PPT Presentation: Corruption (Sussex Centre for Corruption Research, February 2012)

Corruption February 1 2012

Dr Robert Barrington Director of External Affairs, Transparency International UK

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Agenda • • • •

Transparency International Cultural perspectives Measuring corruption Role of civil society

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Transparency International

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Transparency International

• Founded in 1993 • Chapters in 90 countries • Specialist anti-corruption NGO

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TI National Chapters around the world

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TI definition of corruption ‘Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain’

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Transparency International’s approach

• Zero tolerance • any bribery embeds corruption in the system

• Corruption has victims • Independent • Research-based • Change in emphasis on individual cases

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TI achievements • Public policy and debate • Putting corruption on the agenda • Keeping it there

• Frameworks/legislation • UK Bribery Act • Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative • UNCAC and other conventions

• Impact on the ground • Advocacy & Legal Advisory centres • 100,000 contacts, 3,000 cases

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Personal reflections

• Great integrity – funding, partners [eg FIFA] • Dominated by less developed countries • Cultural perspectives • Danger • Prestige and access • Collaboration and lack of NGO competition

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Cultural perspectives

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Islamic scholarship

“Allah’s curse be upon the bribe-giver and bribetaker” Hadith 1595 in the ‘Sunan of Abu Dawood’

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Common understanding • Arab spring • Business Principles for Countering Bribery • UNCAC

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Is it just overseas?

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A leaked Metropolitan Police investigation in 2006 estimated that there are around 1000 corrupt prison officers currently working, with a further 600 officers being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner.

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In 2009 alone, there were 10,090 prosecutions under the 2006 Fraud Act, with no indication as to how many may have included some elements of corruption.

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It is currently estimated that 38,000 people are involved in organised crime in the UK, and such activities cost the economy anywhere between £20 and £30 billion per year.

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A 2006 survey for the construction sector found that 41% of respondents had personally been offered a bribe at least once in their career.

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Is corruption always illegal?

Sometime illegal; sometimes unethical but legal: • • • •

MPs’ expenses Revolving door Political party donations Unregulated political lobbying

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Measuring corruption

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Measuring corruption • • • • • •

Why measure it?

What to measure?

Who should measure it?

How to measure?

How to present the data?

What to do with the data?

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Corruption Perceptions Index 2010

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How extensive is bribe-paying?

Global Corruption Barometer

[Transparency International 2010]

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Perceptions and reality: CPI vs GCB? [source: Corruption Perceptions Index & Global Corruption Barometer 2010]

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Measuring companies

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TRAC report • Survey of 500 companies globally • Data to mid-2007, publicly-available data • Rated as 1-5 stars • 7 companies scored 5 stars • 151 companies scored 1 star

• Scored out of 50 • 26 companies scored 35 or more • 108 companies scored less than 3 out of 50 • 75 companies scored 0 out of 50 23

National Integrity Study (NIS)

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Corruption in the UK

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Corruption in the UK

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Role of civil society

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What is civil society?

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NGOs

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Charities

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Church groups

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Unions

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Ordinary citizens

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Social networks

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Bloggers

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Roles for civil society •

Research

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Investigation

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Advocacy

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Awareness raising

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Organising

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Legal action

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Some characteristics of civil society

• Committed to a cause • Sometimes controversial • Relatively small organisations • International recognition • Occasional extraordinary successes • At times very powerful

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Some limitations of civil society • • • • • • • •

Under-resourced No direct power Enthusiastic but unprofessional?

Subject to intimidation and oppression Over-dependence on media?

Can be ‘captured’ Foreign interference?

What is the mandate – and who does it represent?

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Who is this?

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What’s the problem in Equatorial Guinea?

•President’s son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Salary as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment c. $4,000 $5,000 per month Source: Global Witness

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Some of his toys…

•The majority of Equatorial Guinea’s people survive on less than $1 a day Source: Global Witness

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www.transparency.org www.transparency.org.uk

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