ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the history of anti-corruption agreement and the factors that motivated member states to signal their commitment to the fight against corruption. It investigates the role of diffusion mechanisms in shaping results at the regional level, presents in-depth evidence on the document’s drafting process, shows the extent to which decision-makers in the Organization of American States (OAS) drew on reference models from within and outside the Americas. The OAS was the first international organization to adopt a binding anti-corruption agreement. Multiple regional organizations across Latin America aim to foster economic integration and political cooperation among their respective member states. The Juridical Committee’s draft introduced some clarifications and helpful additions regarding the regulation of international cooperation. The resulting treaty covers prevention, criminalization, jurisdiction, and international cooperation, but there is no mention of domestic enforcement, for instance regarding minimum standards for sanctions.
