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[Global corruption report 2003] Middle east and north africa
Leenders, Reinoud Sfakianakis, John
Leenders, Reinoud
Sfakianakis, John
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Abstract
"The incidence of grand corruption in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) declined in 2001–02 owing simply to reduced opportunities for ‘commissions’ as a result of an economic recession. Global slowdown, reduced investment in emerging markets and a fall in oil prices resulted in declining capital investment and a slump in construction and arms procurement.1 With the decline in real income, however, petty corruption was on the rise. Corruption among senior state officials and politicians was still considered rampant throughout the region. International efforts to curb corruption in the MENA region were hampered during the year by concerns about security, with ‘good governance’ conditionality rarely applied with great effect. Governments trumpeted the anti-corruption cause, but initiatives to curb corruption generally lacked sincerity. In a widespread climate of authoritarian rule, the root causes of corruption have failed to be addressed. Anti-corruption strategies are unlikely to achieve greater success in the future without the initiation of far-reaching political reform. Numerous corruption cases were brought to the public’s attention in 2001–02, but they were usually driven by a government’s need to improve its image or settle political scores, and did not signify real structural change. Civil society anti-corruption initiatives rarely translated into tangible change owing to the low levels of civil rights, freedom of expression and political participation that are prevalent throughout the region. Nevertheless, public opinion surveys suggest increasing public concern about corruption, and several NGOs across the region have focused on the issue. The MENA business community also indicated its concern about corruption, particularly because of its impact on foreign direct investment in the region. It is, however, often difficult to separate private sector venality from that in the public domain, given the intimate links between the family networks that hold power and the principal business interests in the region."(pg 203)
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Book chapter
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2003
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1861974760
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With permission of the license/copyright holder