Is a top-down approach (government approach) more effective in the fight against corruption or is it better to engage in social initiatives and involve civil society organizations in exerting external control on government activities?
Dear Abderrehmane I feel there is no state in the world where there may not be corruption. However, the corruption which is rampant in the developing world is so dismal and disastrous. Some people would be so corrupt that they are grabing millions of dollars...which makes these countries more vulnerable. What I believe the developing countries need strong law and order system which could be strong remedy to corruption in these countries. Sensitisation is also required through multiple agencies (Civil Society, Media, Unions, Pressure Groups, Interest Groups) and above all people themselves must feel that corruption is indeed a greater challenge to the developing countries and it is sucking the public money. The very irony with corruption is that it starts from the top therefore, until we dont have strong judicial system/imprtial judicial systme this mayhem could not be prevented. Sometimes it also happens that judiciary is also being controlled by the political class which becomes too much problematic. In totality we have to use all macro and micro methods so that we can transform our developing world from dissiease of corruption.
Hilal Wani Thanks a lot for the great insights, I would just like to add that during the past five to six decades, many initiatives and measures have been taken to curb this phenomenon but all efforts were fruitless. therefore, maybe there is a need for new ways and means by which we can change the status quo. Accepting corruption as a fixed reality is very problematic. If governments are unable or unwilling to deal with the issue then the people must take action individually or collectively through innovative and collaborative ways.
Binary (aka either–or, yes–no, polar, or black-and-white) questions suggest alternatives of which only one is acceptable: this is not likely to help much when issues are complex. Why should the fight against corruption be restricted to approaches by government OR civil society? Does the private sector not have a role to play? Anti-corruption initiatives will not succeed if they are made the preserve of this or that part of society or the economy: however difficult it may be to establish, an institutional (and legislative) environment that conduces, mobilizes, and capacitates cooperation across public, private, and civil society actors is what the fight against corruption requires.
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It's an exceedingly complex question and sits at the top of lists of wicked problems. Theoretically, I would argue, top-down approach is feasible in smaller and younger nations. Georgia is one fine example of this, how they jumped from one of most corrupt countries to among the least in the world. However, larger and older countries like India, which have immense diversities-culturally and geographically, along with a lack of resources and opportunities, corruption becomes a natural outcome.
It however, can be reduced, if not eliminated, by both top-down and bottom-up approaches. Bottom-up is to let civil society organizations and civic champions flourish. For instance, the kind of exemplary work that Grameen Bank has done, which spilled over into India from Bangladesh; it has alleviated numerous people out of poverty. There are a number of NPOs working for education at the grassroots.
Top-down efforts, which we have also found in our research, should be to promote innovative and norm-challenging officers. Bureaucracy is the vehicle for transformation. There are numerous civil servants who are agents of change and dedicate their lives to the upliftment of the society. But they get sidelined by corrupt and more connected officials who constitute the bureaucracy-politician nexus.
Corruption at every level occurs when common man does not stop it. Also, it is typically the street-level bureaucracy that promotes corruption. Thus, technology is a good solution to stop corruption on the streets and government departments.
At the highest level, it is the duty of every citizen to elect honest representatives.
Several mechanisms help to encounter corruption and make it up normal practice in developing countries , including : Civil society and the media can help by denouncing corruption and putting pressure on the government.
The private sector can also make an important contribution to the fight against corruption, by policing its own codes of conduct and sticking to high standards of governance. International and regional organisations can also help, as can bilateral aid agencies, via programmes to strengthen institutional capacity, and of course by ensuring the transparency of the projects they suppthe problem of corruption in the developing countries cannot be solved simply by applying anti-corruption structures that work in OECD countries. The experience the latter countries have acquired in terms of legislation, public procurement codes and control procedures, for example, is valuable, but it is just a technical element in a much more complex process of change. A reduction in corruption depends on economic development. It is thus for each country concerned to draw up its own strategy, by which it can then lead to a virtuous circle of development and good governance .
it should be a collective issue by all stakeholders i.e. both developed and developing countries (where the huge chunk of the money is taken to). As per the above commentator, civil societies, the press, private sector, regulatory institutions, the general public, all needs to be involved.
Corruption describes the culture that exists within an institution/community/country. So creating a culture of accountability enables all stakeholders to become liable for their actions. No one should be above the rule of law(be accountable, or be held accountable).
Bertin Ondja'a That is a very good point you have mentioned; I believe that the best way in curbing and minimizing the symptoms of corruption is by a continuous change of people's perception and/or behavior towards corruption. Creating a culture of accountability is certainly very significant in any anti-corruption efforts.
Sandholtz, W., & Koetzle, W. (2000). Accounting for corruption: Economic structure, democracy, and trade. International studies quarterly, 44(1), 31-50.
افضل استراتيجية يمكن اعتمادها في كبح الفساد المشتري في الحكومات العربية هو تفعيل مبدا من اين لك هذا
Involving stakeholders or their agents as in the case of the trio of
PTA, School Authorities and Local Education Authorities and notifying all of them of financial disbursements from government and what the grants are meant for helped greatly in curbing corruption in the educational sector in Uganda. I think policy makers should be initiating and implementing such pragmatic and innovative ideas!
Corruption in developing countries not only within the country, it starts actually from donor agency and from the topmost level. The fish rots from the head but the general people are more visible with their small corruption.
Just follow any theoretical approach or management theory then it's ok but unluckily who will do this?
A holistic approach of government, civil society, media and international organisation. each of these have a role to play in curbing corruption.
A more pragmatic approach is changing the operating environment as well as perceptions of actors especially within the policy making communities.
Good governance is highly important to make governace responsible, effective, efficient and transparent. I would say for curbing corruption in every state, then states must have strong institutions with strong impartial judicial system. If societies across the globe acknoledge this thing that corruption is a crime then there must be strong punishment for this crime. My point is states need to declare this crime as well as they have find out alternative agenda which is after declaring as crime then strong punishment should be declared to overcome this disaster.