Designing and implementing a national anti-corruption strategy is a long-term and expensive undertaking that will almost always require the assistance of the international community. This study does not explicitly provide recommendations for anti-corruption approaches of donors and/or agencies in fragile states, key elements are pointed out where they strongly affect the recipient governments’ political will and capacity for anti-corruption reform. Since the package of measures intends to provide governments with a range of options that enable them to assemble their national strategy, this paper is streamlined to anti-corruption measures in post-emergency or reconstruction phases of emergency situations.
Against the background of corruption, this thesis is based on the following structure; it starts with the international level, followed by the transnational and then national level. It then reverses back through the same levels. Chapter 2 sketches anti-corruption efforts by the international community and integrates them into the larger context of development and intervention policy. In addition the chapter outlines certain features of the UNCAC and depicts the work of the CECS. Due to the complexity of the phenomenon of corruption, chapter 3 provides a general background of corruption and profiles the many aspects of government corruption. It then outlines the (anti-) corruption situation and condition in fragile states, the principles of addressing corruption in such environments and the broader principles of an anti-corruption strategy. Chapter 4 intends to exemplify an anti-corruption approach in one country. It highlights key elements of the anti-corruption strategy to examine how they work in practice and to unveil the complexity of such a strategy. It points out the methodology of the country case study and explains why Sierra Leone was chosen. The historic background and the country’s development, as well as distinctive corruption processes are highlighted. Emphasis is put on assessing anti-corruption action taken by the two Sierra Leonean Governments after the civil war of 1991 to 2002, as well as on donors’ anti-corruption and reconstruction action. Chapter 5 then draws out lessons for tailoring anti-corruption strategies and promotes ideas and recommendations for a UN package of anti-corruption measures for governments of anti-corruption measures for governments in fragile states. Chapter 6 encompasses concluding remarks.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Role of the International Community
3. Corruption
3.1. Corruption: General Background
3.1.1. Definition of Corruption
3.1.2. Causes of Corruption
3.1.3. Forms of Corruption
3.1.4. Consequences of Corruption
3.2. Corruption in Fragile States
3.2.1. The Situation on the Ground
3.2.2. Addressing Corruption in Fragile States
3.3. Effective Anti-Corruption Strategies: One Size Does Not Fit All
4. Country Case Study: The Republic of Sierra Leone
4.1. Methodology of the Country Case Study
4.2. The Country: The Republic of Sierra Leone Against the Background of Africa
4.2.1. Similarities
4.2.2. Distinctiveness
4.2.3. Common Cultural and Historic Features
4.2.3.1. Cultural Commonness: The tradition of gift-giving and the primacy of the oral word
4.2.3.2. Historical Commonness: The Colonial Background
4.3. The Republic of Sierra Leone
4.3.1 General Information
4.3.2. Historic Background
4.3.2.1 The Colonial Era (1808-1961)
4.3.2.2. The Post-colonial Era (1961-1990)
4.3.2.3 The Civil War (1991-2002)
4.4. The Reconstruction Phase (2002- now)
4.4.1. The Kabbah Government (1996, 1998-2007)
4.4.1.1. Consolidating Stability
4.4.1.2. Reconstructing the State
4.4.1.2.1. Institutional Overview
4.4.1.2.2. Government Activity
4.4.1.2.3. Donors’ Activity
4.4.1.3. Profiling Corruption and State of Play
4.4.1.4. Assessing the Kabbah Government
4.4.2. The Koroma Government (since 2007)
4.4.2.1. Reforming the State
4.4.2.2. Profiling Corruption and State of Play
4.4.2.3. Assessing the Koroma Government
4.4.2.4. Challenges to the Koroma Government
4.5. Evaluating the Reconstruction and Anti-Corruption Process
5. A United Nations Anti-Corruption Package of Measures for Fragile States
5.1 Outlining the Content of the Package of Measures
5.2. Pointing out Certain Elements of the Package of Measures
6. Conclusion: Taking Forward a United Nations Anti-Corruption Package of Measures in Fragile States
7. Table and Charts
7.1. Organizational Chart: UNODC
7.2. Table: Pecking Order of Anti-corruption Reforms
7.3. Indices Charts
7.3.1. Chart 1: Corruption Perception Index
7.3.2. Chart 2: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of Corruption
7.3.3. Chart 3: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Sierra Leone
8. References
8.1. Bibliography
8.2. Legal References
8.3. Information on Providers of Internet Resources
Research Objective & Core Themes
This thesis examines the feasibility and potential content of a United Nations-led anti-corruption package specifically designed for fragile states. It focuses on the unique challenges of post-conflict reconstruction, exploring how corruption functions as a systemic driver of instability and assessing whether international, standardized anti-corruption strategies are effective in environments characterized by weak governance and neo-patrimonial structures.
- The systemic nature of political and bureaucratic corruption in fragile states.
- The role of the international community in post-conflict reconstruction and the limitations of standardized aid conditionality.
- Institutional and cultural roots of corruption, using Sierra Leone as a primary case study.
- The importance of moving toward nationally-owned anti-corruption strategies that account for informal power dynamics.
- Development of potential UN-supported mechanisms for systematic, long-term corruption prevention and state-building.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.2. Causes of Corruption
There is evidence that the dominant direction of causation is from weak governance, including high corruption, to a low growth rate, with only few exceptions to this rule. The relationship between different institutional structures and corruption is believed to be often quite strong as well, but the causal arrow may go both ways – from institutions to corruption and vice versa (cf. Rose-Ackerman 2006b: xxiii, xxv). Likewise, consequences and causes of corruption are difficult to distinguish, because the causal arrow frequently goes both ways, too (cf. Graf Lambsdorff 2006a: 4). There is empirical evidence supporting some of the claims that deep-rooted cultural, historical and social factors are the fundamental determinants of corruption. They also attribute to governance, the establishment of formal and informal institutions that constitute the rules of the game, the incentives of political actors and the opportunities for societal groups to mobilize. Besides, cultural and social factors are related to a country’s level of corruption. Reported corruption is high in countries, where family ties are very important. However, this does not imply that countries cannot escape their history, but that anti-corruption reforms in countries with background conditions associated with corruption and low growth may need to be more radical and far-reaching than in other countries (cf. Unsworth 2007: 2; Rose-Ackerman 2006b: xx, xxii). Cultural relativism alone cannot explain corruption, as proved by the fact that one common feature of corruption in government activity across the globe is that the public sector - specifically the fields public procurement, customs, taxation, police, provision of services and government appointments - is identified as the body most vulnerable to corruption in each country (cf. UNDP 2001: 13-4, 13-5).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the systemic nature of corruption and its destructive impact on developing nations, while outlining the research focus on fragile states and the role of international UN intervention.
2. The Role of the International Community: Analyzes the shift in international security priorities post-Cold War, the importance of "good governance" as an aid requirement, and the role of international institutions in supporting state-building.
3. Corruption: Defines the phenomenon of corruption, its various forms, and its deep-seated causes, specifically investigating the challenges of addressing endemic corruption in fragile, post-conflict environments.
4. Country Case Study: The Republic of Sierra Leone: Provides a detailed empirical investigation into Sierra Leone’s history, identifying how colonial legacies and wartime dynamics created the current institutional and political landscape, and evaluating the effectiveness of recent anti-corruption efforts.
5. A United Nations Anti-Corruption Package of Measures for Fragile States: Translates findings from the case study and global research into actionable recommendations for a UN-supported framework for fighting corruption in fragile, post-conflict nations.
6. Conclusion: Taking Forward a United Nations Anti-Corruption Package of Measures in Fragile States: Synthesizes the core findings, emphasizing the need for long-term political commitment, national ownership of reforms, and tailored, context-specific anti-corruption policies.
Keywords
Corruption, Fragile States, Sierra Leone, State-Building, International Community, Good Governance, Neo-patrimonialism, Reconstruction, Post-Conflict, United Nations, UNCAC, Accountability, Transparency, Aid Conditionality, Public Sector Reform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
This thesis investigates how the international community, particularly the United Nations, can develop effective, country-specific anti-corruption measures for fragile states that are transitioning from post-conflict reconstruction to long-term stability.
Which specific state is used as a case study?
The Republic of Sierra Leone is utilized as the primary country case study to examine how historical and cultural factors influence modern anti-corruption efforts and institutional performance.
What is the central research question?
The core research aims to determine whether a standardized United Nations anti-corruption package is feasible and, if so, what key elements must be integrated to ensure it is effective within the complex realities of fragile, post-conflict states.
How is corruption defined in this research?
In the context of fragile states, the study broadly defines corruption as the misuse of public office for private gain, while acknowledging that this behavior is often systemic rather than an isolated exception.
What is the significance of "neo-patrimonialism" in this work?
The concept is used to describe the governance structure in many fragile states where formal legal institutions co-exist with and are often undermined by informal, patrimonial practices based on patronage and personal loyalty.
What role do donors play in the anti-corruption process?
The work highlights that while donors act as essential catalysts and financial supporters, their efforts are often hampered by standardized approaches that lack national ownership and fail to understand local political dynamics.
Why did the author specifically choose Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone was chosen because it has recently moved beyond the initial post-emergency phase and provides sufficient data on both donor-led reconstruction and national anti-corruption initiatives, offering valuable lessons on both successes and failures.
How does the author evaluate the Kabbah vs. the Koroma government?
The analysis differentiates between the two administrations by looking at their institutional reforms, their cooperation with international donors, and their success in reducing corruption, noting the shift toward greater focus on "attitudinal change" and reform under President Koroma.
What is the main conclusion regarding a "one-size-fits-all" approach?
The thesis strongly concludes that such an approach is ineffective, arguing instead that successful strategies must be based on a precise diagnosis of a country's specific political economy, including both formal and informal power structures.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sarah Heitz (Autor:in), 2009, Anti-Corruption Measures in Fragile States. Adressing Change through a United Nations Anti-Corruption Package of Measures, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/308196
