Prof. Dr. Tom Vander Beken PMIB & ACA Conference 2007

1. Anti-corruption strategies andgood governance. A plea for an integrated and multidisciplinary approach Prof. Dr. Tom Vander Beken PMIB & ACA Conference 2007 European Challenges in regard to International Development Helsinki, 13 December 2007

2. Overview • Good governance: standards for the other? • The new anti-corruption narrative: technicians before politicians • Anti-corruption strategies, politics and democracy • Challenges and opportunities for PMIB’s and ACA’s • Back to basics: strategies and root causes • A multidisciplinary and integrated approach • Conclusions and recommendations

3. 1a. Good governance Governance describes the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Hereby, public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources, and guarantee the realisation of human rights. Good governance accomplishes this in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law. Governance and good governance are increasingly being used in development related discussions (as a condition for aid and loans)

4. 1b. Standards for the other? « Traditionally, national governance and corruption challenges have been seen as a) particularly daunting in the poorer countries, with the richer world viewed as example or benchmark, b) anchored within a legalistic framework and focused on the quality of formal institutions, c) a problem of the public sector, and d) divorced from global governance or security issues, which are regarded as separate fields.[…] We challenge these notions.[…] » (D. Kaufmann, Director of Global Governance, World Bandk Institute, 2007)

5. 2. The new anti-corruption narrative: technicians before politicians The last decades, corruption and good governance have become a technical challenge (send in lawyers and police to reform and set up specialised agencies). Political legitimacy is considered to « follow » if all structures are in place and work. What if politics do not follow? What is the real relationship between good governance and democracy in such case?

6. 3. Anti-corruption strategies, politics and democracy Technical anti-corruption strategies have the advantage that they can have a (fast) visible impact. Ready made rules can be implemented and model organisations set up. When these experts disconnect with civic culture and « real » political life, their rules and organisations will loose power and efficiency. Injected anti-corruption strategies might not be able to survive a democratic test.

7. 4. Challenges and opportunities for PMIB’s and ACA’s Police Monitoring and Inspection Bodies (PMIB) and Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACA) play an essential role in any anti-corruption strategy or policy. Although they need and should cherish their independence, they cannot play their role alone and in isolation. They need each others support and should try not to get disconnected from their (legal and political) environment (nationally and internationally).

8. 5. Back to basics: strategies and root causes Corruption is a complex phenomenon (corruption, corrupt behaviour, « blurring of norms ») with root causes at many levels. Macro: good governance problems within societies (political, economic, social,…) Meso: problems related to the « culture » and « structure » of the organisation Micro: weak/bad individuals A problem not related to the quality of the apple only, but to the basket as well.

9. 6a. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach A strategy should not focus at one level of root causes only. Many different partners are involved. All to be linked within one policy approach. Including preventive and repressive aspects.

10. 6b. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach Prevention: Macro: a political project with support; rules and supervision and control, auditing, civil society role; Meso: structure (auditing, pride and peer control, ombudsman,…) and culture (transparency, communication, management accountability, ethical codes) of the organisational setting/department; Micro: selection, training, financial disclosure,… Good governance

11. 6c. A multidisciplinary and integrated approach Repression: Macro: Efficient and effective anti-corruption agencies and monitoring and inspection bodies Meso: Internal control (horizontally and vertically), hot line, disciplinary rules and enforcement Micro: Remove and punish/sanction the rotten apple

12. 7. Conclusions and recommendations Good governance is a challenge for: - all states and actors at different levels; - for anti-corruption strategies (and is not just the aim or the consequence of it). Anti-corruption strategies should therefore focus on: - more than technical aspects (rules and enforcers) alone and be integrated in an overall policy project with (democratic) support; - root causes at different levels and be able to connect relevant actors in a multidisciplinary setting.