In this HFG Research and Policy in Brief, Diana Chigas and Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church examine the corrosive interdependence of corruption and conflict and make the case for addressing these twin ills to secure a durable peace.

As conflicts in Afghanistan, Guatemala, South Sudan, and other countries have shown, corruption can become an entrenched feature of political economies and a major obstacle to building sustainable peace after a war ends.

Likewise, political violence can create opportunities for corruption to fester and grow. A better understanding of how conflict and corruption fuel each other is essential for effective peacebuilding and anti-corruption efforts.