Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses

Abstract Recent discussions of systemic corruption have cast doubt on the effectiveness of direct legal responses, that is to say, responses that involve the enforcement of explicit legal prohibitions on corrupt activity. This article argues that there are sound reasons to believe that anti-corrupti...

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Main Author: Kevin E. Davis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Escola de Direito 2021-12-01
Series:Revista Direito GV
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1808-24322021000200803&tlng=en
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author Kevin E. Davis
author_facet Kevin E. Davis
author_sort Kevin E. Davis
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Recent discussions of systemic corruption have cast doubt on the effectiveness of direct legal responses, that is to say, responses that involve the enforcement of explicit legal prohibitions on corrupt activity. This article argues that there are sound reasons to believe that anti-corruption law can play an affirmative role in controlling systemic corruption, but the advantages and disadvantages of alternative legal responses are likely to vary depending on both the preferred evaluative criteria and the context. This analysis is based on the premise that corruption becomes systemic when it is widespread, persistent, subversive, structural, or normalized. There are three general ways in which law enforcement agencies might respond to these forms of corruption: an enhanced effort (“big push enforcement”), get more agencies involved (“institutional multiplicity”), and win over the general public by confront powerful actors using tactics such as communication strategies (“political engagement”). Although each of these responses has limitations and dangers, they also have potential advantages. Thus, to entirely dismiss direct legal responses to systemic corruption appears to be a misguided response.
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spelling doaj-art-9f9417b2f341449781ec3f6a713318b82025-02-02T12:27:27ZengFundação Getúlio Vargas, Escola de DireitoRevista Direito GV2317-61722021-12-0117210.1590/2317-6172202129Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct ResponsesKevin E. Davishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9278-6439Abstract Recent discussions of systemic corruption have cast doubt on the effectiveness of direct legal responses, that is to say, responses that involve the enforcement of explicit legal prohibitions on corrupt activity. This article argues that there are sound reasons to believe that anti-corruption law can play an affirmative role in controlling systemic corruption, but the advantages and disadvantages of alternative legal responses are likely to vary depending on both the preferred evaluative criteria and the context. This analysis is based on the premise that corruption becomes systemic when it is widespread, persistent, subversive, structural, or normalized. There are three general ways in which law enforcement agencies might respond to these forms of corruption: an enhanced effort (“big push enforcement”), get more agencies involved (“institutional multiplicity”), and win over the general public by confront powerful actors using tactics such as communication strategies (“political engagement”). Although each of these responses has limitations and dangers, they also have potential advantages. Thus, to entirely dismiss direct legal responses to systemic corruption appears to be a misguided response.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1808-24322021000200803&tlng=enAnti-corruption lawsystemic corruptioninstitutional multiplicitybig pushlegitimacy
spellingShingle Kevin E. Davis
Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses
Revista Direito GV
Anti-corruption law
systemic corruption
institutional multiplicity
big push
legitimacy
title Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses
title_full Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses
title_fullStr Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses
title_full_unstemmed Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses
title_short Anti-corruption Law and Systemic Corruption: The Role of Direct Responses
title_sort anti corruption law and systemic corruption the role of direct responses
topic Anti-corruption law
systemic corruption
institutional multiplicity
big push
legitimacy
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1808-24322021000200803&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT kevinedavis anticorruptionlawandsystemiccorruptiontheroleofdirectresponses