Corruption Perceptions Index 2022

CORRUPTION, CONFLICT AND SECURITY Corruption is a fundamental threat to peace and security. It has been shown time and again 6 that corruption is not only a consequence but also a cause of conflict, fuelling it in several ways. 7 Corruption generates new grievances in society, or drives existing ones, by undermining defence and security institutions, and by eroding state legitimacy. It can also enable a country’s elites to exert illegitimate influence, sow instability and undermine government institutions abroad as a way of securing favourable outcomes. 8 The use of corruption as a foreign policy weapon has also become a way to undermine democracy abroad. 9 Diverting public resources away from the common good to benefit special interest groups can cause popular discontent. The resulting grievances are particularly likely to lead to conflict when they coincide with disparities in the distribution of political and economic power along ethnic or other group lines. 10 Corruption, exclusion and outright discrimination increase the risk of outbreaks of violence and make them harder to control once they erupt. 11 Since 2017, 130 countries have seen significant social protests. In 55 of these (42 per cent), at least one protest was driven by the people’s discontent with the levels of corruption in government. Unsurprisingly, 80 per cent of the corruption related protests and 82 per cent of the documented violent responses against protesters occurred in countries with CPI scores below 50. 12 Corruption weakens the state’s capacity to protect its citizens. The misuse or theft of public funds can deprive institutions responsible for ensuring security of the resources they need. 13 Our analysis shows that weak law enforcement and defence institutions make it harder for a state to secure control of its territory and prevent violent threats, including terrorism. Corruption has made our world a more dangerous place. As governments have collectively failed to make progress against it, they fuel the current rise in violence and conflict – and endanger people everywhere. The only way out is for states to do the hard work, rooting out corruption at all levels to ensure governments work for all people, not just an elite few. Delia Ferreira Rubio Chair, Transparency International Photo: World Economic Forum/Benedikt von Loebell / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL 8