| The good will that accompanied the 1997 Bribery | | | | excessive commissions (bribes) paid in these deals. |
| Convention will not last ad infinitum. Perceptions | | | | The Cornerhouse Group rightly say that there is |
| that countries are not living up to their obligations | | | | an urgent need to shift the focus of anti |
| under the Conventions will inevitability weaken the | | | | corruption measures. In seeking to explain |
| agreement and lead to erosion of public | | | | corruption, most commentators tend to dwell on |
| confidence. Recuperating the momentum and | | | | developing countries, not industrialised ones, on |
| enthusiasm of that initial accomplishment will go | | | | the bribe takers not the bribe givers. The intimate |
| far to ensuring that it is not yet the end of the | | | | connection between corruption in the South and |
| honeymoon. | | | | the institutional culture, bureaucratic practices and |
| International debate over good governance and | | | | priorities of public and private institutions in the |
| best practice may work towards the best | | | | North is thus effectively obscured |
| mechanism for investigating political and business | | | | Some campaigners suggest that the best |
| corruption. | | | | deterrent for companies that have a propensity |
| There are many areas still in need of urgent | | | | to bribery and corruption would be an international |
| reform. The OECD convention, which has been so | | | | blacklist. The World Bank's current blacklist is a |
| effective in many ways, left loopholes. The need | | | | start but it really only deals with some very small |
| to stop companies using political donations to | | | | fish. A blacklist that names and shames the big |
| briber foreign officials has to be outlawed. | | | | players, but more importantly prevents them |
| Some countries need to reform their laws so that | | | | obtain international contracts would be a forceful |
| extra-territorial offences are included and | | | | statement ? a landmark in the fight against |
| extradition is made easier. | | | | bribery and corruption. |
| Several International institutions have a long way | | | | Other campaigners think that blacklists are often |
| to go. The World Bank and EU both need to carry | | | | counterproductive. But the real deterrent for |
| out further reform to prevent bribery and | | | | those who continue to bribe and corrupt is a real |
| corruption in programs they fund. | | | | fear of detection and prison. The only way for |
| On a broader agenda more research needs to be | | | | the momentum of the anti-corruption movement |
| done in the way defence contracts involving | | | | to continue is by the installation of tough |
| foreign countries are awarded. The US, Germany, | | | | investigation and prosecution authorities. Many |
| France and Britain are among the biggest arms | | | | countries in Western Europe and North America |
| sellers in the world. They are extremely | | | | are yet to show that they are willing to |
| competitive. As these contracts usually involve an | | | | prosecute offenders. International Conventions |
| element of national government involvement are | | | | have a effect but without real regulatory muscle |
| even more secretive than normal contracts. Yet | | | | they will whither away and die. |
| the evidence we have indicates that there are still | | | | |