Between governance & under-development: accumulation & Africa's 'catastrophic corruption

The author discusses the emergence of corruption as an essential issue to be tackled since the end of the 1990s, and provides a discussion of shifts in this conceptualization. The author gives examples of the billions of dollars lost through corruption all around the world especially based on foreign aid. This new hostility towards corruption stems from the desire to create a ‘new world order’ and create easier access to markets through neoliberal adjustments as well as the internationalization of capital. Most importantly, debt rescheduling and aid became contingent on the implementation of anti-corruption policies. The author stresses that corruption is not a third world issue, but a global one. Scandals in Western Europe and the US are scarce; however, the power hierarchy of the relationships involved would have us believing otherwise. The main goal of the anti-corruption industry becomes removing obstacles in accessing the market created by corruption. This raises questions about how we understand corruption; how serious are anti-corruption measures in finding solutions; and how these solutions would manifest in effect.