Whilst the TI DSP team has published a significant number of defence and security corruption related reports, we know that much more needs to be done. With that in mind we keep a list of research topics that we feel would not only enhance the literature on the subject, but increase the knowledge base for practitioners as well. The following list of potential research topics is certainly not exhaustive, but we believe that it nonetheless provides a good starting point for research in this field.

It provides a mix of small secondary research projects or large primary source topics, and can thus engage a wide spectrum of individuals and project sizes: from interns over three months,  to Master’s students over three months or part time over 12 months, and major projects for PhD candidates and senior research fellows.  

If you are interested in researching any of the topics or require any further information please contact Saad Mustafa, our Research Assistant.

In using this list with interested researchers, we have come across the problem that corruption research, even in a specific area like defence and security, spreads across several quite distinct academic disciplines.  The most common ones, loosely grouped together, are:

I. Political Science, International Politics, International Relations

II. International Security, Security Policy, Security Studies

III. War Studies, Peace Studies, Conflict, Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding

IV. Law: Procurement, Trade and Offsets

V. Criminology and Financial Crime

VI. Ethics and Business, Military Ethics, Military Training

VII. Monitoring and Evaluation of NGO’s

Typology of defence corruption

Our own framework is a practitioner one, not a theoretical one.  This is based on engagement with numerous nations and gradually sorting out the wide range of relevant corruption issues. The typology lays out the range of ways that corruption may manifest itself in these high-risk sectors. It has five broad categories: Political risks, Procurement risks, Personnel risks, Finance risks, and Operations risks.

To expand on the specific manifestations of corruption within the scurity sector, TI-DSP adapted the defence corruption typology it uses with senior defence officials to police. The framework has been adapted to a police context following extensive feedback from the first time the typology was used in Burundi, and numerous discussions with police reform experts and practitioners. The typology, which can be found in the research list PDF is a work in progress as TI-DSP continues to build on its experiences in this field.

These framework may act as good reference points for potential researchers.

Download our Defence Corruption Research List.

Read more on Our Research.

Read more on Our Work and Focus Areas.

I. Political Science, International Politics, International Relations

1. Analysis of the extent of corruption ‘spillover’ from defence/security across to other parts of government: do high levels of defence/security corruption lead on to high levels in other sectors; perhaps because it's so easy from defence that this sustains a network of agents, accountants and lawyers who diversify into other areas with corruption potential. Start with Kenya as a case study and seek out case studies from nations.
2. Review the ‘Big Bang’ vs. ‘Gradual’ vs ‘Governance’ approaches to counter-corruption initiatives in nations. Which works best and which strategies have the leading international development agencies adopted (i.e. DFID, NORAD, USAID, etc.)?
3. Analyse and conclude from the Corruption control trends across nations using the WGI database: Review the ‘corruption trends’ data from the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators (WGI) database, considering all regions and different categories of nations;  Analyse some of the trends: small nations seem to make a lot of improvement; post-conflict nations, etc. Could the WGI corruption trends data be a leading indicator of dissatisfaction with government? Consider the methodological problems that have been raised, are they substantive or not? Analyse the political strategies adopted by NATO, the USG, the World Bank, UNDP and other development agencies in relation to corruption in Afghanistan, 2001-2011.
4. Analysis of the extent, nature and influence of military-owned businesses on defence and security policies
5. Analyse the extent and nature and influence of military-owned businesses in particular countries.  Countries of immediate interest are Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, Serbia, Ukraine, Jordan, Kenya, Indonesia.
6. Review and analyse the nexus between natural resource assets and defence corruption – analysis across non-conflict countries
7. Review and analyse the relationship between foreign military aid and corruption.
8. Did countries that aspired to join NATO and the EU actually reform their internal practices in relation to corruption as a pre-requisite to joining either of the two international bodies? Review what was implemented vs. what was required. Further, analyse what happened to corruption in general, and in the defence and security establishments in particular in those nations. The student could take an individual nation, or analyse by specific reform proposal, eg military reform, judicial reform.
9. Is there evidence to support the popular notion that countries that tend to rank high in press freedom observe a decrease in defence and security corruption? Or is the defence establishment considered ‘taboo’ even among these countries?
10. Analysis of defence budget transparency: build on the work already done by analysing further groups of nations, and attempt to understand the correlation between budget transparency and corruption.
11. Analysis of the political strategies used by reforming nations to tackle corruption in defence and security sectors

II.  International Security, Security Policy, Police, Security Studies
 

12. Review the experience of anti-corruption reform efforts in police and security, especially after major political change (e.g. Peru, Chile, Argentina, Georgia...).  TI-DSP has published an initial look at this but it now needs deeper scrutiny. In particular, focus on civil society efforts in such reforms and how successful they have been.
13. Analyse the extent of transparency and public engagement in National Security Strategies and National Defence Strategies across a wide variety of nations.
14. Analyse and review the nature and extent of corruption risks and transparency within intelligence agencies – both military and civilian
15. Analyse the country experiences in reforming intelligence services (e.g. Peru)
16. Analyse the corruption experience in defence and security asset disposals in a wide range of countries
17. Analysis of the extent of border corruption in conflict countries. Review in particular the extent of military complicity in border corruption. Include the experience of border guard reform efforts worldwide
18. Analyse the anti-corruption reform efforts by civil society organisations in police and security services.  Build on the preliminary report already done by TI-DSP
19. Review best practices in the transparency of arms export reporting: (Sweden, Netherlands, US, UK etc.)
20. Analyse ‘government to government’ defence deals: are they more or less corrupt than ordinary commercial deals?
21. Analyse Nigeria’s experience in introducing a-c reforms in their Defence Ministry
22. Analyse Colombia’s experience in introducing a-c reforms in their Defence Ministry
23. Analyse Peru’s experience in introducing a-c reforms in their Defence Ministry
24. Evaluate the a-c defence reforms in other countries (Georgia, Poland, Bulgaria, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, etc)
25. Analyse the influence of ethnic minorities on the corrupt practices of governments and military officials (Côte d'Ivoire, etc.)
26. Analyse the current extent, desirability and trends of the use of intermediaries in arms export corruption.
27. Why does ‘Security Sector Reform’ hardly ever touch the subject of defence and security corruption, other than to lament the issue?  What action could/should be taken?

III. War Studies, Peace Studies, Conflict, Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding

28. Carry out a review of the conceptual and negotiating frameworks used by diplomats and negotiators in respect of corruption; especially in respect of settling conflicts.  Review any ‘negotiating guidance’ provided to international crisis negotiators.
29. Collation, analysis and review the corruption experience in Peacekeeping operations and the implications for UNDPKO (United Nations Department of Peacekeeping operations) policy. This is a big topic and the researcher may like to take a particular Peacekeeping operation, or the experience of certain forces, or of officers in certain regions or with a particular mandate.
30. Analyse corruption practice and reform in appointing soldiers to peacekeeping forces (Including the practices in Pakistan, Rwanda, Kenya, Ukraine, Nepal…)
31. Review and analyse the lack of transparency of UN and other national & international funds in Afghanistan and the impact on the conflict and corruption in the country.
32. Collate and analyse the experience of returning ISAF commanders and troops on how they experienced corruption in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone and other international interventions.
33. Review and analyse the relationship between the extent of military support for a developing country (e.g. US International Security Assistance to Egypt) and the trends in corruption in those nations.
34. What is the experience of intervention forces doing local contracting?  In doing so, what has been their experience of corruption and how have they addressed this issue?
35. Expeditionary contracting – review and analyse the experience of Peace Dividend Trust in acting as an intermediary and market place between international and national contractors.
36. Expeditionary contracting – experience with corruption and corruption control.
37. Collate and analyse first hand corruption stories from International forces officers and soldiers about how they experienced corruption in theatre.  Such experiences can highlight the real problems that are encountered for soldiers on subsequent missions.
38. Collate and analyse first hand corruption stories from Peacekeeping officers about how they experienced corruption in theatre. A book of such experiences can highlight the very real problems that are encountered on the ground for peacekeepers on subsequent missions.
39. Collate and analyse corruption experiences on the military conscription process ( TI-DSP has done one such small study of the problem in Russia).
40. Carry out a regional study on how transparent military and MOD salary chains are across the world. What safeguards/best practices have countries adopted?
41. Review and analyse the relationship between increased international aid and violence.
42. What impact does petty bribery have on international missions in post-conflict environments?
43. Review, analyse and model the extent of corruption in foreign contracting in conflict/post-conflict countries.
44. Analyse the links to corruption of post-conflict tribunals and transitional justice programmes.
45. Analyse corruption in the private security and private military company markets.
46. Corruption and anti-corruption reform in transitional governments, particularly military.

IV. Law: Procurement, Trade and Offsets

47. What analyses, if any, are there of the economic value of offset deals in the defence industry? What is the conclusion from such analyses as there are?
48. Does the extraordinary complexity of defence procurement rules and its effect on corruption lead to an increase in corruption cases?  Use the USA as a country to examine this hypothesis.
49. Does the widespread adoption of ‘electronic procurement’ techniques lead to a decrease in defence corruption risk? Study the experience of defence ministries with electronic procurement and its impact in reducing corruption (e.g. Poland)
50. What impact is the new UK Bribery Act having on the behaviour and processes of defence companies?  Would similar extra-territorial laws in other countries have a similar effect 9eg France, Germany, Russia)?
51. Review of corruption risks and transparency deficiencies in the global partnership of F-35 purchases from Lockheed Martin
52. What is the extent of single source defence procurement across regions? e.g. 1) Latin America, 2) NATO nations, 3) OSCE nations, 4) Major arms exporting nations, 5) Africa and the Middle East.
53. Collate and analyse defence procurement reforms in defence and security ministries worldwide.  
54. Collate and analyse defence procurement reform efforts in defence and security ministries of a particular country or set of countries (e.g. Colombia, Greece, Malaysia, Chile, Georgia, Bulgaria)
55. Offsets: Do a detailed analysis of the Portuguese submarines case. Consideration of reference for Greece?
56. Evaluate the impact of TI’s campaign to raise offset transparency in the defence procurement process.  
57. Construct a methodology to determine the economic benefits of offsets to countries (geographically, cross-country study)
58. Analyse and evaluate how offset anti-corruption and due diligence procedures have changed in defence companies during the last 5-10 years.  
59. Analysis of corruption mechanisms and cases in corrupt financing packages supporting arms sales
60. What's currently going on in Uganda with the Russian fighter deal? (See East Africa Times)
61. What vetting procedures do the various military establishments have with regards to subcontractors and corruption risk? (could be done as a cross-country case study or looking at one specific country in detail)
62. Analysing what constitutes good practice in minimising corruption in arms export licensing: best practice (US? Italy? Germany?)
63. Analysis of the use of agents/intermediaries and the threat they pose to ‘clean’ defence deals (cross-country study)

V. Criminology and Financial Crime

64. Review the infiltration of organised crime into the defence and security apparatus.  Again, this is a big topic and the student could focus on countries (eg Mexico, Sierra Leone, ), or regions, or on particular organised crime products (drugs, guns, human trafficking). Can be a follow up to the existing TI-DSP publication.
65. Review and analyse the nature and extent of the involvement of defence and security forces in exploitation of natural resource assets.  This is a big topic.  Students could concentrate on particular assets (oil, mining, timber, fishing, land, etc), or particular countries (eg Indonesia, oil rich countries), or particular governance regimes (eg decentralised government, dictatorships, state capture countries, etc).
66. Mapping financial flows in/out of countries in conflict – both licit and illicit. Analysing the case of Afghanistan
67. Analyse the confluence of money laundering and the proceeds of corrupt arms transfers
68. What practice and policy lessons can be gleaned from a review and analysis of the on-going corruption cases in TI-DSP’s digest database? Mapping financial flows in/out of countries in conflict – both licit and illicit. Developing a model.

VI. Ethics and Business, Military Ethics, Military Training

69. What is the current practice in the training of MOD officials and officers on values and Codes of Conduct?  Examine this across a range of countries.
70. Global investment funds and the arms trade: best practice anti-corruption screening and risk assessment
71. Analyse the feedback from 150 Afghan senior ANSF officers going through the NATO/TI anti-corruption training course, and 150 Ukrainian officials through their course.
72. What is the effectiveness of military justice and military prosecutors in pursuing defence corruption risks and risks vulnerabilities within the system?
73. Why does the study of ‘military ethics’ never touch the subject of corruption?

VII. Monitoring and Evaluation

74. Are NGOs and civil society organisations more successful in tackling corruption when they focus on particular sectors or when they try to tackle corruption more generally? (i.e. EITI and the extractive industry, etc.) How do the findings impact defence and security initiatives?
75. Experiences of successful NGO engagement with ministries of defence and/or security (comparative case study).
76. Carry out an analysis/evaluation of the NATO-TI Building Integrity programme.
77. Carry out an analysis of the anti-corruption reforms in Poland’s Ministry of National Defence.