Ladies and Gentlemen,

Corruption is a serious form of crime that has its roots both in human behaviour and, most importantly, in social patterns of behaviour and relationships.

Thus, it is personal character traits, value structures and the eternal (?) struggle for one’s own (social/economic) advantage that strongly influence the motivation of criminals and determine the level of criminal inhibition threshold. However, the capabilities of the state (laws and their control and enforcement) and the will of society (political agenda) determine the qualitative and quantitative manifestation of corruption, this special subtype of crime in a market oriented economy. The state and its citizens are responsible for the space corruption is allowed to occupy.

Both, the inter-economic form of corruption and the political/official corruption serve the purpose of gaining an economic advantage in market activities by granting material and non-material benefits to decision-makers in other economic entities (e.g. kick-back payments) or to decision-makers (officials) within state administrative structures, starting with the smallest civil servant up to the top of the government. Corruption instruments are also used in the political power struggle to maintain the social balance of power or to change it in its favour.

It is incumbent on the state structures not only to fight the forms and manifestations of corruption effectively and stringently! The state and its political leaders are also obligated to eliminate the breeding ground for corruption and bribery. The second task is likely to be the difficult and, above all, the lengthier, because here social structures and, in particular, the conveyance of values (education) have to be rearranged.

Combating corruption and the other associated crimes (Blackmailing, money laundering, tax evasion…far from being an exhaustive list) is not only a legal and legislative task (shaping the law) but also, and above all, a matter of organizing effective and assertive administrative and investigative structures.

Fighting corruption requires a clear knowledge of what is going on in society. Building effective anti-corruption structures has to be seen as a conglomerate of various sciences – law, criminology, psychology and economics! Even philosophical considerations flow into the process of gaining knowledge and developing solutions.

Only those who view the problem of corruption from the perspective of society as a whole can end the cat-and-mouse game in its favour and shape it for the benefit of all.

The development of an effective anti-corruption policy thus fundamentally requires interdisciplinary cooperation. Decisions must permeate all areas of social life and significantly strengthen and improve transparency in all social and legal processes.

Even a fight against individual manifestations of corruption is arduous and not blessed with great prospects of success. Anyone who recognizes corruption as a problem that affects society as a whole has a chance to build successful anti-corruption structures.

Combating corruption therefore only succeeds with a comprehensive-holistic approach and so it is a task for the society as a whole!

J. Julius

ARROWS develops a country / company-specific solutions together with you and draws on a fund of more than 25 years of experience. Together with our interdisciplinary experts and scientists, we are absolutely able to offer you concrete and decisive support in the implementation of the necessary sub-projects and actions. This happens both in the digital (data collection and processing) and the administrative-structural world (improvement and restructuring of investigative authorities), as well as in the areas of designing and adaptation of modern anti-corruption laws, of PR, communication and social management.