Afghans’ Experience with Corruption

With Afghanistan often at the bottom of international corruption lists and indices, an interesting report from Integrity Watch Afghanistan studies what Afghans consider to be corrupt behavior. It finds that while Afghans tend to have higher patience with petty corruption, justifying them on the grounds of low civil salaries, there is no social tolerance for large bribes and greed, which are considered morally wrong and un-Islamic. Many find corruption as more pervasive now than in previous administrations and regimes and see it as the most de-legitimizing factor in government.

People often emphasized with a certain resignation that due to the strong and interwoven spider web of illicit networks, which are closely collaborating from district to provincial and central level, it was difficult to identify feasible solutions. Aware of the fact that the whole administrative and political system needs to be changed, interviewees believed that small steps, like strengthening the provincial councils, aiming at behavioural change through religious education, and awareness raising via media could build the ground for reform programs and a slow change in culture.

This report follows a previous study done in January 2007 that examined the Afghan perceptions of corruption. It found that in 2006, half of the 1250 Afghan respondents reported paying bribes while two-thirds faced family financial problems due to corruption – alarming numbers, indeed.