Empowering Citizens to Fight Corruption

New Tactics Online Dialogue: EMPOWERING CITIZENS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION
Shaazka Beyerle, Senior Advisor, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
August 2010

CORRUPTION IS -- the misuse of entrusted power for private gain. Transparency International a system that involves a complex set of relationships, some obvious and others hidden, with established vested interests, that can cut across political, economic and social forces.
… the external manifestation of the denial of a right, an entitlement, a wage, a medicine…
Aruna Roy, Co-founder, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) movement

CIVIC POWER (PEOPLE POWER)
power that comes from significant numbers of people organized together
CIVIL RESISTANCE
(NONVIOLENT STRUGGLE)
the expression of civic power – through the use of nonviolent strategies and tactics

NONVIOLENT TACTICS
the methods of civil resistance
Over 200 tactics have been documented, including varieties of :
noncooperation
civil disobedience
low-risk mass actions
displays of symbols
street theatre and stunts
songs, poetry and humor;
citizen “report cards” for public services
civic “report cards” for political candidates
monitoring of officials, institutions, budgets, spending and public services
social audits
social networking technologies (e.g., Facebook organizing, blogging)
education, training and youth recreation
social and economic empowerment initiatives
creation of parallel institution
anti-corruption pledges
public awards
protests, petitions, vigils, marches, sit-ins; strikes and boycotts
nonviolent blockades
nonviolent accompaniment.

Civic power is wielded through the sustained, strategic application of a variety of nonviolent tactics that:
Strengthen citizen participation, and grass-roots organization and capacity;
Disrupt systems of corruption, including dishonest relationships, illicit practices and the status quo;
Weaken the sources of support and control for unaccountable and corrupt power holders; entities, and their enablers;
Win people over to the civic campaign or movement, from the public and from within the corrupt system (e.g. honest officials).

GENERAL GOOD PRACTICES
Moving from abstract issues
to everyday concerns –
to win public support and
engage citizens
2. Skills, strategies & planning -
can overcome difficult
conditions and
situations

3. Honest image – the association of
groups in society perceived as
incorruptible and honest can
have a galvanizing effect.
4. Campaign creativity – necessary to overcome obstacles, adapt to changing circumstances, develop
effective tactics, and maximize the impact of
its resources.

5. Tactical innovation – critical
to overcome intimidation,
repression, human rights abuses,
and maintain campaign resilience www.facebook.com
6. Education and
training – often neglected
but always essential for
building campaign capacity

7. Communications – strategically important to build
awareness, win support, involve
citizens in actions.
CANVAS (Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies)

8. Information
-- its collection, access, and use can be a powerful tool when combined with civil resistance

9. Unity –
of grievances, goals and people
10. Ownership –
cultivating a sense that everyone is part of the fight against corruption and everyone can play a role

ANTI-CORRUPTION TOOLS
Social audit
Budget analysis
Right to information (RTI) submissions
United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
internationalbudget.org
newtactics.org
informationactivism.org

Eighty percent of the world’s governments fail to provide adequate information for the public to hold them accountable for managing their money, according to the Open Budget Index 2008.
http://www.openbudgetindex.org/

Did you know?
Governments that make available the least information on how they spend the public's money also tend to have the weakest oversight institutions, creating opportunities for waste, mismanagement, and corruption.

Empowering Citizens to Fight Corruption

by kjantin on Aug 26, 2010

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Empowering Citizens to Fight Corruption — Presentation Transcript