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

Heywood, Paul M.; Johnston, Elizabeth

Authors

Elizabeth Johnston



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 Mar 29, 2024
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

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