RT Article
T1 Shadow state structures and the threat to anti-corruption enforcement: evidence from Uzbekistan’s telecommunications bribery scandal
JF Crime, law and social change
VO 81
IS 4
SP 343
OP 364
A1 Lasslett, Kristian
A2 Capus, Nadja 1971-
LA English
YR 2024
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1906770093
AB The role which corporate and financial secrecy vehicles play in enabling transnational corruption has justifiably received growing scholarly and policy interest. Less attention, however, has been given to the enabling role played by political secrecy vehicles. Political secrecy vehicles denote arrangements that allow individuals to clandestinely exercise public authority, which is concealed by a formal bureaucratic façade. This article develops analytical categories for deconstructing political secrecy structures and pinpointing the threat they pose to anti-corruption enforcement. These structures and threats are then empirically explored through an investigative case study. The case study plots how shadow political space in Uzbekistan and the simulacra of impartial public administration, was utilised by a kleptocratic syndicate to conceal an international bribery scheme, and then weaponised by the conspirators to successfully frustrate enforcement efforts in Europe. Drawing on key lessons from the case study, proposals are made for how the threats posed by political secrecy structures can be jurisprudentially and practically counteracted.
NO Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 362-364
K1 Corruption
K1 Kleptocracy
K1 Anti-corruption
K1 Anti-money laundering
K1 Bribery
K1 Shadow state
DO 10.1007/s10611-023-10122-w