Tocqueville and Beyond: The Role of Collective Action in Controlling Corruption Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Hertie School of Governance

Abstract

Control of corruption in a society is an equilibrium between resources and costs which either empowers or constraints elites predatory behaviour. While most research and practice focuses on legal constraints, this paper investigates normative constraints, deemed to be more important, especially civil society and the press. Fresh evidence, both historical and statistical is found to support Tocqueville’s assertions on the importance of collective action and the joint action of media and associations in creating not only a democratic society; but control of corruption. However, little is known on how to build normative constraints.