Corruption Perceptions Index 2021

Fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and access to justice guarantee public participation and keep corruption in check. The current wave of authoritarianism is not driven by coups and violence, but by gradual efforts to undermine democracy . 19 This usually begins with attacks on civil and political rights, efforts to undermine the autonomy of oversight and election bodies, and control of the media . 20 Such attacks allow corrupt regimes to evade accountability and criticism, creating an environment for corruption to flourish. CORRUPTION AND BREACHES OF CIVIL LIBERTIES Higher levels of corruption, as measured by the CPI, are strongly associated with breaches of civil liberties. Outliers exist, but in most cases the relationship is causal in both directions: more corruption can lead to restrictions on civil liberties, while having fewer civil liberties makes it harder to fight corruption . 21 9 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 CIVIL LIBERTIES 2020 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 CPI 2021 Armenia Armenia is a success story of the CPI in the last five years, improving 14 points since 2017 to a score of 49. Mass protests in 2018 forced out an entrenched political elite in favour of a reform-minded government . 22 Armenia has since expanded civil liberties, paving the way for more sustainable civic engagement and accountability . 23 Despite progress, the reform agenda has stalled in the past year and the government must recommit. Uzbekistan Uzbekistan is one of the most consistent improvers in the CPI, from a score of just 17 in 2012 to 28 this year. Reforms adopted since 2016 contributed to modest increases in civil liberties, particularly freedom of expression . 24 However, Uzbekistan remains an autocracy and much more is needed to achieve lasting wins against corruption. Singapore A modernised economy, efficient bureaucracy and strong rule of law all contribute to Singapore’s success. However, it continues to fall far behind on human rights such as freedom of expression and association , 25 which means that any anti-corruption success is tied to the political will of the ruling elite and may not be sustainable. CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2021 9