Will blockchain emerge as a tool to break the poverty chain in the Global South?

Just like its recent predecessors, blockchain – also known as the distributed ledger technology – is considered to have the potential to cause major economic, political and social transformations in the Global South. The visible effects of this technology are already being noted there. We present early evidence linking the use of blockchain in overcoming some economic, social and political challenges facing the Global South. The article highlights the key applications and uses of blockchain in developing countries. It demonstrates how blockchain can help promote transparency, build trust and reputation, and enhance efficiency in transactions. The article looks at opportunities and key triggers for blockchain diffusion in these countries. It also delves into challenges and obstacles that developing economies are likely to encounter in the use of blockchain.     

Political will and government anti‐corruption efforts: What does the evidence say?

“Political will” is oft‐cited as the major obstacle to government's anti‐corruption efforts. Notwithstanding, there is remarkably little systematic analysis of the concept, with some scholars describing it as the “slipperiest concept in the policy lexicon,” whereas others are calling for its empirical relevance. This paper tries to unpack the “black box” of political will by making it an empirically relevant concept drawing on evidence from two Asian countries; Singapore and Bangladesh. Four key indicators based on the works of earlier scholars are used including origin of the initiative; comprehension and extent of analysis; credible sanctions; and resource dedication and sustenance are used. The paper also uses Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, World Bank's World Governance Indicators (Control of Corruption and Government Effectiveness), and Political, Economic and Risk Consultancy's annual survey in Asia, as outcome measures. Based on the empirical evidence from the two countries, the paper shows that political will indeed has a positive influence on government's anti‐corruption efforts. Although political will may not be sufficient, it is a necessary condition to fight corruption, and that the difference between the positions of Singapore and Bangladesh on various global corruption league tables may be attributed to political will.     

Corruption in the aftermath of war: an introduction

‘Corruption in the aftermath of war’ brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars to enquire into the dynamics of corruption in post-conflict societies. This introduction discusses five themes, problematising and summarising key findings from the 10 articles included. First, we discuss the problems with the corruption concept, related to its moralising connotations and definitional vagueness, and propose viewing corruption as a collective action dilemma as a way of avoiding these moralising aspects. Second, we discuss post-conflict societies, and highlight the great varieties of ‘peace’ that that label can refer to. We suggest that the causes, dynamics and effects of corruption in post-conflict societies bear many similarities with those in other societies, but that the post-conflict situation often generates an intensification and entrenchment of corruption-related problems. Third, we analyse the dynamics between international interveners and domestic actors, and show the contradictions and tensions in international–domestic relations. Fourth, we argue that the inter-linkages between inequality, mistrust and corruption deserve consideration in the study of post-conflict societies, and that inequality in particular merits more attention. Finally, we discuss some methodological challenges encountered by the contributors in their studies of corruption in post-conflict societies.     

Corruption in post-conflict Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo: a deal among friends

Since the late 1990s international state builders have paid increasing attention to fighting corruption in both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. On the surface this effort has brought significant results, since both countries have adopted legal frameworks modelled on the best practices of Western democracies. In practice, however, corruption remains rampant. This disappointing outcome has several explanations: in reviewing the empirical evidence we consider the two countries as cases involving heavily assisted transition from both socialism and war, highlighting how collusive practices between political and criminal interests have played a role in establishing formally liberal but substantively ‘hybrid’ institutions. We argue that the spread of corruption has been implicitly legitimised by international actors, who have pressured local parties to accept the formal architecture of good governance, including anti-corruption legislation, while turning a blind eye to those extra-legal structures and practices perceived as functional to political stability.     

算好“政治账”:深刻把握从严治党的历史与现实

中国共产党历来重视从严治党,坚决惩治党内存在的贪污腐化分子。对于贪污腐败可能导致的严重后果,中国共产党一直十分警醒,所以始终秉持“宁可得罪少数腐败分子,也决不得罪广大人民群众”的理念,把维护人民群众的根本利益放在重要位置。整体来说,反腐倡廉、惩贪除恶是革命和建设时期锻造队伍、获得民心的必然要求,是社会主义改革时期稳定大局、取信于民的现实所需,是新时代凝聚民众心、共筑中国梦的时代召唤。把握好人心向背的“政治账”,始终站在人民群众的一边,使中国共产党的反腐大业得到了广大人民群众的拥护和支持,也必将取得更大的胜利。     

坚持中国特色反腐倡廉道路不动摇

从党的七届二中全会毛泽东倡导"两个务必"开始,到改革开放新时期的邓小平、江泽民、胡锦涛,把反腐倡廉与党的建设、与改革开放和社会主义现代化建设紧密结合在一起,在理论和实践方面丰富和充实了反腐倡廉建设的内容,形成了中国特色反腐倡廉道路。在新世纪新阶段,坚持中国特色反腐倡廉道路不动摇,是贯彻落实十七届四中全会精神的需要。     

How Honest Do Politicians Need to Be?

This article reports findings from a recent survey of citizens' attitudes towards standards in British public life. It provides further evidence that people hold their political leaders to high standards, yet are often disappointed by the reality, and suggests that many citizens tend to blame the practice and institutions of politics for making politicians less honest and trustworthy than they would ideally like. The article argues that reforms to the political system are needed to regain the confidence of the population, but that the manner in which the most recent round of ethics reforms in the House of Commons were introduced may lower the prospects of their achieving this goal.     

更腐倡廉制度建设的几点思考

加强反腐倡廉制度建设,既是提高我们党执政能力的迫切要求,也是完善惩治和预防腐败体系的核心内容,更是从源头上预防腐败的治本之策和必由之路。制度建设在惩防体系中处于核心保障地位,是建立健全和有效发挥惩防体系作用的关键因素。改革开放以来,各地各部门积极探索反腐倡廉制度建设的新路,形成了一大批制度规定,但仍然存在一些不足。反腐倡廉制度建设需要上升到国家战略层面,要在全党进一步形成动手抓制度建设的生动局面。同时,制度建设还需要进一步增强层次性、针对性、创新性和执行力。     

反腐倡廉建设科学化:内涵、意义及实现途径

反腐倡廉建设科学化就是基于对腐败和反腐败现象和问题的科学研究,积累和创新反腐倡廉的知识,进而应用反腐倡廉的科学知识指导具体实践活动,以提高反腐倡廉效率和效力的过程。推进反腐倡廉建设科学化有助于提高党的建设科学化水平,对于反腐败斗争有着重大的现实意义,将有助于提高反腐败斗争的成效,开创党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争的新局面,支撑反腐倡廉战略功能的发挥,促进反腐倡廉建设继往开来、推陈出新、赢得国际支持。当前,推进反腐倡廉建设科学化在制度、教育、监督和惩治等方面存在着若干需要解决的问题,我们可以依托科学调查和研究、系统改进、经验提炼和学习借鉴等途径深入全面地推进反腐倡廉建设科学化。     

推进反腐倡廉建设科学化若干问题的思考

党的十七届四中全会明确提出“提高党的建设科学化水平”,十七届中纪委四次全会又提出了“提高反腐倡廉科学化水平”等重大命题。科学理解和准确把握反腐倡廉建设科学化的基本内涵和重要意义,认真总结中国特色反腐倡廉建设科学化的基本经验,深入分析我国反腐倡廉建设科学化进程中的主要问题,积极探索推进反腐倡廉科学化的具体路径,无疑具有重要的理论和实践意义。