Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
Anti-corruption strategies and
good governance.
A plea for an integrated and
multidisciplinary approach
Prof. Dr. Tom Vander Beken
PMIB & ACA Conference 2007
European Challenges in regard to International Development
Helsinki, 13 December 2007
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
1
Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
Overview
1. Good governance: standards for the other?
2. The new anti-corruption narrative:
technicians before politicians
3. Anti-corruption strategies, politics and
democracy
4. Challenges and opportunities for PMIB’s and
ACA’s
5. Back to basics: strategies and root causes
6. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach
7. Conclusions and recommendations
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
1a. Good governance
Governance describes the process of decisionmaking and the process by which decisions are
implemented (or not implemented). Hereby, public
institutions conduct public affairs, manage public
resources, and guarantee the realisation of human
rights.
Good governance accomplishes this in a manner
essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due
regard for the rule of law.
Governance and good governance are increasingly
being used in development related discussions (as
a condition for aid and loans)
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Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
1b. Standards for the other?
« Traditionally, national governance and corruption
challenges have been seen as a) particularly daunting
in the poorer countries, with the richer world viewed
as example or benchmark, b) anchored within a
legalistic framework and focused on the quality of
formal institutions, c) a problem of the public sector,
and d) divorced from global governance or security
issues, which are regarded as separate fields.[…] We
challenge these notions.[…] »
(D. Kaufmann, Director of Global Governance, World
Bandk Institute, 2007)
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Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
2. The new anti-corruption narrative:
technicians before politicians
The last decades, corruption and good governance
have become a technical challenge (send in lawyers
and police to reform and set up specialised agencies).
Political legitimacy is considered to « follow » if all
structures are in place and work.
What if politics do not follow?
What is the real relationship between good
governance and democracy in such case?
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
3. Anti-corruption strategies, politics and
democracy
Technical anti-corruption strategies
have the advantage that they can have a
(fast) visible impact. Ready made rules can
be implemented and model organisations set
up.
When these experts disconnect with civic
culture and « real » political life, their
rules and organisations will loose power and
efficiency.
Injected anti-corruption strategies might not
be able to survive a democratic test.
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
4. Challenges and opportunities for PMIB’s and
ACA’s
Police Monitoring and Inspection Bodies
(PMIB) and Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACA)
play an essential role in any anticorruption strategy or policy.
Although they need and should cherish their
independence, they cannot play their role
alone and in isolation.
They need each others support and
should try not to get disconnected from their
(legal and political) environment
(nationally and internationally).
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
5. Back to basics: strategies and root causes
Corruption is a complex phenomenon (corruption,
corrupt behaviour, « blurring of norms ») with root
causes at many levels.
Macro: good governance problems within societies
(political, economic, social,…)
Meso: problems related to the « culture » and
« structure » of the organisation
Micro: weak/bad individuals
A problem not related to the quality of the apple only,
but to the basket as well.
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Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
6a. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach
A strategy should not focus at one level of
root causes only.
Many different partners are involved.
All to be linked within one policy approach.
Including preventive and repressive aspects.
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Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
6b. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach
Prevention:
Macro: a political project with support; rules and
supervision and control, auditing, civil society role;
Meso: structure (auditing, pride and peer control,
ombudsman,…) and culture (transparency,
communication, management accountability, ethical
codes) of the organisational setting/department;
Micro: selection, training, financial disclosure,…
Good governance
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
6c. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach
Repression:
Macro: Efficient and effective anticorruption agencies and monitoring and
inspection bodies
Meso: Internal control (horizontally and
vertically), hot line, disciplinary rules and
enforcement
Micro: Remove and punish/sanction the
rotten apple
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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Prof. Dr. T. Vander Beken – Anti-corruption strategies and good governance – Helsinki, 13 December 2007
7. Conclusions and recommendations
Good governance is a challenge for:
- all states and actors at different levels;
- for anti-corruption strategies (and is not just the
aim or the consequence of it).
Anti-corruption strategies should therefore focus
on:
- more than technical aspects (rules and enforcers)
alone and be integrated in an overall policy project
with (democratic) support;
- root causes at different levels and be able to
connect relevant actors in a multidisciplinary setting.
www.ircp.org
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
[email protected]
T +32 (0)9 264 69 39, F +32 (0)9 264 84 93
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