The Role of Integrated Governance Principles in the Fight Against Corruption: A Configurational Analysis

Abstract

Good governance offers a transformative approach to controlling corruption; however, existing literature on the governance-corruption nexus is limited by two significant flaws: (1) it overlooks the combined effects of governance principles on corruption levels, and (2) it relies on traditional statistical methods rooted in correlational arguments that fail to address asymmetric problems, where factors that drive success in some cases may have little or no impact in others. To overcome these shortcomings, this research applies fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to data from 32 European countries, uncovering multiple configurations that lead to successful corruption control. Drawing on institutional theory, the findings highlight three essential strategies: governments must legitimate their actions by building public consensus, securing the support of political parties and legislatures, and leveraging media to establish cognitive legitimacy. Additionally, open systems theory reveals that governments must move beyond internal governance, fostering dynamic interactions with their external environments through policy feedback and societal consultation. The study provides practical insights for policymakers, outlining specific combinations of governance principles that are necessary and complementary for effectively mitigating corruption.