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

IV. Development Studies, Expeditionary Economics, Political Economics

V. Law: Procurement, Trade and Counter-trade, Financial Crime

VI. Ethics and Business, Military Ethics, Military Training

VII. Country-specific case studies

VIII. 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.

This framework may act as a good reference point 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. Corruption control trends across nations:

1. Review the ‘corruption trends’ data from the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators (WGI) database, considering all regions and different categories of nations;
2. Analyse some of the trends: small nations seem to make a lot of improvement; some post-conflict nations improve and some do not, why?
3. Could the WGI corruption trends data be a leading indicator of dissatisfaction with government?
4. Consider the methodological problems that have been raised, and conclude whether they are substantive or not

2. 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? Does corruption in defence sustain 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.
3. 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.
4. Review the available literature of experience of anti-corruption reform efforts in police and security after major political change (e.g. Peru, Chile, Argentina, Georgia...). TI-DSP has published an initial look at this but it needs deeper scrutiny.
5. Is there evidence to support the popular notion that countries which tend to rank high in press freedom observe a decrease in defence and security corruption? Alternatively, is the defence establishment considered ‘taboo’ even among these countries?
6. Analysis of defence budget transparency – bluid on the work already done by analysing a further groups of nations, and attempt to understand the correlation between budget transparency and corruption.
7. Analyse and review the nature and extent of corruption risks and transparency within intelligence agencies – both military and civilian.
8. Analysis of the political strategies used to tackle corruption in defence and security sectors.
9. Analyse the political strategies adopted by NATO, the World Bank, UNDP and other development agencies in relation to corruption in Afghanistan, 2001-2011.
10. 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.
11. Analyse the quantitative correlation between the extent of military owned businesses and corruption in the nation.
12. Analysis of the extent, nature and influence of military-owned businesses worldwide (including North Africa and the Middle East).
13. Carry out a literature review of the ‘Big bang’ vs. gradual approach to counter-corruption initiatives in nations. Which works best and which strategy have the leading international development agencies adopted (i.e. DFID, NORAD, USAID, etc.).

II. International Security, Security Policy, Security Studies

Policy oriented

1. Analysis of the current extent, desirability and trends of the use of intermediaries in arms export corruption.
2. Analyse arms deal financing and particular forms of corruption within financing, so as to develop ‘red flags’ to assist in detection of corruption in arms financing.
3. Review and analyse the nature and extent of the involvement of defence and security forces in exploitation of natural resource assets. Since this is a huge topic, students may find concentrating 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) a good approach.
4. Analyse the confluence of money laundering the proceeds of corrupt arms transfers.

Knowledge, experience, and practice

5. What lessons can be gleaned from a review and analysis of the on-going corruption cases in TI-DSP’s digest database?
6. Analyse the mechanisms of corruption as a means to divert weapons from the legal arms trade.
7. 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.
8. Collation and analysis of country experiences in reforming intelligence services (e.g. Peru).
9. Collation and analysis of corruption experience in defence and security asset disposals in specific countries.
10. 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.
11. Collation of anti-corruption reform efforts in police and security services.  Build on the preliminary report already done by TI-DSP.
12. Collation, analysis and trends of corruption experience in peacekeeping operations. Again, this is a big topic. The student may like to take a particular peacekeeping operation, or the experience of certain forces, or of peacekeeping officers in certain regions.
13. Corruption practice and reform in appointing soldiers to peacekeeping forces (Including the practices in Pakistan, Rwanda, Kenya, Ukraine, Nepal…).
14. Collating and reviewing best practices in the transparency of arms export reporting: (Sweden, Netherlands, US, UK etc.).
15. Analysing what constitutes good practice in minimising corruption in arms export licensing: best practice (US? Italy? Germany?).
16. Analysis of the use of agents/intermediaries and the threat they pose to ‘clean’ defence deals (cross-country study).
17. Analysis of ‘Government to government’ defence deals: are they more or less corrupt than ordinary commercial deals?

III. War Studies, Peace Studies

Policy oriented

1. Review and analyse the lack of transparency of UN and other national & international  funds in Afghanistan and their impact on the conflict and corruption in the country.
2. 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.
3. Review and analyse the relationship – if any – 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.
4. 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.

Finding knowledge, experience and practice, maybe with implications

5. Collate and analyse first hand corruption stories from International forces officers and soldiers 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 soldiers on subsequent missions.
6. As above, but for peacekeeping forces.
7. Collate and analyse corruption experiences on the military conscription process (e.g. TI-DSP has done one such small study of the problem in Russia).
8. Carry out a regional study on how transparent military and MOD salary chains are across the world. What safeguards/best practices have countries adopted to limit corruption in the salary chain (from the treasury to the individual soldier).

IV. Development Studies, Expeditionary Economics, Political Economics

1. Review and analyse the nexus between natural resource assets and defence corruption – analysis across non-conflict countries
2. Review and analyse the relationship between increased foreign aid and defence and security corruption
3. Review and analyse the relationship between increased international aid and violence
4. What impact does petty bribery have on international missions in post-conflict environments?
5. Mapping financial flows in/out of countries in conflict – both licit and illicit.  Analysing the case of Afghanistan
6. Mapping financial flows in/out of countries in conflict – both licit and illicit.  Developing a model.
7. Review, analyse and model the extent of corruption in foreign contracting in conflict/post-conflict countries
8. 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)

Finding knowledge, experience and practice, maybe with implications

9. Expeditionary contracting – experience with corruption and corruption control.
10. 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?
11. Expeditionary contracting – review and analyse the experience of Peace Dividend Trust in acting as an intermediary and market place between international and national contractors.

V. Law: Procurement, Trade and Counter-trade, Financial Crime

Policy oriented

1. What analyses, if any, are there of the economic value of offset deals in the defence industry? What is the conclusion from such analyses?
2. 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.
3. 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)
4. 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)?

Finding knowledge, experience and practice, maybe with implications

5. 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.
6. Collate and analyse defence procurement reforms in defence and security ministries worldwide.  
7. 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).
8. Offsets: Do a detailed analysis of the Portuguese submarines case. Consideration of reference for Greece?
9. Evaluate the impact of TI’s campaign to raise offset transparency in the defence procurement process.  
10. Construct a methodology to determine the economic benefits of offsets to countries (geographically, cross-country study).
11. Analyse and evaluate how offset procedures have changed in defence companies during the last 5-10 years.  
12. Analysis of corruption mechanisms and cases in corrupt financing packages supporting arms sales.

VI. Ethics and Business, Military Ethics, Military Training

1. 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.
2. Global investment funds and the arms trade: best practice anti-corruption screening and risk assessment
3. Interview, collate and analyse the experience of returning ISAF contracting officers on corruption
4. 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.

VII. Country-specific case studies

1. Analysis of Nigeria’s experience in introducing anti-corruption reforms in their Defence Ministry.
2. Analysis of Colombia’s experience in introducing anti-corruption reforms in their Defence Ministry.
3. Evaluation of defence reforms in other countries (Georgia, Poland, Bulgaria, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, etc).
4. The influence of ethnic minorities on the corrupt practices of governments and military officials (Côte d'Ivoire, etc.).
5. What are the recent developments in Uganda with the Russian fighter deal?
6. Corruption and anti-corruption reform in transitional governments, particularly militaries.

VIII. Monitoring and Evaluation

1. 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?
2. Experiences of successful NGO engagement with ministries of defence and/or security (comparative case study).
3. Carry out an analysis/evaluation of the NATO-TI Building Integrity programme.
4. Devise a practical methodology for TI-DSP to use in evaluating their interventions in countries.