From state capture to strategic corruption: emerging threats to states [Articol]

Abstract

While corruption has been around for millennia and the academic world is trying to use effective tools to fight it, we have seen new and more dangerous corruption phenomena. They go beyond the level of petty or organised corruption and attack the core functioning and institutions of the state. State capture and strategic corruption have become part of the toolbox of modern hybrid conflicts and their presence poses a serious national security risk. Drawing on the relevant literature, the paper provides an overview of the phenomenon of state capture and strategic corruption, and its relationship to hybrid conflicts. It makes recommendations for building resilience to reduce the risks of these threats.