Corruption, Governance and Collective Sanctions

Abstract

Research Question: Tackling a problem requires mostly, an ability to read it, conceptualize it, represent it, define it, and then applying the necessary tools and mechanisms to solve it. This may sound self- evident except when the problem to be engaged happens to be “complex,” “ill-structured,” and/or “wicked.” Corruption, defined in this paper in terms of bribery and/or extortion, is one of those kinds of problems. Both in its global and national manifestations it is ill- structured. Where it is structural in nature, endemic and pervasive, it is perhaps even wicked. Qualities of the kind impose modest expectations regarding possibilities of any definitive solution to this insidious phenomenon. If so, it may not suffice to address the problem of corruption using existing categories of law and/or good governance, which overlook the “long-term memory” of the collective and cultural specific dimensions of the subject.