The politics of survival or business as usual? Exploring the effects of armed conflict on corruption

Abstract

Countries emerging from violent conflict must overcome several challenges to achieve long-lasting peace. The literature paints a bleak picture indicating that only few post-conflict countries improve in terms of good governance and the rule of law. Instead, they might experience even more corruption, because state structures are not fully developed while informal networks have flourished during the civil war. Yet, we know surprisingly little about what happens to corruption during conflict. In this study, we examine whether levels of corruption in post-conflict countries are systematically different from pre-war levels. Using data from the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, we find that corruption is relatively stable over time. However, longer and more intense conflicts are associated with higher levels of corruption.