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Contested Meanings of Corruption: International and Local Narratives in the Case of Paraguay

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  • Gephart, Malte

Abstract

While the current international and transnational anti-corruption campaign (ITACC) has been successful in calling worldwide attention to the topic, several critics have argued that the term corruption and the concepts that underlie it are ambiguous and that corruption and anti-corruption have various meanings. This paper empirically explores these supposedly divergent meanings by comparing the ITACC with the anti-corruption discourse in Paraguay. In order to explore not only the tensions but also possible coalitions between the ITACC and the Paraguayan discourse, I have conducted discourse analysis and constructionist interviews. The empirical exploration shows that differences, and thus tensions, exist between both levels with respect to the causes and effects attributed to corruption, as well as with regard to the ultimate goal of the fight against corruption. However, there also is a strong discourse coalition between the ITACC and Paraguay concerning concrete countermeasures, which indicates the dominance of the international anti-corruption approach in the Latin American country. Very different actors with divergent understandings of corruption are able to act collectively against corruption via this discourse coalition, while still interpreting these actions according to their respective political agendas.

Suggested Citation

  • Gephart, Malte, 2012. "Contested Meanings of Corruption: International and Local Narratives in the Case of Paraguay," GIGA Working Papers 191, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:191
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    1. Staffan Andersson & Paul M. Heywood, 2009. "The Politics of Perception: Use and Abuse of Transparency International's Approach to Measuring Corruption," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 57, pages 746-767, December.
    2. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4352 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Razafindrakoto, Mireille & Roubaud, François, 2010. "Are International Databases on Corruption Reliable? A Comparison of Expert Opinion Surveys and Household Surveys in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1057-1069, August.
    4. Anwar Shah, 2007. "Performance Accountability and Combating Corruption," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6732.
    5. Mark Philp, 1997. "Defining Political Corruption," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 45(3), pages 436-462, August.
    6. Staffan Andersson & Paul M. Heywood, 2009. "The Politics of Perception: Use and Abuse of Transparency International's Approach to Measuring Corruption," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 57(4), pages 746-767, December.
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    1. Emeka W. Dumbili & Adedayo Sofadekan, 2016. "“I Collected Money, not a Bribe”: Strategic Ambiguity and the Dynamics of Corruption in Contemporary Nigeria," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Gephart, Malte, 2013. "Convergence, Divergence and a Complex Interplay: Chile and the International and Transnational Anti-Corruption Campaign," GIGA Working Papers 224, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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