Possibility of bottom-up resistance when corruption is a norm?

The aim of my paper is to present a theoretical model, that reflects interdependency between different types of system of corruption and possibilities of resistance against the system. I use systemic approach to assess widespread and institutionalized corruption in society. The system is the common term to describe networks of power in post-soviet space. Usually, this term is used to define a specific type of governance structure (Shevtsova 2005) including political regime and its formal and informal institutions, structures and processes, which influence public behaviour (Karklins 2005). The core underlying assumption is that even though the quantity of corruption is permanently high in some countries, the ways of how corruption is organized in a system, vary. Characteristics of particular system of corruption type influence the way the system interacts with its environment (society, external actors). The interaction mode between the system of corruption and its environment is crucial for possibilities of resistance against the system of corruption, even though corruption is considered as a norm. In my paper, I conceptualize possible models of interaction between system of corruption and its environment, and develop a theoretical model of such an interaction depending on the type of the system. In order to define system’s typology, I rely on concepts of centralized and decentralized system of corruption, developed by Christoph Stefes (2006, 2008). Based on my study of Ukraine, I stretch his differentiation by adding a third type, which is monopolized system of corruption. Such theoretical model is useful for explanation of different forms to resist corruption in post-soviet countries. Some parallels can be drawn to hybrid regimes in other parts of the wold.