catherine Garson, CJL

Jan 215 min read

Changing Social Norms: Essential Resources for Anti-Corruption Practitioners

Changing Social Norms: Essential Resources for Anti-Corruption Practitioners

Changing Social Norms: Essential Resources for Anti-Corruption Practitioners

There is a knowledge gap in how practitioners can change harmful social norms.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Alexander Behenna, CJL

Nov 11, 20244 min read

Navigating the Complexity on Gender, Faith and Social Norms that Drive Corruption

Navigating the Complexity on Gender, Faith and Social Norms that Drive Corruption

Navigating the Complexity on Gender, Faith and Social Norms that Drive Corruption

What have we learnt about gender and faith norms either exacerbating or mitigating pressure to engage in corrupt acts?

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Diana Chigas, CJL

Sep 13, 20246 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

Gender Norms, Social Norms and Corruption: Exploring the Link

Gender Norms, Social Norms and Corruption: Exploring the Link

Gender Norms, Social Norms and Corruption: Exploring the Link

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

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Paul Bukuluki, CJL

Jun 9, 20245 min read

Vote-Buying: Driven More by Social Norms than Economics?

Vote-Buying: Driven More by Social Norms than Economics?

Vote-Buying: Driven More by Social Norms than Economics?

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

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Richard Nash

May 17, 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

Do’s and Don’ts when Identifying Social Norms in Contexts of Endemic Corruption

Do’s and Don’ts when Identifying Social Norms in Contexts of Endemic Corruption

Do’s and Don’ts when Identifying Social Norms in Contexts of Endemic Corruption

Drawing on invaluable lessons learnt, CJL’s Co-Director offers some useful Do’s and Don’ts for identifying social norms.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church - CJL

Nov 12, 20235 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

Norms in Tension: tackling one corrupt practice strengthens others (and it might not be a bad thing)

Norms in Tension: tackling one corrupt practice strengthens others (and it might not be a bad thing)

Norms in Tension: tackling one corrupt practice strengthens others (and it might not be a bad thing)

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

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Nayma Qayum, Manhattanville College

Jun 18, 20238 min read

In Plain Sight: Questioning Assumptions in Anti-Corruption Programming for Law Enforcement

In Plain Sight: Questioning Assumptions in Anti-Corruption Programming for Law Enforcement

In Plain Sight: Questioning Assumptions in Anti-Corruption Programming for Law Enforcement

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

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Riccardo D’Emidio, University of Sussex

May 6, 20236 min read

When do anti-corruption messages work, and with whom?

When do anti-corruption messages work, and with whom?

When do anti-corruption messages work, and with whom?

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

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Jean-Benoit Falisse, University of Edinburgh

Mar 12, 20235 min read

Friends with Benefits: Corruption in Fragile State’s Best of 2022

Friends with Benefits: Corruption in Fragile State’s Best of 2022

Friends with Benefits: Corruption in Fragile State’s Best of 2022

Our editor chooses the top five posts of 2022.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Alex Ralph, CJL

Jan 6, 20234 min read

The Intersectional nature of social norms: so much more to learn

The Intersectional nature of social norms: so much more to learn

The Intersectional nature of social norms: so much more to learn

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

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Diana Chigas, CJL

Nov 30, 20225 min read

Making it worse: Descriptive vs injunctive norms in anti-corruption efforts

Making it worse: Descriptive vs injunctive norms in anti-corruption efforts

Making it worse: Descriptive vs injunctive norms in anti-corruption efforts

Mattias Agerberg diagnoses why anti-corruption messaging campaigns fail—and details what can work.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Mattias Agerberg, University of Gothenburg

Nov 13, 20226 min read

Unpacking corruption paves the way for social norms analysis

Unpacking corruption paves the way for social norms analysis

Unpacking corruption paves the way for social norms analysis

One-off, pattern, or corrupted system: Scharbatke-Church and Nash provide tips on how to unpack corruption to aid social norms programming.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church - CJL

Oct 1, 20226 min read

Addressing Bureaucratic Corruption: Advice from and for Practitioners

Addressing Bureaucratic Corruption: Advice from and for Practitioners

Addressing Bureaucratic Corruption: Advice from and for Practitioners

On-the-ground practitioners and researchers share lessons on designing social norms anti-corruption programs that work.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Jared Miller, CJL

Jul 1, 20227 min read

Collective Action, Corruption, and Social Norms: A Roadmap

Collective Action, Corruption, and Social Norms: A Roadmap

Collective Action, Corruption, and Social Norms: A Roadmap

Ella Hawkins provides practitioners with a road map to understanding collective action and how it can strengthen their anti-corruption work.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Ella Hawkins, CJL

May 26, 20226 min read

Civil Servants, Social Norms, and Corruption – What do we know and what do we do?

Civil Servants, Social Norms, and Corruption – What do we know and what do we do?

Civil Servants, Social Norms, and Corruption – What do we know and what do we do?

Jared Miller reviews three social norm resources to help us better understand and program anti-corruption efforts targeting civil servants.

SOCIAL NORMS AND CORRUPTION

Jared Miller, CJL

Apr 14, 20226 min read

From Talk to Action: 5 changes that I hope result from the USG’s prioritizing anti-corruption

From Talk to Action: 5 changes that I hope result from the USG’s prioritizing anti-corruption

From Talk to Action: 5 changes that I hope result from the USG’s prioritizing anti-corruption

Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church on why her recent State Department discussions gave her hope—and how we advance the global anti-corruption fight

CORRUPTION AND PEACEBUILDING

Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church - CJL

Mar 2, 20226 min read

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