Ebook: Normalizing Corruption: Failures of Accountability in Ukraine

Ukrainians have entered into a Faustian bargain by accepting entrenched corruption to ensure that institutions perform their basic functions. As in many deals with the devil, this pact requires a paradoxical arrangement whereby the very accommodations that are put in place to make institutions function also undermine the democratic quality of these institutions. I argue that this phenomenon is not uniquely Ukrainian, but helps us understand why democratic transitions may falter.
Accountability is crucial to every successful democratic system. The failure to develop functioning mechanisms of accountability has undermined democratic consolidation worldwide. Reliable tools that hold officials accountable are essential for democratic governance; one of the key threats to accountability comes from corrupt practices, especially when they are integrated—or normalized—in the day-to-day activities of institutions. This book focuses on the experiences of contemporary Ukraine to evaluate the successes and failures of institutions, politicians, political parties, bureaucracies, and civil society. Yet, the topic is directly relevant to countries that have experienced democratic backsliding, and especially those countries that are at risk.
Normalizing Corruption addresses several interconnected questions: Under what circumstances do incumbents lose elections? How well do party organizations encourage cohesive behavior? Is executive authority responsive to inquiries from public organizations and other government institutions? How can citizens influence government actions? Do civil servants conduct their duties as impartial professionals, or are they beholden to other interests? The research builds upon extensive fieldwork, data collection, and data analysis that Erik S. Herron has conducted since 1999.