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Making Anti-Corruption Effective

Investigate the challenges in the fight against corruption and learn how to develop more effective anti-corruption strategies.

Making Anti-Corruption Effective

  • 2 weeks

  • 5 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

Explore the consequences of corruption

Corruption harms economic development and social justice, but current anti-corruption strategies have delivered very limited results. One reason is that corruption takes many forms, and each requires a different response.

On this course, you’ll develop an understanding of corruption through theory and evidence. You’ll look at the social and economic consequences, as well as the types of corruption for a rounded view of its causes and effects.

Assess current strategies and why many of them fail

Existing anti-corruption strategies are based on transparency and accountability, assuming that organisations will provide information and support openly and honestly. Unfortunately, this often isn’t the case.

You’ll investigate the logic behind these strategies and assess the evidence of their limited success. This will help you to explain why new approaches are needed to effectively fight corruption.

Discover an alternative approach to more effective anti-corruption policy

Using examples of an alternative research and policy framework for new anti-corruption strategies, you’ll discover how corruption has been reduced in developing countries.

Combining your knowledge of current strategies and new approaches, you’ll develop an effective anti-corruption strategy that can create the conditions for a better transition to lower corruption.

Learn from anti-corruption specialists at SOAS University of London

The Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Research Consortium is a global partnership led by Professor Mushtaq Khan at SOAS University of London.

Taking an innovative approach to anti-corruption, ACE generates evidence through over 30 research projects in 13 countries to help promote better strategies to tackle corruption, and so is uniquely positioned to lead this anti-corruption course.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Corruption and Anti-Corruption

    • Introduction to the course

      In this section we provide an overview of what will be covered on the course, introduce the team, outline a code of conduct and give you the opportunity to introduce yourself to other participants on the course.

    • Introduction to anti-corruption

      In this section we explore the different forms of corruption and the concept of "anti-corruption".

    • The principal agent problem, corruption equilibria, social norms and feasibility

      In this section we look at the principal agent problem and the challenge of the corruption equilibria and social norms responses to corruption.

    • Introduction to the Power, Capabilities and Interests (PCI) approach to anti-corruption

      This section introduces the Power, Capabilities and Interests (PCI) approach to understand the configuration of power, capability and interests of actors within a sector and where be scope for feasible anti-corruption.

    • Summarising the week

      In this section we review and reflect on what we have covered in week 1 before looking ahead to week 2 of the course.

  • Week 2

    Making anticorruption real

    • Introducing week 2

      In this section we provide an overview of the agenda for week 2 this course.

    • PCI Anticorruption Strategy - enhancing horizontal checks

      In this section we explore the PCI anticorruption strategy "enhancing horizontal checks" and examine this through a case study focusing on climate adaptation projects in Bangladesh

    • PCI Anticorruption Strategy - creating horizontal checks

      In this section we introduce the PCI anticorruption strategy, "creating horizontal checks'. We explore this strategy through a case study focused on health sector worker absenteeism in Nigeria and Bangladesh.

    • PCI Anticorruption Strategy - mitigation and transformation

      This section describes the PCI strategy "mitigation and transformation" and we explore this through a case study focused on artisanal oil refining in the Niger Delta.

    • Using anticorruption to move to a rule of law

      In this section we conclude this course by describing how taking incremental, feasible and impactful approaches to anticorruption can help developing and emerging countries develop a rule of law.

    • Concluding this course

      In this section we review our learning objectives and reflect on what we have learned over the course.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of corruption and the social and economic consequences of corruption
  • Evaluate different types of anti-corruption strategies and why many of them fail
  • Explore the concepts of rents and political settlement analysis
  • Produce an effective sectoral anti-corruption strategy grounded in an analysis of feasibility and impact

Who is the course for?

This course has been designed for anyone interested in learning more about corruption and how to create anti-corruption strategies.

It will be of specific interest to development practitioners and policymakers, helping to design and generate evidence for effective anti-corruption policies.

Who will you learn with?

Mushtaq Khan is a Professor of Economics at SOAS University of London, and Chief Executive Director of the FCDO (UK government)-funded Anti-Corruption Evidence Research Consortium.

Pallavi is a Reader (associate professor) in political economy at SOAS University of London and Research Director of the FCDO funded (UK government) Anti-Corruption Evidence programme.

Programme Manager for SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) programme. Duncan is a consultant, facilitator, practitioner and researcher with over twenty years experience in development.

Who developed the course?

SOAS University of London

SOAS, University of London is the only Higher Education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$19.99

For the first month. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$94/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 10 Apr 2023

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

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  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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