1 / 15

Tackling Corruption in Palermo

Tackling Corruption in Palermo. Fighting the Mafia and Reclaiming a City (1993-2000) August 7, 2012 Presentation: Laura Bacon (Princeton ISS)

elom
Download Presentation

Tackling Corruption in Palermo

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Tackling Corruption in Palermo Fighting the Mafia and Reclaiming a City (1993-2000) August 7, 2012 Presentation: Laura Bacon (Princeton ISS) ‘Comparative, International Perspectives on Corruption’: A Symposium hosted by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) and Innovations for Successful Societies, Princeton University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

  2. Overview • Research conducted in Palermo, Sicily (2012) • Innovative approach to widespread corruption • Challenges • Strategy • Actions • Reflections

  3. Challenges • Mafia’s physical, political, cultural grip on city • “Sack of Palermo” • Lack of cultural activity • Weak education system • Mismanaged city administration • Weak service delivery • Corrupt bidding processes

  4. Strategy • Reclaim citizenship and city pride • Reasserting state • Public ownership • Palermo Model

  5. Actions taken • “Normal” actions in an “abnormal” environment • Improved hiring practices • Improved IT and connectivity • Got papers in order • Raised revenues • Reformed bidding process

  6. Actions taken – today’s focus • Innovative anti-corruption reforms • Leveraged public spaces, arts & culture • Incorporated civics into education curriculum • Engaged citizens and business leaders

  7. Public spaces, arts, culture • Restoration of city center • Zisa Cultural Center • Café Concerto • Teatro Massimo

  8. Reforming education • Building infrastructure • Newspaper classroom project • Civics lessons • “Adopt a Monument”

  9. Improving business climate • Founded one-stop-shop • Kick-started entrepreneurial activity • Promoted tourism

  10. Engaging citizens • Communications & accessibility • Participatory budgeting • Neighborhood councils • Immigrant council • Results

  11. Overall impact • Mafia influence diminished • Earned international credibility • Reforms backslid with new administration

  12. Connection to ISS Cases • Medellin and Bogota, Colombia • Solo, Indonesia • 2005: municipal government started to revitalize city. • Built alliances with business, civil society, NGOs • Created a one-stop shop • Expanded vendor facilities and health services • Boosted tourism; revived as arts and culture center • Opened the budget process to greater public scrutiny.

  13. Connections to other ISS case • Cape Town (Manenburg) • Escalating violence in the 1990s • Gangs asserted domination • Directorate of Community Development • Mapped challenges • Created Area Coordinating Teams • Provided a space for local participation in development projects • Solicited feedback on city services • Asserted presence of government in insecure areas

  14. Reflections • Strategic: • When should leaders confront corruption directly? Indirectly? Bypass entirely? • How do leaders build sustainability into efforts? • How to find windows of opportunity for action? • How can leaders import and export ideas about anti-corruption strategies? • Analytical: • How do responses to organized crime differ from responses to other types of corruption? • In your country, city or institution, what are the core values? How have they been distorted? How could they be restored? • Logistical: • How does one obtain resources for such projects?

  15. Questions? • Contact: Laura Bacon (bacon@princeton.edu) • To access our free case studies and oral histories, please visit: www.princeton.edu/successfulsocieties

More Related