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Resisting Transparency: Corruption, Legitimacy, and the Quality of Global Environmental Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Monika Bauhr

    (Monika Bauhr is an Assistant Professor at the Quality of Government (QoG) Institute at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg.)

  • Naghmeh Nasiritousi

    (Naghmeh Nasiritousi is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research and the Division of Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University.)

Abstract

The domestic endorsement and institutionalization of transparency is of central importance to the implementation of global environmental policies. Studies often contend that interaction with international organizations (IOs) promotes domestic support for transparency. This article qualifies this conclusion and suggests that the positive effects of interaction with international organizations depend on the quality of IO decision-making processes, defined as their fairness, predictability, and effectiveness. Unfair, ineffective, and unpredictable decision-making processes in IOs can increase corruption, reduce legitimacy, and make officials blame transparency for unsatisfactory decision-making. The results build on a study of government officials in developing countries responsible for managing funds from the Clean Development Mechanism and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. Our findings suggest that government officials who perceive IO systems as unfair, ineffective, and unpredictable cultivate an adversarial relationship with media and NGOs and become more critical of the benefits of transparency. © 2012 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Monika Bauhr & Naghmeh Nasiritousi, 2012. "Resisting Transparency: Corruption, Legitimacy, and the Quality of Global Environmental Policies," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 12(4), pages 9-29, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:glenvp:v:12:y:2012:i:4:p:9-29
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Adam Bumpus & Thu-Ba Huynh & Sophie Pascoe, 2019. "Making REDD+ Transparent: Opportunities for MobileTechnology," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 19(4), pages 85-117, November.
    2. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Walter, Götz & Van de Graaf, Thijs & Andrews, Nathan, 2016. "Energy Governance, Transnational Rules, and the Resource Curse: Exploring the Effectiveness of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 179-192.
    3. Adam S. Harris & Brigitte Seim & Rachel Sigman, 2020. "Information, accountability and perceptions of public sector programme success: A conjoint experiment among bureaucrats in Africa," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 38(5), pages 594-612, September.
    4. Tareq K. Al-Awad & Motasem N. Saidan & Brian J. Gareau, 2018. "Halon management and ozone-depleting substances control in Jordan," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 391-408, June.
    5. Federico Ceschel & Alessandro Hinna & Fabian Homberg, 2022. "Public Sector Strategies in Curbing Corruption: A Review of the Literature," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 571-591, September.
    6. Muhammad Azizul Islam & Chris J. Van Staden, 2022. "Modern Slavery Disclosure Regulation and Global Supply Chains: Insights from Stakeholder Narratives on the UK Modern Slavery Act," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 455-479, October.
    7. Johanna Gisladottir & Sigurbjörg Sigurgeirsdottir & Ingrid Stjernquist & Kristin Vala Ragnarsdottir, 2022. "Transparency and Leverage Points for Sustainable Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    8. Naghmeh Nasiritousi & Björn-Ola Linnér, 2016. "Open or closed meetings? Explaining nonstate actor involvement in the international climate change negotiations," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 127-144, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    global environmental policies; international organizations;

    JEL classification:

    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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