Most familiar anti-corruption strategies
require sound state, social, and political institutions, and
a minimal level of trust, both in government and among
citizens. The absence of all or most of those assets is in
part what defines fragility. Another key attribute is an
'expectations trap', in which citizens expect very
little of government and government demands very little of
citizens, as long as they stay out of the way; in those
situations fragility can become a persistent
situation.
Using the
stresses-capabilities-expectations framework, this paper
analyzes the possibilities and risks of reform in fragile
situations. Reformers should be aware of contrasts among
kinds of corruption problems, and of the potential benefits
of 'halfway' reform outcomes. The first priority
means avoiding premature or poorly-thought-out reforms that
can do more harm than good-notably, steps that overwhelm a
society's capacity to absorb aid and put it to
effective use, and that risk pushing fragile situations and
societies into particular kinds of corruption that are
severely disruptive. The second imperative is essential if
complex collective-action problems are to be minimized, and
if reform is to draw broad-based support. A first step
toward greater trust is to provide basic
services-particularly those in which broad segments of
society share a stake incredible and demonstrable ways.
Then, gradual but balanced enhancements to participation (a
variety of stress) and institutions can build opposition to
corruption, in a climate of growing trust. Reform in the end
involves rebalancing stresses and capabilities so that
expectations can change in positive ways. The best ways to
demonstrate and assess anti-corruption progress is to
examine kinds of behavior, in civil society as well as in
politics and the economy, that reflect improving climates of
expectations and trust.
Details
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Author
Johnston, Michael
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Document Date
2010/09/01
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Document Type
Working Paper
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Report Number
62006
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Volume No
1
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Total Volume(s)
1
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Country
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Region
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Disclosure Date
2011/05/30
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Disclosure Status
Disclosed
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Doc Name
First, do no harm-then, build trust : anti-corruption strategies in fragile situations
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Keywords
Fragile Situations;leader of the opposition;institution need;segments of society;sense of insecurity;movement of fund;lack of accountability;provision of service;risk of corruption;absence of corruption;question of perception;law enforcement body;Rule of Law;benefits of corruption;social and institutional;measure of trust;civil society effort;mature market economy;quality of law;abuse of power;civil society action;post conflict situations;corruption problems;social trust;corruption control;political will;social institution;political party;political parties;reform strategy;institutional foundation;corrupt benefits;good governance;Government Performance;public good;political backing;material deprivation;institutional strength;institutional framework;international treaty;economic competition;political institution;corrupt individuals;property right;effective governance;natural disaster;economic institution;Public Services;Crime Prevention;common good;
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Citation
Johnston, Michael
First, do no harm-then, build trust : anti-corruption strategies in fragile situations (English). World Development Report background papers ; 2011 Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/749251468340804322/First-do-no-harm-then-build-trust-anti-corruption-strategies-in-fragile-situations