Corruption and Governance

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Until quite recently, issues of corruption and governance were hardly part of the political economy discourse. Some scholars even considered corruption to be a good thing in that it supposedly greased the wheels of economies and helped provide political access for some groups. Today, corruption is roundly recognized as a major impediment to sustainable economic development, democratization, improvements in human rights, the overall implementation of the rule of law, and even international security. From the role corruption played in mobilizing populations in the Arab Spring to the publication of the so-called "Panama Papers" to its role in security crises in Iraq and Afghanistan, corruption is now front-and-center of daily newspaper headlines, international summits, and academic debates. This class examines what governments are expected to provide their citizens today so we can better understand where corruption leads to perceived governance failures. It explores how different so-called syndromes of corruption manifest themselves in different types of states, as well as comparing and contrasting four leading theories of governance and corruption. This class also provides an in-depth analysis of the role corruption plays in issues such as economic development, intra- and inter-state conflict, checks and balances, quality of civil service, the international financial system, government procurement, and extractive industries. Additionally, it examines the latest research on what works in transparency, accountability, and counter-corruption (TACC) including civil society mobilization, governance reform, and international institutions.