What Can We Learn about Corruption from Historical Case Studies?

2021 ◽  
pp. 138-161
Author(s):  
Mark Knights
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Cultural Attitudes ◽  
Historical Approach ◽  
Science Models ◽  
Historical Case Studies

The chapter shows how a historical approach can offer a productive and useful dataset and tools to understand corruption and anticorruption. Since corruption has existed across time and space, and is multifaceted, involving politics, economics, law, administration, social, and cultural attitudes, it can best be studied in a multidisciplinary way that includes the study of the past as well as the present. A historical approach offers ways of thinking about change and continuity, and hence also about how and why reform processes occur and are successful. Historical case studies can test and challenge social science models but also offer different, more qualitative, evidence that can help us to reconstruct the mentalities of those who refused to accept that their behavior constituted “corruption,” as well as the motives of those bringing the prosecution or making allegations. Historical sources, often offering multiple perspectives of different participants, can also enable us to form a more holistic view of corruption scandals and of the important role of public discussion in shaping quality of government.

Leadership for Democracy in Challenging Times: Historical Case Studies in the United States and Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Johnson ◽  
Yoon Pak
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Democratic Citizenship ◽  
Historical Study ◽  
Secondary Source ◽  
Curriculum Innovation ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
Historical Case Studies

Purpose: This article focuses on the role of school and district leadership in the development and implementation of reform aimed at increasing racial and religious tolerance. It chronicles the rise of intercultural and democratic citizenship curriculum in three North American sites—Springfield, Massachusetts, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and San Diego, California—during the 1940s. Research Method: Parallel historical case studies were conducted using traditional historical research methods through the analysis of archival documents, school district memos, school board minutes, and contextualization through relevant secondary source literature. Findings: School and district leaders supported curriculum innovation aimed at prejudice reduction and propaganda analysis, networked and collaborated with community organizations, and used foundation funding to support curriculum and professional development for racial and religious inclusion. Implications: These cases highlight the critical role of leadership to support democracy in the development of partnerships between school and district personnel, community activists, and civic foundations; the establishment of advocacy networks across borders; and the “borrowing” of diversity policies from other school districts, which were adapted to their unique community contexts. This historical study has implications for how current school leaders might “lead for democracy” in challenging times.

scholarly journals An Abstract Approach. Rational Non-Sense To Replace Historical Nonsense in Educating Leaders

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-131
Author(s):  
Mika Kerttunen
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Abstract Thinking ◽  
General Staff ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
Joint Level ◽  
Abstract Approach ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Historical Case Studies ◽  
Officer Education

Abstract This research questions the value of empiricism and historical case studies in higher level officer education. It will instead emphasize the need and importance of a rationalist approach to knowledge. It will outline a tentative example of an abstract approach to case studies. By doing this the author seeks to enhance the education of abstract thinking - an art that is required from joint level and general staff officers.

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