Sharing Responsibilities for Action

Abstract

Abstract This chapter addresses the normative issue of who ought to take actions to combat corruption. The chapter offers a framework that assists with particular agent’s responsibility assignments. It involves a new and complex model of responsibility that is action-oriented and forward-looking. We can use it in determining responsibility for a wide range of actors including local officials, CEOs of multinational corporations, lawyers, accountants, bankers, engineers, citizens, and many more diverse agents. The chapter discusses some of the factors relevant to sharing responsibility for tackling corruption fairly. Responsibilities track a variety of factors including specific corruption risks that we are directly able to address, capacity to assist, contributions to the corruption, benefits derived from corruption, role-related responsibilities, and assistance already provided. The chapter offers textured analysis of how agents have different roles to play in tackling responsibilities to reduce corruption. The chapter also argues that we have obligations to enlarge capacities to address corruption. Our different capacities, roles, and situations can also be grounds for obligations to assist in creating capacity in different ways as well. As I argue, the different ways of creating capacity also amplify responsibilities. We should aim to create resilient communities and mechanisms that are human rights supporting. Forming broad coalitions and joining up with others often makes our task more manageable while at the same time amplifying our efforts. Joining up with others making complementary efforts increases our power to create corruption-curbing capacity.