Building a Culture of Integrity: The Role of Anti-Corruption Laws
A special issue of Laws (ISSN 2075-471X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 16 March 2026 | Viewed by 1850
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The relationship between law and corruption is intricate and multifaceted, shaped by varying disciplinary perspectives and contextual realities. Monique Nuijten and Gerhard Anders’ seminal research (2007) offered an anthropological lens on this interplay, revealing the hidden continuities between corruption and law. They provocatively argued that corruption and law, often perceived as opposites, are deeply intertwined, with the potential for corruption embedded within legal systems themselves. This Special Issue seeks to revisit this critical question, challenging scholars and practitioners to engage with or refute this claim in light of contemporary developments.
While corruption is frequently framed as the antithesis of the rule of law, certain legal frameworks, such as state-sanctioned impunity for corrupt officials, reveal a more nuanced dynamic. Despite these paradoxes, law remains an indispensable instrument for combating corruption and promoting integrity. This Special Issue invites contributions that critically examine the role of anti-corruption laws at national, regional, and international levels.
We are particularly interested in analyses that address the effectiveness of anti-corruption legislation in mitigating corruption, its impact on fostering a culture of integrity, and the interactions between legal frameworks and societal norms. Submissions might explore the successes and challenges associated with implementing anti-corruption measures, offering case studies or dissecting treaties and other legal instruments. Contributions that interrogate the limitations of existing legal approaches or propose innovative frameworks for reform are equally welcome.
A crucial aspect of this volume will focus on decolonizing anti-corruption legal frameworks. Many so-called “model” anti-corruption laws, often promoted by international organizations, reflect Western legal traditions and norms. We invite discussions on how these frameworks are framed, lobbied for, and adopted in developing countries, often without adequate consideration of local contexts or priorities. Contributions could also explore the influence of global anti-corruption instruments, such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and their domestic implementation.
Moreover, we encourage critical reflections on whether recent advancements in anti-corruption laws provide an illusion of control, masking systemic barriers that enable corruption. Papers might investigate how legal mechanisms, while essential, often fail to address the structural and political foundations of corruption.
Through this Special Issue, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of how legal instruments can advance accountability and integrity while addressing the power dynamics, inequalities, and challenges that complicate their implementation. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this volume seeks to illuminate the potential and limitations of law in constructing a world where integrity prevails over corruption.
Scholars, practitioners, and policymakers are invited to submit papers that engage with these themes. Abstracts should outline the paper’s key arguments, methodology, and its contribution to the broader discourse on anti-corruption and integrity.
Dr. Prosper Simbarashe Maguchu
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Laws is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- anti-corruption laws
- integrity
- corruption
- legal frameworks
- decolonizing anti-corruption
- accountability
- international treaties
- structural barriers
- rule of law
- societal norms
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