Imagine an area of the world marketing itself by taking great pride in these accomplishments to the point of highlighting them on a promotional web site:
- Our countries are the least corrupted nations in the world
- Our countries top gender equality ranking
- We lead the world in environmental sustainability
- Our economies are the most competitive in the world
- Our countries top information technology rankings
- Our countries: the world's best education
- We're the first to ban corporal punishment of children
Not just another white sandy beach. A list like this reflects both the shared values of community members as well as a deep commitment to taking on the longterm proactive work required to shepherd those values into a sustainable reality.
With little generalization, a short list of corresponding values would include anti-corruption, equality, sustainable environment, a competitive and forward looking economy, accessible high quality education, nonviolence and concern for vulnerable members of the community.
Integrity and anti-corruption
A campaign trail correlate of anti-corruption is integrity, both personal and public. Integrity, however, is both abstract and subjective. Corruption indicates a lack of integrity or honesty, and as a campaign slogan anti-corruption may come off as a little negative. On the other hand, anti-corruption is pragmatic, actionable and often measurable.
Approached as principle anti-corruption can become too vague, but in action it also can be too narrowly focused. The recent indictment of Kentucky's governor occurred against the backdrop of a high 2003 Lobby Disclosure Ranking. Answers promoting openness, accountability and public access were assigned higher values, and Kentucky ranked second.
Anti-corruption must also combat the hyper-technical. Legislated cronyism is an example of why integrity cannot be uncoupled from fairness.
Existing work
The hypothetical list at the top is a modified subset from a page on Nordic culture.
Transparency International is a global coalition against corruption with a wealth of reference material.
Available there are several key corruption measurement tools: the Corruption Perceptions Index, the Bribe Payers Index, the Global Corruption Barometer and National Integrity System Country Studies.
There is also an online guide for anti-corruption practitioners - the TI Anti-Corruption Handbook: National Integrity Systems in Practice and the TI Source Book.
An overview of the sourcebook content is available online
A quick perusal of the overview indicate not just one but several grassroots/ netroots functions in combatting corruption.
The first, and most temporal, is a watchdog function as ad hoc independent anti-corruption "agency" in the area of problem identification and detection.
As corrupt practices become ever more sophisticated, conventional law enforcement agencies are less well placed to detect and prosecute corruption cases. Specialised and independent anti-corruption agencies can present the advantage of being exclusively devoted to fighting corruption. The success of such agency depends on both the determination and integrity of its staff and the political will for it to succeed as displayed and fostered by country's leadership. Without proper resources, the guarantee of independence and inter-institutional support, the best-intended agency will fail to fulfil expectation. In a best case scenario, however, an ICAC can be an important part of a broader national plan of action.
Blogs and related outlets behave as a proxy for a free and independent media.
Availability of information is a prerequisite for the creation of an informed public, empowered to participate meaningfully in public debate and to hold those who govern accountable. It is fundamental to democracy itself. A free and independent media is the principal vehicle for taking information to the public. A free, independent, accountable and ethical media whose status is protected by the law and who is not subject to political or otherwise opportunistic leadership can assume an important watchdog function and act as an agent of awareness. Freedom of speech and information, however, has its limits where their dissemination goes against the public interest.
Primarily the netroots functions as a powerful voice of civil society
Civil Society
Civil society--the sum of organisations and networks which lie outside the formal state apparatus and that gain legitimacy for their actions from promoting the public interest on a non profit basis--has emerged as a central player in world politics. Adding a third dimension to the traditional public-private axis, civil society (i.e. non-governmental) organisations have effectively backed popular demands for greater accountability and responsiveness and helped to initiate important anti-corruption efforts. The institutionalisation of civil society participation is thus a major challenge and can add an important bottom-up dimension to conventional anti-corruption strategies.
From the handbook intro, elements of a serious and concerted corruption reform effort must include:
1. A clear commitment by political leaders to combat corruption wherever it occurs and to submit themselves to scrutiny (revisiting the need for immunities and privileges which may shield some from legal process);
2. Primary emphasis on prevention of future corruption and on changing systems (rather than indulging in witch-hunts);
3. The adoption of comprehensive anti-corruption legislation implemented by agencies of manifest integrity (including investigators, prosecutors, and adjudicators);
4. The identification of those government activities most prone to corruption and a review of both substantive law and administrative procedures.