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This publication examines the connections between peacebuilding and the fight against corruption. The author offers suggestions on how peacebuilding can help break the vicious circle between violent conflict, fragility and corruption.
Corruption is both an underlying cause and a driver of conflict. Violent conflict, fragility and corruption can be considered a vicious circle. We argue that peacebuilding and conflict prevention need to pay more attention to corruption and join forces with actors promoting transparency, accountability and good governance. Peacebuilding can contribute with its vast array of approaches and methods of analysis and reflection, supporting cohesion and coalition building, dialogue facilitation and visioning as well as transformation to the fight for accountability. This paper will suggest eight potential entry points for further discussion.
This background paper has been prepared for the FriEnt Peacebuilding Forum 2021 and a dedicated session on conflict and corruption. This session builds on previous discussions at two IACC conferences as well as on a dedicated conference on anti-corruption in fragile states. In December 2019, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Transparency International Germany, the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre and GIZ hosted an international conference which brought together anticorruption activists and peacebuilders. Participants called for closer collaboration amongst both groups to improve mutual understanding and learning, as well as for a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach. Minutes of the BMZ Conference can be found here. With this paper, we are following this call. It explores the interlinkages between corruption and conflict from a peacebuilder’s perspective and suggests how the peacebuilding community can contribute
to addressing the vicious circle.