The politics of anti-corruption reform in Africa

Lawson, Letitia

doi:10.1017/s0022278x08003662

Cited by 69 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Evidence from ' democratising ' African countries appears to undermine this position. Indeed, if data from Nigeria and Kenya, to cite two of the most stricken countries, are any guide, corruption, particularly in contemporary African ' democracies', remains a critical issue (Lawson 2009). In the case of Nigeria, the civilian regime's prosecution of an anticorruption campaign has ironically coincided with the reported theft of state resources on a scale that is unprecedented, even by the standards of the country's egregious history of official larceny.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When corruption fights back: democracy and elite interest in Nigeria's anti-corruption war

Adebanwi

Obadare

2011

J. Mod. Afr. Stud.

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This essay analyses the construction of the anti-corruption war under the civilian government in Nigeria between 1999 and 2008. We consolidate existing insights in the literature in three key ways. First, we show that in democratising contexts like Nigeria, the gravest threats to anti-corruption campaigns often emanate from a combination of intra-elite rancour and political intrigue. Second, we provide an explanation of what happens when, literally, corruption fights back. Finally, we suggest that where anti-corruption efforts are not backed by other radical institutional reforms, they fall prey to the overall endemic (systemic) crisis, a part of which,ab initio, necessitated the anti-corruption war.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When corruption fights back: democracy and elite interest in Nigeria's anti-corruption war

Adebanwi

Obadare

2011

J. Mod. Afr. Stud.

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“…While the measurement of the institutions in place for fighting corruption provided by Global Integrity (2008) is an exception to this rule, it only covers 18 sub-Saharan African countries. However, as previously mentioned, a large number of qualitative studies, as well as existing quantitative data, reveal that sub-Saharan African countries have in fact been the major target of good governance reforms (Kpundeh, 1998;Global Integrity, 2008;Lawson, 2009). Consequently, the formal-institutional arrangements in these countries closely resemble, or even reach a higher standard than, the formal institutional arrangements of many industrialized countries.…”

Section: Research Design and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A case in point would be sub-Saharan Africa. Given subSaharan Africa's status as the most thoroughly corrupt region in the world, there is no doubt that the African continent has been the major target of anti-corruption reforms (Kpundeh, 2004;Lawson, 2009). Yet, while Global Integrity (2008) ranks the anti-corruption laws of the majority of sub-Saharan African countries for which data exists "very strong" -suggesting that the formal-institutional framework has all it takes to pave the way for success -reality tells a very different story.…”

Section: The Limits Of Formal Institutional Constraintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As previously argued, owning the position as the worst-governed region in the world in general terms, sub-Saharan Africa has been the primary target of comprehensive institutional reforms in line with the good governance agenda (Kpundeh, 1998;Lawson, 2009). Yet, quite in line with the argument put forward in this chapter -holding that while formal-institutional arrangements might serve to sustain specific patterns of governance they are not the fundamental causes behind these patterns -the outcomes of these institutional reforms have been far from the expected.…”

Section: Research Design and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elites, Institutions and the Quality of Government

Dahlström¹,

Wängnerud²

2015

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The Executive Politics and Governance series focuses on central government, its organisation and its instruments. It is particularly concerned with how the changing conditions of contemporary governing affect perennial questions in political science and public administration. Executive Politics and Governance is therefore centrally interested in questions such as how politics interacts with bureaucracies, how issues rise and fall on political agendas, and how public organisations and services are designed and operated. This book series encourages a closer engagement with the role of politics in shaping executive structures, and how administration shapes politics and policy-making. In addition, this series also wishes to engage with the scholarship that focuses on the organisational aspects of politics, such as government formation and legislative institutions.The series welcomes high-quality research-led monographs with comparative appeal. Edited volumes that provide in-depth analysis and critical insights into the field of Executive Politics and Governance are also encouraged.Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world.Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataElites, institutions and the quality of government / edited by Carl Dahlström, Associate Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden ; Lena Wängnerud, Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. pages cm. -(Executive politics and governance) Includes bibliographical references. Summary: "Elite politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen hold the fortunes of societies in their hands not only because of their direct influence on politics, administration and economy but also since their behavior indirectly signals how things are done. How are elites persuaded not to use their privileged position to enrich themselves at the expense of the society at large? The answer from research, so far, is through formal and informal institutional constraints, which in different ways alter incentives at the top. This edited volume contributes to the knowledge of the interaction between elites, institutions and other constraints and how this affects corruption and other forms of bad government. It problematizes the incentives for elites and masses to fight grand and petty corruption, respectively, and demonstrates the importance of elite constraints for good societies, where infant mortality is low and life expectancy and satisfaction are high. It also explores the behavior of a largely unconstrained elite group, namely the diplomatic corps, and shows how corru...

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“…15 No. 1, Lawson (2009) "The politics of anti-corruption reform in Africa" (2009) 47 Ibid. 48 Otunsanya, 2012: p. 356. cerity of their commitment is in often doubted.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Money Laundering on the Economy of Nigeria

Oluwadayisi¹,

Mimiko²

2016

BLR

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The effects of economic crime can be more damaging than what analysts often describe especially in a developing country like Nigeria. For a long time, money laundering has become another terror threatening the growth of the economy such that it drags the wheel of governance and economic development. Beyond this general assessment, money laundering is a factor being considered in the National Budget, fight against terrorism and foreign relations between Nigeria and other nations. This paper considers holistic effects of money laundering on the economy of Nigeria. It adopts the doctrinal approach of methodology in researching available primary and mostly secondary sources of data in the analysis of various effects such as manufacturing of domestic products, socioeconomic, financial effects, political effects, oil and gas sector. The paper further considers many challenges encountered by the past and present administration in combating money laundering. It however suggests that government should take proactive measures to tackle the menace by daring to prosecute close political associates involved as a lesson to other persons that no stone will be left unturned in the fight against the menace.

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The politics of anti-corruption reform in Africa

Cited by 69 publications

References 23 publications

When corruption fights back: democracy and elite interest in Nigeria's anti-corruption war

When corruption fights back: democracy and elite interest in Nigeria's anti-corruption war

Elites, Institutions and the Quality of Government

Effects of Money Laundering on the Economy of Nigeria

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