Transparency International

Summary

Transparency International e.V. (TI) is a German registered association founded in 1993 by former employees of the World Bank. Based in Berlin, its nonprofit and non-governmental purpose is to take action to combat global[1] corruption with civil societal anti-corruption measures and to prevent criminal activities arising from corruption. Its most notable publications include the Global Corruption Barometer and the Corruption Perceptions Index. Transparency International serves as an umbrella organization. From 1993 to today, its membership has grown from a few individuals to more than 100 national chapters, which engage in fighting perceived corruption in their home countries.[2][3] TI is a member of G20 Think Tanks,[4] UNESCO Consultative Status,[5] United Nations Global Compact,[6] Sustainable Development Solutions Network[7] and shares the goals of peace, justice, strong institutions and partnerships of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).[8] TI is a social partner of Global Alliance in Management Education.[9] TI confirmed the dis-accreditation of the national chapter of United States of America in 2017.[10]

AbbreviationTI
Formation1993 (1993)
TypeInternational non-governmental organization
Legal statusEingetragener Verein (German registered voluntary association)
PurposeCombat corruption, crime prevention
HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
Location
  • Alt-Moabit 96
    10559 Berlin, Germany
Coordinates52°31′26″N 13°20′42″E / 52.5238°N 13.3450°E / 52.5238; 13.3450
Region served
Global
Managing Director
Daniel Eriksson
Chairman
Delia Ferreira Rubio
Key people
Peter Eigen
Websitewww.transparency.org Edit this at Wikidata

According to the 2016 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, Transparency International was number 9 of 100 in the Top Think Tanks Worldwide (non-U.S.) category and number 27 of 150 in the Top Think Tanks Worldwide (U.S. and non-U.S.) category.[11]

History edit

Transparency International was founded in May 1993. According to political scientist Ellen Gutterman, "TI's presence in Germany, and indeed its organizational development and rise from a small operation to a prominent international TNGO [Transnational Non Governmental Organisation], benefited from the activities and personal connections of at least three key German individuals: Peter Eigen, Hansjoerg Elshorst, and Michael Wiehen".[12]

The founding members included:[13][14]

In 1995, Transparency International developed the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The CPI ranked nations on the prevalence of corruption within each country, based upon surveys of business people. The CPI was subsequently published annually. It was initially criticized for poor methodology and unfair treatment of developing nations, while also being praised for highlighting corruption and embarrassing governments.[23]

Starting in 1999 and ending in 2011, Transparency International published the Bribe Payers Index (BPI) which ranked nations according to the perceived likelihood that a country's multinational corporations would offer bribes.[23] Spokesperson Shubham Kaushik said the organization "decided to discontinue the survey due to funding issues and to focus on issues that are more in line with our advocacy goals".[24] The Journal of Business Ethics states "Bribery in international business transactions can be seen as a function of not only the demand for such bribes in different countries, but the supply, or willingness to provide bribes by multinational firms and their representatives. This study addresses the propensity of firms from 30 different countries to engage in international bribery".[25]

Since 2005, Transparency International has published thirteen Exporting Corruption reports. Exporting Corruption is a research report that rates the bribery-related performance of leading global exporters, including countries that are signatories of OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.[26]

In April 2015 Russia's Ministry of Justice added Transparency International to the so-called list of "foreign agent".[27]

On March 6, 2023, Transparency International was declared an undesirable organization in Russia.[28]

Areas of work and products edit

Transparency International is the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption. It brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. TI's mission is to create change towards a world free of corruption.[This quote needs a citation]

The organization defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain which eventually hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority.[29] It develops tools for fighting corruption and works with other civil society organizations, companies and governments to implement them. Since 1995, Transparency International has issued an annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI); it also publishes a Global Corruption Report, a Global Corruption Barometer, and a Bribe Payers Index. In 2010, Transparency International developed a five-year strategy with six strategic priorities organized by the following categories: People, Institutions, Laws, Values, Network, Impact.[30] In 2015, Transparency International (TI) developed a five-year strategy which sets out their collective ambition for the coming years. Together against Corruption: Transparency International Strategy 2020 is a strategy by and for the Transparency International movement. This strategy is based on more than 1500 external and internal contributions addressing both the corruption environment of today and the one TI anticipates in the years ahead.[31]

Corruption Perceptions Index edit

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. It is a composite index – a combination of polls – drawing on corruption-related data collected by a variety of reputable institutions. The CPI reflects the views of observers from around the world.[32]

The Corruption Perceptions Index has been criticised for measuring perception and not "reality". The creators of the index argue that "perceptions matter in their own right, since... firms and individuals take actions based on perceptions".[33]

Other key products edit

  • The Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) is a survey that asks citizens about their direct personal experience of corruption in their daily lives.[34]
  • The Global Corruption Report picks a specific topic like corruption in climate change for example and provides in-depth research.[35]
  • National integrity system assessments are designed to provide comprehensive analysis on a given country's mechanisms to fight corruption.[36]
  • In 2013, Transparency International published the Government Defence Anti-corruption Index with which corruption in the defence sector of 82 countries was measured.[37] Some governments have expressed criticism towards the methodology of the report. Mark Pyman, the founder of TI's Defence & Security program, defended the report in an interview and stressed the importance of transparency in the military sector. The plan is to publish the index every two years.[38]
  • Exporting Corruption is a research report that rates the corruption performance of leading exporting countries, including signatories of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.[26]

Organizational structure edit

 
Transparency International's headquarters in Berlin

Transparency International consists of chapters – locally established, independent organizations – that address corruption in their respective countries. From small bribes to large-scale looting, corruption differs from country to country. As chapters are staffed with local experts they are ideally placed to determine the priorities and approaches best suited to tackling corruption in their countries. This work ranges from visiting rural communities to provide free legal support to advising their government on policy reform. Corruption does not stop at national borders. The chapters play a crucial role in shaping its collective work and realising its regional and global goals, such as Strategy 2015. Transparency International's multi-country research and advocacy initiatives are driven by the chapters.

According to its 2012 Annual Report, it is funded by western governments (with almost €5 million from the UK government) and several multinational companies, including oil companies Exxon Mobil and Shell, hedge funds KKR and Wermuth Asset Management, Deloitte and Ernst & Young.[39] Exxon Mobil itself was ranked in 2008 as the least transparent of 42 major oil and gas firms.[40]

As far as organizational structure is concerned, one important leadership structure is their advisory council. The Advisory Council is a group of individuals with extensive experience in the areas of Transparency International's work. They come from diverse geographical, cultural and professional backgrounds. The council is appointed by the board of directors to advise them and to support the work of the organization as a whole.[41]

Controversies edit

According to the newspaper Le Monde: "In its main surveys, Transparency International does not measure the weight of corruption in economic terms for each country. It develops a Corruption Perception Index (CPI) based on surveys conducted by private structures or other NGOs: the Economist Intelligence Unit, backed by the British liberal weekly newspaper The Economist, the American neoconservative organization Freedom House, the World Economic Forum, or large corporations. (...) The IPC ignores corruption cases that concern the business world. So, the collapse of Lehman Brothers (2008) or the manipulation of the money market reference rate (Libor) by major British banks revealed in 2011 did not affect the ratings of the United States or United Kingdom." The organization also receives funding from companies that are themselves convicted of corruption offences.[42] CPI's reliance on opinions of a relatively small group of experts and businesspeople, has been criticised by some. Alex Cobham, fellow at the Center for Global Development, states that it "embeds a powerful and misleading elite bias in popular perceptions of corruption". Others argue it is not plausible to ever measure the true scale and depth of a highly complex issue like corruption with a single number, and then rank countries accordingly.[43]

2013 attitude to Edward Snowden edit

At its annual members' meeting in November 2013 in Berlin, Transparency International's national chapters from Germany and Ireland proposed a resolution calling for the "end of the prosecution of Edward J. Snowden... He should be recognized as a whistleblower for his help to reveal the over-reaching and unlawful surveillance by secret services...He symbolizes the courage of numerous other whistleblowers around the world."[44]

The final resolution that was passed by the plenary excluded any reference to Snowden, and excluded a call for "comprehensive protection on whistleblowers from all forms of retaliation". The original resolution was weakened following the intervention of the USA chapter.[45] Five months earlier, in June 2013, representatives from Transparency International met Snowden at the Moscow airport, where he asked for political asylum in Russia.[46]

2014 funding from Siemens edit

In January 2015 it was reported that Transparency International accepted $3 million from the German engineering multinational Siemens, which in 2008 paid one of the largest corporate corruption fines[47] in history – $1.6 billion – for bribing government officials in numerous countries. In 2014, Siemens made the donation to Transparency International after pleading guilty in 2008 to bribery charges relating to widespread corrupt practices in Greece, Norway, Iraq, Vietnam, Italy, Israel, Argentina, Venezuela, China and Russia.[48]

Transparency International applied for and received the funding from Siemens, even though TI's due diligence procedures[49] prohibit the organization from accepting money from corporations that want to "greenwash" their reputations by making donations to TI. "If any corporate donor is accused of having been involved in corruption, the donor can expect no protection from TI," the procedures state. Transparency International received the funding from the Siemens Integrity Initiative[50] about a year after the Initiative hired former TI staffer Jana Mittermaier, raising questions of a "revolving door" that has benefited both the organization and the company.

Several of TI's national chapters also have accepted money from Siemens: $660,000 for TI USA, $600,000 for TI Italy, $450,000 for TI Bulgaria, and $230,000 for TI Mexico – each for a period of three years. "This really shows that Transparency International is not as pure as people think," a TI insider told Corporate Crime Reporter. Transparency International Managing Director at the time, Cobus de Swardt, said, "We did not file an application to Siemens, we applied to the Siemens Integrity Initiative. There's a difference. We have not applied to Siemens." However, according to Siemens, the money for these grants is "provided by Siemens".[51][52][53]

2015 whistleblowing edit

In August 2015 former TI staffer Anna Buzzoni went public regarding retaliation she and her colleagues faced after reporting to managers questionable financial dealings at TI's Water Integrity Network.[54] Two of Buzzoni's project responsibilities were suspended and she was transferred against her will. She left TI shortly before internal whistleblower guidelines were adopted in June 2014.[55]

2015 Croatia chapter disaccreditation edit

Due to a "lack of confidence", TI's chapter in Croatia was disaccredited by the organization's board of directors in November 2015.[56] The previous year, several leaders of the Croatia chapter challenged the legality of the chapter president's election. The president was accused of falsifying records, conflicts of interest, and arbitrarily expelling 10 chapter members who opposed the hiring of staff against the organization's rules. The Croatian government eventually revoked the president's appointment.[57]

2017 USA chapter disaccreditation edit

In January 2017, the TI Secretariat confirmed that its International Board of Directors decided on 10 January 2017 to strip its US affiliate – Transparency International USA – of its accreditation as the National Chapter in the United States.[10] The stated basis for the dis-accreditation was the board's recognition of differences in philosophies, strategies, and priorities between the former chapter and the Transparency International Movement. Elsewhere, it was reported that TI-USA came to be seen in the United States as a corporate front group, funded by multinational corporations. TI-USA's funding was provided by Bechtel Corporation, Deloitte, Google, Pfizer ($50,000 or more), Citigroup, ExxonMobil, Fluor, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Marsh & McLennan, PepsiCo, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Raytheon, Realogy, Tyco ($25,000–$49,999), and Freeport-McMoRan and Johnson & Johnson (up to $24,999).[58] TI-USA previously awarded an annual corporate leadership award to one of its big corporate funders. In 2016, this award went to Bechtel. In April 2015 the Secretariat defended the decision by TI-USA to give Hillary Clinton its Integrity Award in 2012.[59] Since January 1, 2020, Transparency International has an office in the United States.[60]

2017–21 reports of bullying, harassment and abuse of power by Board members and senior management edit

In 2017, Cobus de Swardt stood down as Transparency International's Managing Director, following a dispute with the organisation's board of directors. De Swardt agreed a settlement with a Transparency International in a Labour Court in Berlin.[61]

In August 2019 accounts from seven current and former TI Secretariat staff were reported in The Guardian alleging a "toxic" workplace culture at the organisation.[62]

De Swardt's successor, Patricia Moreira, left in 2020 after making similar accusations to those of De Swardt, accusing the Board of failing to protect whistleblowers, as well as corruption.

The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that Transparency International dismissed Moreira "without giving any reasons".[63] The article added that, "dozens of employees, including high-ranking ones, have left the organisation in recent years. Even long-standing and deeply committed employees complain that TI is involved in political intrigues in which some are only interested in their own progress. For a non-governmental organization whose goal is to fight corruption around the world, and which collects millions of dollars in funding from governments and companies every year, this is a disturbing finding."[64] Investigations specialist Harriet Witchell has stated that the Transparency International board’s handling of the complaints process was beset by conflicts of interest and failed to address allegations of misconduct made against the board.[65]

In 2021, de Swardt published a book accusing Transparency International of abuse of power and silencing whistleblowers.[66] De Swardt also presented a video published on YouTube by his publisher, Springer, criticising corruption at Transparency International.[67]

Daniel Eriksson was appointed Interim Managing Director in March 2020.[68]

Political activities in Brazil edit

Transparency International's political impartiality, as well as its own transparency, have been called into question over hacked conversations of prosecutors in Operation Car Wash, leaked to The Intercept.[69][70] In these, chief prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol and head of TI Brazil, Bruno Brandão, discuss a "backstage campaign" to "disarm resistance on the left", fund selected candidates, and target others, seen as adversaries, using social media. Plans extended to preparing a series of false accusations ("denúncias sem materialidade") intended to damage the reputation of former president and potential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and lead up to a chat in which participants celebrate the election of Jair Bolsonaro.[71][72]

In April 2022, Brazil's auditing court announced that it had opened an investigation against Transparency International over the illegal imprisonment of Lula da Silva.[73]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ e.V., Transparency International. "Our impact – Transparency International". www.transparency.org.
  2. ^ Transparency International e.V. "Our Organisation – overview". transparency.org.
  3. ^ "2020 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals widespread corruption is…". Transparency.org. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  4. ^ "Think Tanks". G20 Insights.
  5. ^ "NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO in consultative status" (PDF). unesco.org.
  6. ^ "Transparency International | UN Global Compact". www.unglobalcompact.org.
  7. ^ "94. Perception of public sector corruption – Indicators and a Monitoring Framework". indicators.report.
  8. ^ "Transparency International – United Nations Partnerships for SDGs platform". sustainabledevelopment.un.org.
  9. ^ "CEMS Social Partners | CEMS". www.cems.org.
  10. ^ a b e.V., Transparency International. "Transparency International confirms the disaccreditation of its chapter in the US".
  11. ^ James G. McGann (Director) (February 4, 2015). "2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report". Retrieved February 14, 2015. Other "Top Think Tank" rankings include #7 (of 80) in Top Think Tanks in Western Europe, #13 (of 85) in Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks, #1 (of 40) in Transparency and Good Governance Think Tanks, #2 (of 75) for Best Advocacy Campaign, #42 (of 65) for Best Managed Think Tanks, #10 (of 60) for Best Use of Social Networks, #8 (of 60) of Think Tanks with the Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program, #4 (of 40) for Best Use of the Internet, #9 (of 40) for Best Use of Media, and #10 (of 70) for the Most Significant Impact on Public Policy, #8 (of 60) of Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Public Programs.
  12. ^ a b Ellen Gutterman (June 2012). "The Legitimacy of Transnational NGOs: Lessons from the Experience of Transparency International in Germany and France (PDF)" (PDF). Paper Submitted to the 84th Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association.
  13. ^ Transparency International(TI)[usurped], International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities
  14. ^ Larmour, Peter (September 2006). Bowden, Brett (ed.). Global standards of market civilization. Routledge. pp. 95–106. ISBN 0-415-37545-2.
  15. ^ "Michael Wiehen - Partnership for Transparency Fund".
  16. ^ a b c "Advisory Council". Transparency.org. Archived from the original on 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  17. ^ "CEWS - Panelist Biographies - Butler". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  18. ^ "Senior Division Leaders: Michael J. Hershman". Fairfax Group. Archived from the original on 2015-08-14. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  19. ^ "George Moody Stuart obituary". The Times. November 24, 2004.
  20. ^ "Gerald Parfitt". Group DF.
  21. ^ Hicks, Bill (2010). "Transparency International". Pinkindustry.com.
  22. ^ "Frank Vogl - The Huffington Post". HuffPost. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  23. ^ a b Chaikin, David (June 2009). Corruption and money laundering: a symbiotic relationship. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-0-230-61360-7.
  24. ^ "Old Wall Street Journal report about corruption in Malaysia recirculates online". Fact Check. 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  25. ^ Baughn, Christopher; Bodie, Nancy L.; Buchanan, Mark A.; Bixby, Michael B. (2010). "Bribery in International Business Transactions". Journal of Business Ethics. 92 (1): 15–32. doi:10.1007/s10551-009-0136-7. ISSN 0167-4544. JSTOR 25621541. S2CID 154833690.
  26. ^ a b "Exporting Corruption 2020 - Projects". Transparency.org.
  27. ^ "Russia Adds Transparency International To Foreign Agents List". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  28. ^ "Russia declares Transparency International 'undesirable'". Le Monde. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  29. ^ Transparency International e.V. "Transparency International – What we do". transparency.org.
  30. ^ Transparency International e.V. "2015 Strategy". transparency.org.
  31. ^ Transparency International e.V. "2020 Strategy". transparency.org.
  32. ^ Transparency International e.V. "2012 Corruption Perceptions Index – In detail". transparency.org.
  33. ^ Uslaner, Eric M. (2008). Corruption, inequality, and the rule of law: the bulging pocket makes the easy life. Cambridge University Press. pp. 11–17. ISBN 978-0-521-87489-2.
  34. ^ e.V, Transparency International. "Global Corruption Barometer: citizens' voices from around the world". www.transparency.org. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Research - GCR - Overview". www.transparency.org.
  36. ^ "What we do - National integrity system assessments". www.transparency.org.
  37. ^ "Government Defence Anti-corruption Index". Transparency International. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08.
  38. ^ Mark Pyman (March 2013). "Transparency is feasible". dandc.eu.
  39. ^ e.V., Transparency International. "TI Publication - Annual Report 2012". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  40. ^ "Exxon 'ranks low on transparency'". BBC News. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Advisory Council". Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  42. ^ "" ¿Quién investiga a los investigadores? " - Le Monde diplomatique en español". mondiplo.com.
  43. ^ "Is Transparency International's measure of corruption still valid?". the Guardian. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  44. ^ Germany, TI; Ireland, TI (10 February 2014). "Whistleblower protection of Edward Snowden" (PDF). Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  45. ^ Mokhiber, Russell (10 February 2014). "Transparency International Nixes Edward Snowden". HuffPost. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  46. ^ "С Россией заговорили на беглом американском". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  47. ^ Lichtblau, Eric; Dougherty, Carter (15 December 2008). "Settling Bribery Case to Cost Siemens $1.6 Billion". The New York Times.
  48. ^ "Press Release: SEC Charges Siemens AG for Engaging in Worldwide Bribery; 2008-294; Dec. 15, 2008". www.SEC.gov.
  49. ^ "Private-Sector Donors Approval and Due Diligence Processes" (PDF).
  50. ^ "Integrity Initiative". www.siemens.com.
  51. ^ "Transparency International Siemens Revolving Door Spins, Money Pipeline Flows - Corporate Crime Reporter". 11 February 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  52. ^ "Transparency International and the Greenwashing of Siemens - Corporate Crime Reporter". 2 April 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  53. ^ "Siemens Donates $3 Million to Transparency International - Corporate Crime Reporter". 21 January 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  54. ^ "Home page - WIN - Water Integrity Network". WIN - Water Integrity Network.
  55. ^ "Falling on Deaf Ears". 27 August 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  56. ^ e.V., Transparency International. "Press release - Transparency International statement on its former chapter in Croatia". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  57. ^ Ognian Shentov; Ruslan Stefanov; Boyko Todorov, eds. (2014). Anti-Corruption Reloaded Assessment of Southeast Europe (PDF). Southeast Europe Leadership for Development and Integrity. ISBN 978-954-477-221-5.
  58. ^ "Transparency International Strips United States Affiliate of Accreditation - Corporate Crime Reporter". 19 January 2017.
  59. ^ e.V., Transparency International. "Transparency and The Clinton Foundation: Regarding recent statements" (Press release). Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  60. ^ "Home". Transparency International.
  61. ^ "Statement on allegations by Mr. de Swardt - Press". Transparency.org.
  62. ^ Doshi, Vidhi (2019-08-21). "Transparency International staff complain of bullying and harassment". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  63. ^ Burras, Corrina (19 June 2020). "Die dunklen Seiten der Korruptionsjagd". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  64. ^ " Die dunklen Seiten der Korruptionsjard", by Corinna Budras, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 7 June 2020
  65. ^ Witchell, Harriet (July 29, 2021). "Review Concerning Investigation of Bullying Allegations by Transparency International in 2019/20" (PDF). MyKludo. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  66. ^ de Swardt, Cobus (February 19, 2021). Silencing a Whistleblower. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-76540-8. ISBN 978-3-030-76539-2.
  67. ^ "Silencing a Whistleblower | Authors @ Fbm21" – via www.youtube.com.
  68. ^ "Management". Transparency International. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  69. ^ Fishman, Andrew; Viana, Natalia; Saleh, Maryam (March 12, 2020). ""Keep It Confidential": The Secret History of U.S. Involvement in Brazil's Scandal-Wracked Operation Car Wash". The Intercept.
  70. ^ Fishman, Andrew (June 8, 2021). "House Democrats Want Answers About U.S. Role in Disgraced Brazil Corruption Probe". The Intercept.
  71. ^ "Lava Jato debateu cláusula anti-Bolsonaro em ranking de candidatos em 2018". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  72. ^ "Deltan e Transparência Internacional tentaram criar plataforma de candidatos lavajatistas". Consultor Jurídico (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  73. ^ Mier, Brian (April 14, 2022). "Transparency International: Brazil Court Opens Investigation Of Anti-Corruption NGO". Brasil Wire. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Transparency International at Wikimedia Commons
  •   Quotations related to Transparency International at Wikiquote
  • Official website