The United Nations Convention against Corruption, negotiated on October 2003, is the universal anti-corruption instrument for developing a comprehensive response to a global problem.
Published in Chapter:
The Fight Against Corruption
Ranieri Razzante (University of Bologna, Italy)
Copyright: © 2020
|Pages: 20
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-1286-9.ch010
Abstract
Corruption, generally speaking, can be defined as “abuse of power for private gain” that can be classified as grand, petty, and political, depending on the amounts of money lost and the sector where it occurs. Therefore, it is a phenomenon that compromises rule of law, weakens public institutions and democracy, impacting negatively on productivity and economy. Indeed, because of all these implications, it can be analyzed stressing social, economic, politic, or legal perspectives. These features have allowed experts from different fields to investigate the phenomenon, which does not exclusively concern conduct punishable by criminal law, but also conduct that can be considered just an “expression of maladministration” in both the public and private sectors. This chapter seeks to address the legal aspect of corruption. In particular, it overviews the main anti-corruption measures international community has adopted in recent years. By showing the evolution and steps that led to the actual treaty situation, the Authors offer a hint on the goals achieved and those to be achieved.