Article Summaries
Squeezing a Balloon: Challenging the Nexus Between Organized Crime and Corruption
By Quentin Reed
In “Squeezing a Balloon: Challenging the Nexus Between Organized Crime and Corruption,” author Quentin Reed defines both terms, organized crime and corruption, emphasizing that they feed each other, and identifying in what kinds of activities they manifest themselves, namely drug and arms trafficking, human smuggling, bribery, and nepotism, to name some. Reed deals specifically with organized crime and corruption in Afghanistan, Latin America, Africa, and elsewhere in Eastern Europe and Asia, describing how the structures of organized crime groups, as well as their connections with various levels of the government in their host countries, vary according to culture, history, and other factors. He details the efforts both of local and transnational bodies, such as the UN, to combat organized crime and corruption, listing the pros and cons of each strategy. He then gives his own policy recommendations based on his research that would, as he sees it, fill the holes in the approaches that law enforcement, IGOs, and others have so far taken. In particular, Reed advocates for policy that is thoroughly research-based, focused on identifying the root causes—in detail—behind corruption and organized crime, and sensitive and adaptable to context. The full article is available here.
The Anatomy of a Failed Anti-Corruption Project: A Case Study from Nepal
Narayan Manandhar. “The Anatomy of a Failed Anti-Corruption Project: A Case Study from Nepal.” CMI U4 Practice Insight 2009.
In 2004 and 2005, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) implemented the first anti-corruption project involving the private sector in Nepal. Historically, the public sector had been cited as the major source of the corruption in the country, so this project’s approach was unique in its goal to address corruption through the lens of the private sector (“supply-side” perspective). The project, funded by DFID, aimed to reduce corruption by implementing an anti-corruption program and Code of Conduct in force for the business community; encouraging joint efforts among the business community, government, and civil society; and increasing awareness among the general public of the nature and cost of corruption to businesses and consumers.
In 2004 and 2005, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) implemented the first anti-corruption project involving the private sector in Nepal. Historically, the public sector had been cited as the major source of the corruption in the country, so this project’s approach was unique in its goal to address corruption through the lens of the private sector (“supply-side” perspective). The project, funded by DFID, aimed to reduce corruption by implementing an anti-corruption program and Code of Conduct in force for the business community; encouraging joint efforts among the business community, government, and civil society; and increasing awareness among the general public of the nature and cost of corruption to businesses and consumers. The full article is available here.
