B5575 - POLITICS AND POLICIES OF ANTI-CORRUPTION

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with a general overview and understanding of anti-corruption strategies in different country contexts, within and outside Europe, and at the transnational level. At the end of the course, students will be able to: identify different forms of corruption, their mechanisms and consequences in societies; discuss how and why different political actors engage/do not engage in anti-corruption efforts; evaluate the pros and cons of different anti-corruption strategies, policy instruments and platforms, both institutional and grassroots; assess the role of digital technologies and media in anti-corruption efforts, at national, international, and transnational level.

Course contents

PART I – UNDERSTANDING CORRUPTION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

WEEK 1

Day 1 – Introduction: course presentation

Day 2 - What is corruption and why it is important?

WEEK 2

Day 1 - How to measure corruption? A critical look at different sectors

Day 2 - Country diagnosis: assessing corruption through different indicators

WEEK 3

Day 1 - Major theories on corruption and anti-corruption

Day 2 - Causes and consequences of corruption

 

PART II – CORRUPTION AND ANTI-CORRUPTION PARADOXES

WEEK 4

Day 1 - Corruption in democratic and authoritarian settings

Day 2 - Corruption scandals and anti-corruption reforms

WEEK 5

Day 1 - Corruption as an international policy problem

Day 2 - Foreign aid, conflict settings and (anti-) corruption

WEEK 6

Day 1 - Rethinking corruption and anti-corruption: Global South vs Global North

Day 2 - Information, media, and (anti-) corruption

 

PART III – ANSWERS TO CORRUPTION

WEEK 7

Day 1 - Top-down efforts to control corruption

Day 2 - Innovating anti-corruption efforts: the use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the public administration

WEEK 8

Day 1 – Bottom-up approaches in controlling corruption

Day 2 - Anti-corruption technologies: benefits and pitfalls

WEEK 9

Day 1 - Mapping players, arenas and their relations

Day 2 – Who are the anti-corruption “champions”?

WEEK 10

Day 1 – What else can we do in terms of anti-corruption interventions?

Day 2 – Wrap up of the course

The structure and content of the course may be subject to revision should new scholarly contributions of particular relevance to the course objectives be published before the start of the teaching period.

The course is taught in English and consists of 40 hours of interactive lectures. A more detailed syllabus outlining the topics, readings, and other materials covered each week is available on the Virtuale platform.

Exchange students: the admission to optional courses of the LM/Master IR is allowed to incoming students at Master level. 

Undergraduate students are very welcome to enroll. However, they are asked to contact the instructor by email in advance to discuss whether they have the appropriate background in disciplines related to the topics covered by the course.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students are required to read and study all the compulsory readings listed and made available in due time on the Virtuale platform.

Non-attending students are required to read and study all the compulsory readings listed in the Course Contents section and the following books:

- Fisman, Raymond, and Miriam A. Golden. (2017). Corruption: What everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press.

- Holmes, Leslie. (2015). Corruption: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.

All students are encouraged to consult and study the extra readings.

Teaching methods

The course integrates lectures, in-depth case study analyses with presentations and discussions, and interactive sessions with students.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated through two main tools:

· A brief essay 3,000-4,000 words (50%)

· An oral exam (50%)

Attending students will have to attend at least 15 classes out of 20. Attendance will be recorded. 

Non-attending students will be evaluated through two main methods:

· A final essay 7,000-8,000 words (excluding references) (50%)

· An oral exam (50%)

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations, multimedia materials, and practical exercises will support teaching and learning activities.

Students with DSA or temporary or permanent disabilities:

It is recommended to contact the responsible University office in good time (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it): it will be their responsibility to propose any adaptations to the students concerned, which must however be submitted, with a 15-day notice, to the approval of the teacher, who will evaluate the opportunity also in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Fernanda Odilla Vasconcellos De Figueiredo