skunk
02-27-2010, 11:18 PM
What is "Global Integrity" (http://www.globalintegrity.org/aboutus/index.cfm) you ask?
Global Integrity generates, synthesizes, and disseminates credible, comprehensive and timely information on governance and corruption trends around the world.
As an independent information provider employing on-the-ground expertise, we produce original reporting and quantitative analysis in the global public interest regarding accountable and democratic governance.
Our information is meant to serve simultaneously as a roadmap for engaged citizens, a reform checklist for policymakers, and a guide to the business climate for investors.
The Global Integrity Report 2009 (http://report.globalintegrity.org/)
Accountability and Anti-Corruption Unchanged in U.S. Despite New Administration (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#NewAdministration)
Global Integrity Drops China From Corruption-Watch List (http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100226-715499.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAsia)
Despite a change of administration in the United States in 2009, significant progress has not been achieved in curbing corruption at the national level in the U.S. The overall score for the United States in 2009 — 85 — is virtually the same as when Global Integrity last assessed the United States in 2007. Despite the new White House's rhetorical commitment to reform and laudable efforts to increase the transparency of government information, there is little evidence to suggest that concrete changes have taken root that will curb corruption at the national level in the years to come. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow greater levels of corporate and union spending on election advertising will likely drive down future scores for the U.S., Global Integrity predicts.
Global Integrity's new data for the United States suggest several reasons why little progress was achieved in 2009. The Obama administration's early anti-corruption efforts focused significantly on tighter restrictions around lobbying. While certainly not harmful, there are few data to suggest that increasing the transparency around lobbying activities at the federal level is the solution to corruption challenges in the United States. Rather than lobbying, Global Integrity data point to the corrupting influence of massive amounts of money in the federal elections process as one of the core drivers of corruption in the American system. A failure to adequately control the influence of money in politics has blunted other reforms and continues to undermine the potential for lasting change.
The data gathered in 2009 also suggest that the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to allow greater corporate and union spending on political advertising (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission) will likely pour fuel on the fire of political corruption in the U.S. While free speech concerns loomed large in the court's decision to overturn longstanding campaign finance controls, the practical reality is that by allowing significant new inflows of private money into the U.S. political process, the court's decision may simply overwhelm an already dysfunctional Federal Elections Commission and undermine prospects for more accountable governance.
For Global Integrity data in the U.S. to improve in future years, innovative methods to control the influence of money in politics will need to be explored in the post-Citizens United era while important accountability agencies such as the Federal Elections Commission and the Inspectors General will need to be greatly strengthened, both politically and with larger budgets.
Other key findings:
Accountability and Anti-Corruption Unchanged in U.S. Despite New Administration (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#NewAdministration)
New Countries Added (and Dropped) from the Grand Corruption Watch List (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#NewCountriesAdded)
Foreign Aid May Not Help Anti-Corruption Enforcement in Aid-dependent Countries (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#ForeignAid)
Despite Robust Elections, Ukraine Faces Significant Overall Governance Challenges (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#Ukraine)
2009 Gainers & Backsliders (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#Gainers)
Power Sharing Agreements Ignore Need for Conflicts of Interest Reforms in Kenya and Zimbabwe (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#PowerSharing)
I have attached the full report for those interested.
Global Integrity generates, synthesizes, and disseminates credible, comprehensive and timely information on governance and corruption trends around the world.
As an independent information provider employing on-the-ground expertise, we produce original reporting and quantitative analysis in the global public interest regarding accountable and democratic governance.
Our information is meant to serve simultaneously as a roadmap for engaged citizens, a reform checklist for policymakers, and a guide to the business climate for investors.
The Global Integrity Report 2009 (http://report.globalintegrity.org/)
Accountability and Anti-Corruption Unchanged in U.S. Despite New Administration (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#NewAdministration)
Global Integrity Drops China From Corruption-Watch List (http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100226-715499.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAsia)
Despite a change of administration in the United States in 2009, significant progress has not been achieved in curbing corruption at the national level in the U.S. The overall score for the United States in 2009 — 85 — is virtually the same as when Global Integrity last assessed the United States in 2007. Despite the new White House's rhetorical commitment to reform and laudable efforts to increase the transparency of government information, there is little evidence to suggest that concrete changes have taken root that will curb corruption at the national level in the years to come. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow greater levels of corporate and union spending on election advertising will likely drive down future scores for the U.S., Global Integrity predicts.
Global Integrity's new data for the United States suggest several reasons why little progress was achieved in 2009. The Obama administration's early anti-corruption efforts focused significantly on tighter restrictions around lobbying. While certainly not harmful, there are few data to suggest that increasing the transparency around lobbying activities at the federal level is the solution to corruption challenges in the United States. Rather than lobbying, Global Integrity data point to the corrupting influence of massive amounts of money in the federal elections process as one of the core drivers of corruption in the American system. A failure to adequately control the influence of money in politics has blunted other reforms and continues to undermine the potential for lasting change.
The data gathered in 2009 also suggest that the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to allow greater corporate and union spending on political advertising (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission) will likely pour fuel on the fire of political corruption in the U.S. While free speech concerns loomed large in the court's decision to overturn longstanding campaign finance controls, the practical reality is that by allowing significant new inflows of private money into the U.S. political process, the court's decision may simply overwhelm an already dysfunctional Federal Elections Commission and undermine prospects for more accountable governance.
For Global Integrity data in the U.S. to improve in future years, innovative methods to control the influence of money in politics will need to be explored in the post-Citizens United era while important accountability agencies such as the Federal Elections Commission and the Inspectors General will need to be greatly strengthened, both politically and with larger budgets.
Other key findings:
Accountability and Anti-Corruption Unchanged in U.S. Despite New Administration (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#NewAdministration)
New Countries Added (and Dropped) from the Grand Corruption Watch List (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#NewCountriesAdded)
Foreign Aid May Not Help Anti-Corruption Enforcement in Aid-dependent Countries (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#ForeignAid)
Despite Robust Elections, Ukraine Faces Significant Overall Governance Challenges (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#Ukraine)
2009 Gainers & Backsliders (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#Gainers)
Power Sharing Agreements Ignore Need for Conflicts of Interest Reforms in Kenya and Zimbabwe (http://report.globalintegrity.org/globalindex/findings.cfm#PowerSharing)
I have attached the full report for those interested.