Administrative Corruption: The Chain Holding Global Development Hostage
DID Press: At the national level, corruption not only wastes resources but also destroys public trust; at the international level, it facilitates illicit financial flows and exacerbates inequality. The UN estimates that eradicating corruption could inject three trillion dollars into the Sustainable Development Goals.
On December 9, International Anti-Corruption Day, the world is once again confronted with the harsh reality that corruption remains a major obstacle to sustainable development. According to the recent Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report by Transparency International, the global average corruption score remains 43 out of 100, and more than two-thirds of countries (68%) score below 50.
This situation indicates a stagnation in the fight against corruption: 28 countries have made progress, while 34 countries, including Turkey, have regressed with an 11-point decline. Denmark leads the ranking with a score of 90, while Somalia sits at the bottom with 11 points.
Corruption has a devastating impact on countries’ economic, social, and political development. Economically, the World Bank has said that corruption reduces private investment and lowers GDP growth by up to 1.7% for each unit improvement in the CPI. In developing countries, bribery and embezzlement divert resources from infrastructure and public services, deepening poverty. Socially, it erodes public trust and makes women and children particularly vulnerable. Politically, corruption weakens governance and fuels instability and conflict.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a key tool for measuring this situation and highlights the link between corruption and judicial impunity. According to the index, more corrupt countries are less likely to punish their officials. In the region, Afghanistan, with a score of 17 (ranked 165 out of 180), is among the most corrupt countries. Pakistan (29) and Tajikistan (20) show similar conditions, while Uzbekistan, with a 15-point improvement to 33, stands out as a regional success.
In Afghanistan, corruption was a primary factor in the collapse of the previous government in 2021. The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) emphasized that corruption destroyed government legitimacy, increased public support for the Taliban, and diverted resources to insurgents. Corruption in the security sector also weakened institutions and eroded public trust.
In such a context, the media and civil society play a vital role in exposing and addressing corruption. Public education, budget transparency, and the use of modern technologies, such as online reporting systems, are effective tools in the fight. International cooperation, particularly through the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), provides a global framework.
Ultimately, International Anti-Corruption Day is a call to all of us that corruption not only destroys economies but also threatens the future of nations. Only through national unity and global pressure can this chain be broken, ensuring justice and transparency.
By Rahmatullah Enayati – DID Press Agency