What happens after the anti-corruption franchising ends? The opposite trajectories of former Transparency International chapters in Brazil and Uruguay

Uruguay Transparente and Transparência Brasil are nonprofit organizations initially established in response to corruption scandals in Uruguay and Brazil in the late 1990s and quickly became chapters of Transparency International. Despite having influential founders who lent them credibility from the outset, both organizations experienced internal disagreements with Transparency International. After ceasing to be anti-corruption franchises, they took very different paths. Transparência Brasil invested heavily in professionalizing and digitalizing its anti-corruption efforts and developed technologies to secure funding and sustain its initiatives. In contrast, Uruguay Transparente relied primarily on volunteers with limited digital use. While Transparência Brasil remains active, Uruguay Transparente has entered a dormant phase, even amid corruption scandals involving the current Uruguayan government. Through qualitative analysis of interviews and documents, this study examines these divergent trajectories. The findings reveal several gaps among activists in their use of digital technology, which go beyond financial and technical resources. These gaps include skills, access to technology, and willingness to innovate, and are often marked by a generational divide. The level of digital engagement also correlates with broader networks. Transparência Brasil has cultivated robust connections with other anti-corruption actors to develop its anti-corruption technologies, while Uruguay Transparente has supported only one initiative, an interactive website focused on increasing transparency in political financing. A stronger digital presence not only enhances networking opportunities for civic action in anti-corruption, but also raises questions about technology development and how to align initiatives to secure funding amid competing priorities.