Sexual forms of corruption and sextortion: how to expand research in a sensitive area

There is increasing attention about the problem of sextortion and sexual forms of corruption. Yet, scholarly understandings of this challenge are underdeveloped. We make three contributions in this chapter. First, we elaborate on the definitions of the concept, trace the use and evolution of the concept and present empirical illustrations of which sectors the phenomenon has been observed. Second, we analyze the first cross-national survey that includes questions gauging sexual forms of corruption. This survey helps to disentangle where, geographically, the problem is prevalent and what individual factors that seem to increase the risk of experience of such acts. Third, we discuss a future research agenda and provide suggestions on what questions should be asked. Because of the paucity of systematic empirical studies, we propose, as a next step, more of theoretically informed survey research. We conclude by discussing potential recommendations for policy that would come out from such renewed research.