Identifying the relationship between corruption prevention, integrity and education in Hungary

Abstract

The shift from the punishment to the prevention of corruption has become a focus of both academic and policy attention in recent years. The concept of integrity has provided a foundation for this preventative shift, postulating that societies that can both agree and act in coherence with a common set of values and norms can more effectively control corruption. The purpose of this study is to introduce the Corruption Prevention Programme, a programme that establishes the Hungarian government's recent efforts to prevent corruption though an integrity approach. This study is specifically focused on the inclusion of anti-corruption education for youth within the Corruption Prevention Programme, and seeks to ascertain why anti-corruption education has been included. Using the theory of gereralised trust, this study will determine the theoretical relationship between corruption prevention, integrity and anti-corruption education. This study will then analyse how Hungary has used education to prevent corruption and rebuild integrity, using Transparency International's National Integrity System as a framework. Through the use of qualitative research methods, this study will further explore the rational behind Hungary's decision to include anti-corruption curriculum into the Corruption Prevention Programme. This study will conclude with several policy recommendations regarding the inclusion of anti-corruption curriculum based on the Hungarian experience.