Cultural specificity versus institutional universalism: a critique of the National Integrity System (NIS) methodology

Heywood, Paul M.; Johnston, Elizabeth

Abstract

This article provides an assessment and critique of the National Integrity System approach and methodology, informed by the experience of conducting an NIS review in Cambodia. It explores four key issues that potentially undermine the relevance and value of NIS reports for developing democracies: the narrowly conceived institutional approach underpinning the NIS methodology; the insufficient appreciation of cultural distinctiveness; a failure properly to conceptualise and articulate the very notion of ‘integrity’; and an over emphasis on compliance-based approaches to combating corruption at the expense of the positive promotion of integrity. The article seeks to offer some pointers to how the NIS approach could be adapted to broaden its conceptualisation of institutions and integrity, and thereby provide reports that are more theoretically informed as well as being more constructive and actionable.

Citation

Heywood, P. M., & Johnston, E. (in press). Cultural specificity versus institutional universalism: a critique of the National Integrity System (NIS) methodology. Crime, Law and Social Change, 68(3), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-017-9709-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 13, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Sep 13, 2017
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 13, 2017
• Journal: Crime, Law and Social Change
• Print ISSN: 0925-4994
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-0751
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 68
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-017-9709-z
• Keywords: integrity, integrity management, National Integrity System, Cambodia
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/882299
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10611-017-9709-z
• Contract Date: Feb 13, 2017