THE ROLE OF E-GOVERNMENT IN COMBATING CORRUPTION IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES

Abstract

Improving the enforcement of rules is clearly the best way to combat corruption. The introduction of eGovernment can play a major role in this context as it automates several processes. However, in the case of post-communist transitioning countries such as Armenia, the challenges are unique. These countries are struggling with the transformation of their legacy bureaucratic and administrative processes. In addition, almost every post-Soviet country has inherited systemic corruption that is built in to the ‘modus operandi’ of both the public and private sectors. Without some method of categorization, assessment and modification of existing administrative processes, the formation of good policy and planning capable of leveraging the current capacity of institutions to deliver public service in a more transparent and efficient way is simply not feasible. Automating existing bureaucratic processes that are defective will not yield results. In this paper, we propose a methodology to combat corruption using information and communication technologies (ICT) that entails process restructuring.