Corruption in Latin America / Edition 1

by David Arellano-Gault

Overview

In Corruption in Latin America the reader is presented with an alternative starting point for understanding corruption in this key region. The author asserts that corruption is a stable and rational social and organizational mechanism. Seen through this lens, we can begin to understand why it persists, and how to implement strategies to control corruption effectively.

Beginning with an in-depth, nuanced examination of the concept of corruption, the author establishes the theoretical basis for viewing corruption as a social construct. An analysis of the experiences of four countries in the region – Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala and Mexico – provides the reader with concrete data from which they can understand how and why these behaviors are reproduced, validated, and tolerated in everyday settings between governments and citizens, governments and firms, and firms and clients. Once we see corruption as the socially sanctioned norm for getting business done, we can begin to produce and propose effective solutions to reduce corruption in Latin America by designing and implementing instruments that transform this dynamic.

This rigorous and original approach will challenge the reader’s assumptions about corruption, and will appeal to students of corporate governance, international business, public management, and business ethics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138583719
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/18/2019
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Arellano-Gault is Professor in the Public Administration Division at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, Mexico. He is also Senior Editor of Organization Studies.

Table of Contents

Introduction Section I 1. Corruption: the battle for its definition 2. Corruption as a cultural and social process Section II Introduction to section II 3. Systemic corruption: limits and dilemmas of anti-corruption agencies. 4. The Mexican National Anti-corruption System: white elephant or world-class innovation? 5. Brazil: The success and crisis of a decentralized mechanism for controlling corruption 6. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala

Editorial Reviews

"Corruption in Latin America is a most needed book to understand deeply the complexity of corruption practices from their social and cultural roots. From this angle the fight against its pervasive and destructive effects in all societies might emerge." — Gabriela Coronado Susan, University of Western Sydney, Australia

"This book offers an interesting and novel approach on corruption in Latin America; exploring corruption as a socially-embedded game. This generates new insights into the sociological, cultural and organizational aspects of the phenomenon. It also includes a rich analysis of anticorruption efforts in the region, and of the reasons behind persistent meagre results. The book truly is a valuable resource for students, as well as for practitioners and policymakers that are interested in understanding corruption and imaging new solutions to old problems." — Fernando Nieto Morales, El Colegio de México, Mexico

"This is a ‘must’ for those interested in understanding corruption in Latin America. It adopts a realistic approach not only to comprehend, but also to tackle this problem our citizens face on a daily basis." — Cristian Pliscoff, Universidad de Chile, Chile

From the Publisher