Corruption in migration management: a network perspective

Abstract

This article explores the relation between networks as an emerging mode of public governance and corruption. Adopting the theoretical lens of actor-network theory, the article investigates an Italian episode of corruption related to the awarding of government contracts for the management of Mineo’s CARA, Europe's largest reception centre for migrants. The analysis shows that a governance network may turn corruption itself into a network where abuse of power can proliferate thanks to the opacity resulting from the multiplicity of actors, interactions and fragmentation characterizing the governance system.

Corruption consolidation in local governments: A grounded analytical framework

“…Opacity is a key condition for corruption schemes to remain discreet (Ionita 2005; Berkovich 2016; Pianezzi and Grossi 2018; Sancino et al 2018). We defined opacity drawing from the literature and our findings, which allows us to see it as a lack of transparency in procedures (Bauhr et al 2019), reflected, also, in ambiguity and uncertainty (Chan 2001).…”

“…Alternatively, corruption is explained as part of a social institution or along a structural dimension (De Graaf 2007;De Graaf and Huberts 2008;Graycar and Villa 2011;Jancsics and Jávor 2012;Beeri and Navot 2013;Pianezzi and Grossi 2018;Persson et al 2019). These approaches include the focus on networks rather than on dyadic interactions (De Graaf and Huberts 2008;Jancsics and Jávor 2012;Pianezzi and Grossi 2018;Yu et al 2020).…”

“…Alternatively, corruption is explained as part of a social institution or along a structural dimension (De Graaf 2007;De Graaf and Huberts 2008;Graycar and Villa 2011;Jancsics and Jávor 2012;Beeri and Navot 2013;Pianezzi and Grossi 2018;Persson et al 2019). These approaches include the focus on networks rather than on dyadic interactions (De Graaf and Huberts 2008;Jancsics and Jávor 2012;Pianezzi and Grossi 2018;Yu et al 2020). These studies, for example, analyse cultural institutions to understand variations in what are considered appropriate relations between the individual and the state (e.g., Gupta 2005;Prasad et al 2019); and analyse organizational processes to understand the acculturation of newcomers in corrupt systems (De Graaf and Huberts 2008) and the normalization of the practices (e.g., Ashforth and Anand 2003).…”

Migration and the neoliberal state: accounting ethics in the Italian response to the refugee crisis

“…Several of them have been closed by the government following criticisms about human rights violations and corruption scandals. A case in point was the Mineo's CARA in Sicily, Europe's largest reception centre for migrants hosting over 2,000 irregular immigrants and closed in 2019 following a corruption scandal (Pianezzi & Grossi, 2018). Despite they are called "governmental centres", the management of these big centres is usually outsourced to non-governmental organizations through tender and with accounting mechanisms analogous to those that regulate the so-called CAS system described below.…”

Accounting can support a “sustainable” corruption network: a case analysis

“…Corruption usually moves from individuals who act in their own interests at the expense of an organization (as in the case of embezzlement), but it sometimes expands to involve a whole array of actors. Many studies have shown that public employees are often among the leaders of corruption networks (Beeri et al, 2013;Neu et al, 2013;Sargiacomo et al, 2015;Vaidya, 2019;Pianezzi and Grossi, 2020). Governments frequently announce anticorruption schemes, but they seem to have little effect.…”