ABSTRACT
The preamble of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) opens with a declaration of concern regarding ‘the threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies’ (UN 2003). While corruption can exist in any society – wealthy or poor, developed or underdeveloped, integrated into the world economy or isolated – it is an issue of particular importance in those countries recently emerged from civil war, where the risks of renewed conflict remain acute. However, though the link between corruption and instability is made explicit by the UNCAC and others, efforts to combat corruption after conflict are less well developed. This is partly because one of the most important forms of post-conflict intervention, international aid, may actually exacerbate corruption and imperil the ultimate goal of peacebuilding: building state capacity to peacefully manage and prevent conflict. 1 More specifically, the way in which aid is given after conflict introduces a trade-off between the goals of peacebuilding and corruption: aid that is delivered through the state may strengthen the state, but it may also trigger increased corruption and decreased accountability; aid that is delivered outside of state channels may be protected against corruption, but weaken the state and prevent the consolidation of peace.
