The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs
This article argues that civil society organisations (CSOs) play an increasingly prominent role in combating corruption in countries that have recently democratised. Democracy cannot survive without accountability, but in transitional democracies the formal accountability mechanisms associated with...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Institute for Social Development & Policy Research, Seoul National University
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38294 |
| _version_ | 1848755281336467456 |
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| author | Chalmers, Ian Setiyono, B. |
| author_facet | Chalmers, Ian Setiyono, B. |
| author_sort | Chalmers, Ian |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This article argues that civil society organisations (CSOs) play an increasingly prominent role in combating corruption in countries that have recently democratised. Democracy cannot survive without accountability, but in transitional democracies the formal accountability mechanisms associated with democratic governance are typically ineffective. “Horizontal accountability” in the form of check-and-balance mechanisms between various state institutions usually does not function well due to the poor capacity of state institutions. “Vertical accountability” through general elections very often fails to bring state actors to account. In such circumstances, we should not be surprised that corruption becomes endemic. In order to reduce corruption, therefore, emerging democracies need far-reaching political reforms to develop sound systems of accountability. But because many state and business actors represent groups with a vested interest in corrupt activities and which generally resist reform initiatives, this article proposes that initiatives for such reform are best generated by organisations based on political movements within the broader community, namely ‘civil society organisations’. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:53:49Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-38294 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:53:49Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Institute for Social Development & Policy Research, Seoul National University |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-382942017-01-30T14:16:29Z The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs Chalmers, Ian Setiyono, B. Democratisation in Developing Countries Anti-corruption Measures Public Accountability Civil Society Organisations This article argues that civil society organisations (CSOs) play an increasingly prominent role in combating corruption in countries that have recently democratised. Democracy cannot survive without accountability, but in transitional democracies the formal accountability mechanisms associated with democratic governance are typically ineffective. “Horizontal accountability” in the form of check-and-balance mechanisms between various state institutions usually does not function well due to the poor capacity of state institutions. “Vertical accountability” through general elections very often fails to bring state actors to account. In such circumstances, we should not be surprised that corruption becomes endemic. In order to reduce corruption, therefore, emerging democracies need far-reaching political reforms to develop sound systems of accountability. But because many state and business actors represent groups with a vested interest in corrupt activities and which generally resist reform initiatives, this article proposes that initiatives for such reform are best generated by organisations based on political movements within the broader community, namely ‘civil society organisations’. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38294 Institute for Social Development & Policy Research, Seoul National University restricted |
| spellingShingle | Democratisation in Developing Countries Anti-corruption Measures Public Accountability Civil Society Organisations Chalmers, Ian Setiyono, B. The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs |
| title | The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs |
| title_full | The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs |
| title_fullStr | The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs |
| title_full_unstemmed | The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs |
| title_short | The struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of CSOs |
| title_sort | struggle against corruption during the democratic transition: theorising the emergent role of csos |
| topic | Democratisation in Developing Countries Anti-corruption Measures Public Accountability Civil Society Organisations |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38294 |