IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS

UN Convention Against Corruption

as

a tool for behavioural change

International Comparators

• Nations comparing their economic performance is a modern phenomenon

• UN began using GNP per capita comparator• U Penn uses Purchasing Power Parity-1970s• Today a host of sophisticated comparators

– Human development index– Credit rating agencies– Freedom House ranking

152 Bangladesh 265 151 -1 151 -1

158 Kyrgyzstan 242 157 -1 157 -1

167 Laos 209 167 0 167 0

169 Nepal 207 166 -3 165 -4

170 Pakistan 201 168 -2 168 -2

182 Cambodia 146 181 -1 178 -4

183 Mongolia 140 182 -1 179 -4

186 Macao 121 186 0 184 -2

188 Bhutan 113 188 0 187 -1

189 Philippines 105 189 0 189 0

194 Brunei Darussalam 79 194 0 194 0

196 Afghanistan 65 196 0 196 0

202 Guam 18 201 -1 201 -1

Do Comparators have Impact?

• Technical comparators can have impact on credit rating, country status, ODA

• Governments pay attention to them• Civil society use them in advocacy• Media draw on these for news stories• Does the public notice these?• A major comparator is participation in

international regimes through treaties

Treaties - Normative Instruments

• Historical evolution from functional to normative intent quickens after WWII

• UN Charter has both mechanisms and aspirations for world based on rule-of-law

• 6 human rights treaties set standards and establish (weak) means of enforcement

• Virtual global consensus on this process

Corruption- an International Issue

• Before 1990s even the word was taboo

• 1993 - Transparency International formed

• 1995 - TI Corruption Perception Index

• 1997 - OECD Bribery Convention

• 1999 - TI Bribe Payers Survey

• 2001 - TI Global Corruption Report

• 2003 – UN Convention Against Corruption

UN Convention against Corruption – positive features

• Global convention-140 countries participate

• 106 signatories;Thailand,Vietnam,not Camb

• Covers active and passive corruption

• Requires criminalization of bribery etc

• Provides framework for freezing, seizure and return of assets and other cooperation

• Accepts role of civil society (Art 13)

UN Convention against Corruption – negative features

• Mandatory principles, weak enforcement

• Some provisions subject to local laws

• Weak on private sector corruption

• Technical assistance is unfunded

• Oversight mechanism left to Conference of State Parties (after 30 ratifications) in 2006

• Requires consciousness raising strategy

Tentative Conclusions

• Corruption now a major international issue

• Cambodia is judged on how it tackles it

• Participating in UN treaty is key aspect

• Judgment will have economic consequences– For investment– For development assistance– For credit rating

Will this affect Behaviour?

• “all politics is local” - Tip O’Neil, so…

• Will people take notice of Cambodia’s global rankings and demand change?

• Is the Cambodian govt sensitive to ratings?

• Do global issues impact at the local level?

• Is the international community’s expectation an agent for change, reform?

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