Anti-Corruption Efforts in Bangladesh

Abstract

Corruption has been a severe problem in Bangladesh since the country’s independence. The response in recent years has been massive anti-corruption efforts involving both the Bangladesh government and non-governmental stakeholders. These efforts have focused on the transplantation of institutions in accordance with the prescriptions and models of donor agencies. Organizations in Bangladesh have attempted to gain legitimacy by copying the successful structures and operational models of similar organizations in other countries. This phenomenon can be characterized as institutional isomorphism. Institutionalists argue that this type of isomorphism has been successful in combating corruption in various countries. Examples of the implementation of this isomorphic strategy in Bangladesh include introducing the National Integrity Strategy (NI-Strategy), strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and involving citizens in anti-corruption efforts through community-based organizations (CBOs). The research, reported in this thesis, has examined the effectiveness of this isomorphic approach to combating corruption in Bangladesh, drawing on an original nation-wide mass survey, interviews with members of the elite, and analysis of official documents and processes. The study found that the isomorphic approach to combating corruption in Bangladesh has had very limited success against the backdrop of massive expenditure and efforts. These efforts have mainly created an ‘isomorphic mimicry’ of successful anti-corruption strategies but, in Bangladesh, these have mostly remained ceremonial. In other words, they look good on paper but lack proper implementation. The study suggests that the reasons for this failure can be divided into two groups. The first group of four reasons is more general and focuses on pervasive issues of structure as well as agency, namely: (1) patronage-based politics; (2) the existence of ‘iron triangles’ of political, bureaucratic and business elites; (3) a lack of strong political will among government leaders; and (4) the ability of policy makers to deploy a range of strategies to blunt anti-corruption initiatives. The second group comprises micro-level problems, such as the lack of resourcing for institutions, within each element of the dominant anti-corruption strategies. In response to the failure of isomorphism in Bangladesh’s efforts towards integrity, this study suggests an alternative potential avenue for anti-corruption efforts through CBOs that can mobilize or harness spontaneous public participation. This approach differs from donor-assisted government and non-governmental community engagement activities. Drawing on several examples, the study shows that spontaneous participation through CBOs and other forms of activity involving various stakeholders is creating a ‘silent movement’ against corruption in Bangladesh, based on a problem-driven approach in the local context. With spontaneous participation, CBOs could play a potential role through awareness and advocacy to break the societal acceptance of corruption in Bangladesh. Finally, the study argues that, while obstacles to such a spontaneous participation approach are apparent, they might be addressed by coordination between CBOs to form a new foundation for the national integrity system of Bangladesh.