Corruption in Postcommunist States and Strategies for Reform (Research Brief)

I am working on a book about the nature and political consequences of corruption in post-communist systems. I argue that corruption is at the root of costly governance failure and significant popular disenchantment with democracy. This research trip focused on one part of the larger study, i.e. data collection for two crucial chapters where I use a detailed case study approach. In one chapter I assess the various anti-corruption programs and strategies that have been launched in Latvia since 1997. Another chapter focuses on public discourse about corruption. Understanding public perceptions and at times participation in corruption is a precondition for its containment and due to my native languge knowledge of Latvian I use Latvia as a case study for comparative analysis.

Download the pdf at the top of this page for the full brief.

Rasma Karklins, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, was a 2002-03 Short-Term Travel Grants fellow.