Unlocking prosperity: Battling corruption for citizens' better lives

Corruption remains a pervasive and pressing challenge in every region, affecting political stability, economic growth, and social justice. It is a persistent issue with far-reaching consequences for citizens' well-being across the globe. Corruption, generally defined as the misuse of public power for private gain, has far-reaching consequences on a society's economic, social, and political fabric. The adverse effects of corruption on citizens' well-being are manifold, including reduced access to essential services, increased inequality, and diminished trust in public institutions. To improve the well-being of citizens, it is imperative to address corruption through a multifaceted approach encompassing transparency, accountability, legal reforms, ethical standards, political commitment, civil society engagement, international cooperation, technological solutions, economic reforms, and education. Our section examines the intricate relationship between corruption and the quality of life experienced by individuals in society. By bringing together scholars and researchers from various fields within political science, this section aims to explore innovative strategies and policies that can mitigate corruption and enhance citizens' well-being. Our section brings together the following panels: 1. Corruption in Public Procurement: Papers that examine the prevalence, impact and mechanisms through which corruption is present in public procurement processes in a variety of countries. 2. Bottom-up Accountability: Studies on the role of citizen engagement, civil society organizations, whistleblower protection and media in holding governments accountable for corruption and advocating for transparency and good governance. 3. Corruption Measurement: Exploring the assessment, challenges, and limitations of current measurement methods (such as survey research), as well as examining established and emerging methodologies and their impacts on anti-corruption policy development. It considers the evolving role of data and technology in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of corruption metrics. 4. Citizens and Corruption: Research investigating citizens’ perceptions of corruption, as well as their preferences and reactions to corruption. How do citizens express anti-corruption attitudes in a digitalized world? 5. Corruption and International Relations: Explorations of how corruption affects international relations, diplomacy, and global governance, including issues related to transnational corruption and anti-corruption efforts. The panel focuses on particular forms of corruption related to security issues, such as ghost soldiers. 6. Corruption and Public Opinion: Explorations of how corruption perceptions and attitudes influence citizens' trust in government, political participation, vote choice for populist parties and overall well-being. 7. Corruption and Public Policy: Investigations into the role of corruption in shaping public policies, including its impact on public service delivery, public health, education, and environmental protection. 8. Corruption Measurement: Exploring the assessment, challenges, and limitations of current measurement methods (such as survey research), as well as examining established and emerging methodologies and their impacts on anti-corruption policy development. It considers the evolving role of data and technology in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of corruption metrics. 9. Corruption and Gender: Investigating the connections between gender and corruption, particularly gendered forms of corruption, such as sextortion, as well as mechanisms linking gender and corruption, and feminist critical assessments of institutions and practices.