The 4th Academic Symposium on Corruption was held in Atlanta on Dec 9-10. It has been traditionally held by UNODC (the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) in advance of the Conference of State Parties to UNCAC (the United Nations Convention against Corruption). The Symposium aims to provide a forum for UNODC academic network members, other academics and experts, and policymakers to discuss recent trends and good practices in research and education on anti-corruption; encourage further research on anti-corruption related topics and gaps that academics face when researching corruption, including ways to bridge the gap between academic research and policy practice.
Leonardo Borlini, a visiting professor of STL from University Bocconi of Milan, was invited to the 4th Academic Symposium on Corruption to discuss the main outcome of his recent work “A Data-Driven Study: Compliance Mechanisms as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Tool for the Evolution of the International Anti-Corruption Cooperation” . In his talk at the Symposium, he discussed the main findings of this article, which complements the gap in research on the functioning and results of the monitoring and compliance mechanism (MMs) of the international anti-corruption treaties. It focuses on the main patterns of text data analysis using computer processes to identify and compare achievements and shortcomings in the implementation and compliance of international anti-corruption rules. The results show that a number of countries have implemented reforms to implement anti-corruption treaties, promote law enforcement and streamline international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of corruption offences. However, the many problems identified with respect to prevention, particularly in European and American countries, suggest that states too often over-rely on the repressive aspects of fighting corruption and undervalue preventive mechanisms, which frequently do not exist or are inadequate. In addition, the article points to persistent challenges, even signs of regression, in different areas such as prevention, criminalization and law enforcement, and international cooperation, which have had a profound impact on the effectiveness of anti-corruption policies and law enforcement in some countries.
Written by: LI Jiayu
