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2. Dissecting the Political Landscape of War-Torn Ukraine: Between Internal Challenges and External Threats
- Author:
- Aram Terzyan
- Publication Date:
- 06-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
- Institution:
- Institute for Research and European Studies (IRES)
- Abstract:
- This paper explores the political landscape of war-torn Ukraine, focusing on the country’s core domestic problems. The war in Ukraine has led to a significant deterioration of Ukraine’s political landscape. While victory on the battlefield is Ukraine’s utmost priority, escalating internal problems pose additional challenges. With Ukraine having obtained EU candidate status, these problems have moved to a new level on the EU’s membership agenda. The most urgent of these is endemic corruption, which has gained fresh momentum during the war and has put foreign aid at risk. As the costs of the war grow, international pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to show better results increases. Accountability and transparency should become the guiding principles of the reconstruction and recovery processes to maintain Western support and ensure effective postwar reconstruction.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Reconstruction, Minorities, European Union, Russia-Ukraine War, and De-Oligarchization
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Ukraine
3. Undoing a Hybrid Regime: What Lessons Can Be Extracted from the Case of North Macedonia?
- Author:
- Nazif Mandaci
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Uluslararasi Iliskiler
- Institution:
- International Relations Council of Turkey (UİK-IRCT)
- Abstract:
- This study primarily aims to draw attention to the role of the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) in North Macedonia’s1 transition from a hybrid regime to a standard democracy from 2015 to the present. The stability of the country has been of paramount importance for the Western interests, thus the EU and US have continuously supported successive governments to uphold the de-facto powersharing system that prevailed since its independence in the early 1990s. By employing Levitsky and Way’s theoretical framework of linkage and leverage, this study aims to elucidate the decisive roles played by the EU and the US in cultivating the conditions necessitated for North Macedonia’s gradual democratic transition after 2015. To do this it addresses political developments in North Macedonia, discusses the problems that aroused during this transition period, which are inherited in a lack of democratic culture and widespread corruption, and finally, suggests that as the Macedonia example demonstrated, EU support and tutelage is critical during such challenging transitions.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Corruption, Democratization, European Union, and Hybrid Regime
- Political Geography:
- Europe, United States of America, North Macedonia, and Western Balkans
4. Strengthening Institutional Integrity: A Path to Combat Corruption in Public Administration
- Author:
- Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM)
- Publication Date:
- 10-2024
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM)
- Abstract:
- Strengthening institutional integrity is crucial for our efforts to combat corruption and enhance trust in public institutions. With this in mind, the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) conducted, for the first time, three social experiments with public administration employees aimed at measuring the culture of silence, tolerance, and reporting of corruption within the public administration. The social experiments involved approximately 70 employees from various public institutions, including the High Prosecutorial Council, the Commissioner for the Right to Information and the Protection of Personal Data, the Department of Public Administration, the General Directorate of Taxes, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of Justice, and the Institute for Public Health. The social experiments generated data for researching the culture of integrity in public administration. The findings will help inform the development of effective strategies for promoting ethical behavior and strengthening integrity within public institutions. Some of the findings from the experiments are: Public administration employees with in-depth knowledge of integrity rules tend to be better informed about suspected irregularities; Loyalty to the group within public administration influences the tolerance of corruption by its members; Public administration employees lack trust in the functioning of internal institutional mechanisms for reporting corrupt actions and unethical behavior; The main factors contributing to the lack of reporting of corrupt actions include employees’ fear of the impact of reporting on their work relationships and the possibility of retaliation. By focusing on the experiences of these three social experiments, we aim to contribute through innovative scientific research to the development of a new work culture oriented toward ethics, transparency, and accountability, thereby contributing to a more trustworthy and sustainable public administration.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Governance, Institutions, Identity, and Public Administration
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Balkans, and Albania
5. Anti-corruption measures in German local government using the example of the city of Bremen
- Author:
- Piotr Zariczny
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
- Institution:
- Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Abstract:
- Germany, as one of the leading European countries, is also engaged in comprehensive anti-corruption efforts. It is worth taking a look at anti-corruption practices in German local government, and particularly focusing on the case of the city of Bremen. German local government is characterized by a high degree of autonomy, which gives local authorities a great deal of freedom in managing their affairs. However, with this autonomy comes challenges in preventing and combating corruption. The city of Bremen, as one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany, represents a compelling research case because of its approach to fighting corruption. Understood as a free Hanseatic city (Freie Hansestadt Bremen) and a federal state (Bundesland), the city of Bremen exhibits advanced anti-corruption structures. Central to this is the Anti-Corruption Commission, which focuses on monitoring and combating all forms of corruption at the local level. This commission works in close cooperation with police authorities and internal control bodies. Bremen is taking proactive measures to prevent corruption. One of the key instruments is training programs aimed at local government employees, which cover public service ethics, accountability, and rules of conduct. In addition, there is a clear and transparent code of conduct for local government employees that specifies expected ethical standards. The City of Bremen recognizes the important role of civil society in combating corruption. These efforts focus on working with NGOs, conducting educational campaigns, and establishing communication channels for citizens to report cases of corruption. Public trust in local government institutions is therefore crucial, which confirms the introduced effectiveness of the anti-corruption measures. The case of the city of Bremen shows that the fight against corruption in German local government requires an integrated approach, combining proactive measures, cooperation with civil society and monitoring structures.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Education, Bilateral Relations, and Local Government
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Poland, and Germany
6. Corruption in local government units in Poland – sources and causes
- Author:
- Magdalena Filipek
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
- Institution:
- Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Abstract:
- The aim of this paper is to present the problem of corruption in local government entities. It addresses the sources and causes, as well as attempts to completely eliminate corruption from public life. The article serves as a review and introduction to the issues related to corruption in local government, its sources, and causes.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Crime, and Local Government
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Poland
7. The problem of corruption and its consequences in local government units
- Author:
- Kazimierz Pierzchala
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
- Institution:
- Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Abstract:
- The article aims at presenting the problem of corruption and outlining its consequences. The work is an overview and an introduction to the subject of corruption in local government units. The problem of corruption has existed for many years and is gaining significance. According to analyses, Poland is one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Corruption is encroaching on local government units despite its many consequences, which will be a subject of analysis.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Crime, Governance, and Local Government
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Poland
8. Manifestations of corruption in local government elections in Albania. Implications for the process of its accession to the European Union
- Author:
- Renata Podgórzańska
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
- Institution:
- Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Abstract:
- One of the key values on which the European Union is based is the rule of law that also includes efficient mechanisms for counteracting and combating corruption. What is more, it is a key condition for countries aspiring to membership in the European Union. An example here comes from Albania’s accession aspirations. Their progress is determined by the dynamic changes in the transformation processes of this country, including progress in counteracting and eliminating corruption in the political and economic space. Explanation of the specific characteristics of Albanian reality and the exegesis of the impact of corruption on the process of the country’s closer EU cooperation are the aims of the research taken up here. Special focus will be given to electoral corruption in local government elections that took place on 14 May 2023. At the same time, these elections are only a background to a broader discussion on the essence of corruption in the Albanian reality as a factor that determines its accession process.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Elections, European Union, Rule of Law, and Local Government
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Albania
9. Flaws of anti-corruption law. Selected aspects against the evolution of the rule of law in Poland
- Author:
- Jarosław Piątek
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
- Institution:
- Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Abstract:
- The phenomenon of corruption is becoming more and more common in Poland as much as it is throughout the world. The topic returns and it is still relevant. For the average person, this issue is often not entirely clear and requires a moment of reflection and analysis. Historical events often prevail when carefully assessing corruption. Many people do not understand that the abuse of public figures’ positions to achieve private gains, both financial and personal, is a crime. We deal with many types of corruption in today’s world. Corruption is present not only in central administration, but also in local government, where conflicts of interest deeply rooted in local economic, political, or official activities, are a frequent occurrence. The desire to improve one’s social or economic status often leads to committing crimes. The problem should worry and motivate us to take extensive actions to combat its mechanisms. It is worth emphasizing that public awareness of corruption activities, especially among the generation who lived in the times of the Polish People’s Republic, is low. Assessments and attitudes towards corruption change with age. The younger generation sees a connection between corruption and the actions of local government officials in many aspects. As a result, they associate corruption with a threat to their own security.
- Topic:
- Security, Corruption, Rule of Law, and Local Government
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Poland
10. Assets and sources of income of municipal councillors in Poland – analysis of asset declarations against the risk of corruption
- Author:
- Marcin Czyżniewski
- Publication Date:
- 12-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
- Institution:
- Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Abstract:
- Municipal councillors in Poland are required to submit annual asset declarations. It’s a part of the transparency of public life, declarations make it possible to determine whether a councillor’s assets are justified by his or her income and whether the income itself comes from legal and ethical sources. This article analyses 1,500 asset declarations submitted in 2024 to determine whether general conclusions can be drawn from publicly available declarations indicating corrupt situations or the risk of such situations. The subject of the analysis is whether the assets of municipal councillors in Poland are clearly higher than average, whether councillors derive income from sources that may indicate a conflict of interest or corruption, including political corruption, whether councillors have above-average financial liabilities, including with individuals? The asset declarations examined indicate the existence of risks of corrupt situations, but their analysis does not show them to be of wider scope. On its basis, it is not possible to advance the thesis that holding a mandate as a municipal councillor in Poland is associated with income that could be considered suspicious, nor with above-average assets.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Transparency, Income, and Local Government
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Poland