Tackling bribery and corruption in the Middle East: perspectives from the front line
| Published date | 03 October 2016 |
| Date | 03 October 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-08-2015-0040 |
| Pages | 843-854 |
| Author | Janice Goldstraw-White,Martin Gill |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & Finance,Financial risk/company failure,Financial crime |
Tackling bribery and corruption
in the Middle East: perspectives
from the front line
Janice Goldstraw-White
GWAssociates, Stone, UK, and
Martin Gill
Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International (PRCI) Ltd,
Tunbridge Wells, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The aim of this paper is to see how senior managers in Middle East, an area frequently
associated with high levels of bribery and corruption, tackle these in their organisations.
Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach was employed, using interviews with 66
employees responsible for bribery and corruption management in their organisations. The research
instrument used included both open and closed questions which allowed participants to expand on their
answers. Qualitative data and some descriptive statistics are used to analyse and summarise interview
ndings.
Findings – Over the past few decades, governments have tried to control bribery and corruption via
legislation. However, this is a contested area and many argue that legislation is an inappropriate
mechanism. This paper assesses the implications in one geographical area, the Middle East. As well as
exploring current approaches for tackling corruption, it discusses how culture and tradition affect
organisational practices. We show that whereas the majority of organisations have been committed to
stamping out bribery and corruption, some have been willing to tolerate such illegal behaviours.
Originality/value – This paper informs academics, policy-makers and those responsible for
managing bribery and corruption about the challenges faced by those in the Middle East.
Keywords Middle East, Corporate governance, Compliance, Corruption, Bribery,
Facilitation payments
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Bribery and corruption, alongside other “white-collar” offences, have been viewed as
risks and consequences of being in business (Graham, 1999, p. 324). What makes bribery
and corruption distinct is that it usually involves some kind of secret exchange between
complicit people (Green and Ward, 2004, p. 11). Typically, it involves the abuse of trust
and misuse of power (Bowman and Gilligan, 2007), albeit that it is difcult to dene and
it has been recognised that there is a thin dividing line between legal and corrupt
behaviour (Hooker, 2009). For a good discussion on the difculties dening corruption
The authors would like to thank Mike Adlem for spearheading this study and Aidi Burns for his
help in facilitating contact with interviewees. We would especially like to thank the 66
respondents who gave up their time to offer their views. We would also like to thank colleagues
Charlotte Lawson, Professor Rob Mawby and Alix Godfrey for their help in preparing this paper.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1359-0790.htm
Tackling
bribery and
corruption
843
Journalof Financial Crime
Vol.23 No. 4, 2016
pp.843-854
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/JFC-08-2015-0040
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