Corruption, Conflict, and Peacebuilding

Corruption, Conflict, and
Peacebuilding

What Challenges Do Peacebuilders Face in States Emerging from Conflict?

In an environment of disorder, it is very difficult to put into practice even the simplest

changes. Many of the policy prescriptions for rooting out corruption and establishing

good governance are merely ideals for many states that are in the throes of conflict, or

emerging from it. These fragile states, some of them nascent or struggling democracies,

may face many hurdles in attaining anything close to a stable peace. Even if there is not

outright violence being committed by armed gangs or warlords, there may be vast

numbers of refugees, little (if any) government infrastructure, limited access to basic

services, and scarce resources with which to rebuild.

Many of these states depend heavily on foreign assistance until they can get basic

security in place, or the institutions of governance up and running. In that sense,

peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction has been a “growth industry” for the

international community, which finds itself with the complex task of trying to help rebuild

war-torn or failed states. And, the process can take years. Peacebuilding was conceived

in the context of post-conflict recovery efforts to promote reconciliation and

reconstruction, but the term has now taken on broader meaning to include, among

others, providing humanitarian relief, protecting human rights, ensuring security,

establishing non-violent modes of resolving conflicts, fostering reconciliation, repatriating

refugees, and aiding in economic reconstruction. International actors, bilateral donors,

international and local civil society organizations, local governments, and private security

agencies may all be involved in these processes.

There are many reasons why it is difficult to bring about a stable peace in a country that

has been ravaged by conflict. While corruption is not the only benchmark related to

fragility of a state, many of those involved in peacebuilding work are increasingly

recognizing that corruption can be a major factor in preventing a stable peace from

emerging. Why? It may not only keep conflict cycles going by enriching the gangsters,

warlords, or individuals who are responsible for the conflict in the first place, but it can

also prevent economic and social stability because corruption networks (by benefitting

some at the expense of others) strengthen inequalities and divisions in society. “In

conflicts where nepotism or patronage networks exclude vast swaths of the population

from decision-making and access to resources, then corruption lies at the heart of

society’s problems,” argue Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church and Kirby Reiling. “Corrupt

networks themselves can reinforce the very divisions along lines of ethnicity, religion or

class which feed the conflict cycle. If corruption is not addressed, the chances of that

durable solution in the form of lasting positive peace remain slim.”23

Iraq offers a concrete example. Deep fissures remain in Iraq—particularly between Shiite

and Sunni religious communities—and different factions in the transitional government

are constantly jockeying for advantage, or seeking to reward their supporters. “In many

of the key public ministries that should be playing a lead role in the country’s

reconstruction,” notes Robert Looney, “rudimentary systems of accountability, internal

controls and the rule of law are lacking.” Iraq’s Interior Ministry, he says, is driven by

political factions. “It houses a myriad of competing police and intelligence agencies that

pursue various political or sectarian agendas.” The costs of corruption are staggering.

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction asserts that Iraq has been losing

$4 billion to corruption every year since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.24 A 2008

report by the U.S. Department of State further indicates that there is “a lack of

transparency and widespread, severe corruption at all levels of government” in Iraq.25

Not surprisingly, public services declined, Iraqi citizens grew more disillusioned, and

many wondered how foreign aid was really being used.

As those involved in strengthening fragile states work at the challenging task of building

good governance by promoting participation, accountability, transparency, rule of law,

and other such important components of what we believe contribute to a stable and just

society, it’s clear that no quick and simple solutions exist. For example, independent

media and access to information can foster transparency, accountability, and informed

participation. However, free press could contribute to polarizing the weary and

dissatisfied public when those who have ethnic, political, or social bias control and use

privatized media outlets. And, a sudden increase in public awareness of corruptions that

were once hidden may feed the existing public distrust of those who are governing.

What’s more, in a country that has suffered through years of instability or conflict, people

who are leaders and are representatives of the population may be all guilty of

participating in corrupt acts or worse.