Corruption definitions and their implications for targeting natural resource corruption

The document argues that the choice of corruption definition—whether focusing on individual abuse of power or systemic institutional failure—fundamentally shapes the anti-corruption responses practitioners implement. It contrasts the 'principal-agent' theory, which emphasizes individual control and punishment, with 'collective action' approaches that address underlying social norms and trust. The author emphasizes that practitioners must account for their own 'positionality' and incorporate local knowledge, particularly in non-Western contexts, to develop effective remedies for corruption in natural resource sectors.

• There is no single, globally accepted definition of corruption, though it is frequently described as the "abuse entrusted power for private gain."
• Commonly used definitions from the World Bank ("abuse of public office for private gain") and Transparency International have Western origins, which may limit their applicability in non-Western contexts.
• A systemic approach to corruption, such as that applied to the forest sector in India, views it not as individual misconduct but as a "system of normalized rules" based on existing inequalities and trust.
• The 'principal-agent' theory of corruption focuses on individual behaviors and information asymmetries, suggesting that anti-corruption efforts should increase the likelihood of detection and punishment.
• In environments where corruption is systemic and expected, 'collective action' approaches may be more effective than individual controls, as they focus on changing social attitudes and building trust.
• The author highlights that in Ghana, a narrow definition of corruption might overlook how it functioned to decide land allocations for agricultural investments after 2000.
• The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has successfully prosecuted over 27 forestry-related corruption cases since 2004.

APA

Williams, A. (2021). Corruption definitions and their implications for targeting natural resource corruption. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/123/6fzh5hqkch_Topic_Brief_Corruption_definitions_and_their_implications_for_targe_wtTlGwo.pdf

Chicago

Williams, Aled. Corruption definitions and their implications for targeting natural resource corruption. WWF International, 2021. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/123/6fzh5hqkch_Topic_Brief_Corruption_definitions_and_their_implications_for_targe_wtTlGwo.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Williams |first1=Aled |title=Corruption definitions and their implications for targeting natural resource corruption |publisher=WWF International |date=August 2021 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/123/6fzh5hqkch_Topic_Brief_Corruption_definitions_and_their_implications_for_targe_wtTlGwo.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{williams2021corruption, author = {Williams, Aled}, title = {{Corruption definitions and their implications for targeting natural resource corruption}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2021}, month = aug, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/123/6fzh5hqkch_Topic_Brief_Corruption_definitions_and_their_implications_for_targe_wtTlGwo.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }