ABSTRACT
Corruption is a contested concept because individuals and communities frame it through very different worldviews, values and experiences. Activities that some individuals and communities believe constitute corruption can be seen by others as culturally acceptable. Moreover, there have been few academic studies that have directly compared the views and practices of anti-corruption organisations. Most researchers focus on a single type of anti-corruption organisation when discussing their concerns about the industry. The paucity of information about how different groups and individuals understand corruption has theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically it means that explanations of corruption, and of the work of the anti-corruption industry, suffer for a lack of evidence. Corruption is linked to transnational crime networks that cross country and regional boundaries. The problem of corruption in PNG is said to be acute. External assessments of the problem, such as TI's CPI and the World Bank's World Governance Indicators, suggest that PNG is one of the most corrupt places on earth.
