Explaining why anti-corruption tools are differently implemented at country levels : A comparative study of Botswana, Cameroon, Singapore and Switzerland
Author: Eloka, Alain
Under the direction of: Dominique Darbon and Dietmar Braun
Bordeaux University
Texte français
Keywords: Political science, Singapore, Anti-corruption, Implementations National cotexts, Comparison, Authoritarianisms, Democracies, Public action, Botswana, Cameroon, Singapore, Switzerland.
Abstract
This study explains why broadly recommended anti-corruption tools are differently implemented at country levels. It explores the general hypothesis that the systematic differences in national anti-corruption policing are explained by actor-games around the recommended anti-corruption tools. By using established knowledge and concepts of policy studies, the study proposes a two-level explanatory model. The first level, the theoretical essence of the model, suggests that any tool which is concretely considered for eradicating corruption in any given country is likely to mobilize supports and/or oppositions because social actors (1) have different views on “corruption” and the necessity of its eradication, (2) are driven by different interests which may be (un)favourably linked to the official definition of corruption and the most “appropriate” ways of combating it, and (3) depend on different (institutional and non-institutional) resources enabling them (or not) to impose their own views and interests in the collective process of choosing and using the tools against corruption in their country. The second level of the model suggests that the actor-constellations at country levels, as particular configurations of ideas, interests and resources, are conditioned by two fundamental aspects of national contexts : the political system and the level of socio-economic development. That explanation is empirically confirmed by four case studies with differences in terms of political systems and levels of socio-economical development : Botswana, Cameroon, Singapore and Switzerland.
