Selling the Peace? Corruption and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding

TY - CHAP

T1 - Selling the Peace? Corruption and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding

AU - Cheng, Christine

AU - Zaum, Dominik

PY - 2011/8/19

Y1 - 2011/8/19

N2 - This introductory chapter explores the complex relationship between corruption and peacebuilding. It argues that fighting corruption is only one of several important peacebuilding objectives, and that due consideration must be given to the specific social and political context in considering how a sustainable peace can be achieved. The chapter begins by examining some of the problems arising from efforts to define corruption and the implications that these difficulties have for our analysis. It then examines in detail the impact of corruption on peacebuilding outcomes, as well as the impact of peacebuilding practices on corruption. It finds that the sudden inflows of donor aid into post-conflict countries and the desire of peacebuilding actors (including the UN, the IFIs, aid agencies, and NGOs) to disburse these funds quickly, create incentives and opportunities for corruption. While corruption imposes costs and compromises on peacebuilding efforts, opportunities for exploiting public office can also be used to entice armed groups into signing peace agreements, thus stabilising post-war environments. The issue of why anti-corruption measures taken during post-conflict transitions have often not achieved their objectives is also discussed.

AB - This introductory chapter explores the complex relationship between corruption and peacebuilding. It argues that fighting corruption is only one of several important peacebuilding objectives, and that due consideration must be given to the specific social and political context in considering how a sustainable peace can be achieved. The chapter begins by examining some of the problems arising from efforts to define corruption and the implications that these difficulties have for our analysis. It then examines in detail the impact of corruption on peacebuilding outcomes, as well as the impact of peacebuilding practices on corruption. It finds that the sudden inflows of donor aid into post-conflict countries and the desire of peacebuilding actors (including the UN, the IFIs, aid agencies, and NGOs) to disburse these funds quickly, create incentives and opportunities for corruption. While corruption imposes costs and compromises on peacebuilding efforts, opportunities for exploiting public office can also be used to entice armed groups into signing peace agreements, thus stabilising post-war environments. The issue of why anti-corruption measures taken during post-conflict transitions have often not achieved their objectives is also discussed.

KW - peacebuilding

KW - corruption

KW - post-conflict

KW - peacekeeping

KW - statebuilding

M3 - Chapter

SN - 0415620481

T3 - Cass Series on Peacekeeping

SP - 1

BT - Corruption and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding

A2 - Cheng, Christine

A2 - Dominik, Zaum

PB - Routledge

CY - Abingdon

ER -