A Discourse Analysis of Corruption: Instituting Neoliberalism Against Corruption in Albania, 1998-2005 (Southeast European Studies)

Why did Albania enjoy some of the most successful anti-corruption programs and institutions along with what appeared to be growing levels of corruption during the period 1998-2005? Looking at corruption through a post-structuralist discourse analysis perspective this book argues that the dominant corruption discourse in Albania served primarily to institute the neoliberal order rather than eliminate corruption. It did so in four interrelated ways. First, blaming every Albanian failure on corruption avoided a critical engagement with the existing neoliberal developmental model. Second, the dominant articulation of corruption as abuse of public office for private gain consigned it to the public sector, transforming neoliberal policies of privatisation and expanding markets into anticorruption measures. Third, international anticorruption campaigns reproduced an asymmetric relationship of dependency between Albania and the international institutions that monitored it by articulating corruption as internal to the Albanian condition. Finally, against corruption international and local actors could articulate a neoliberal order that was free of internal contradictions and fully compatible with democratization. As a rare example of post-structuralist discourse analysis of corruption this book can be useful for future research on discourses of corruption in other countries of the region and beyond. Cover Contents List of Abbreviations List of Tables List of Figures and Graphs Acknowledgements Introduction The Corruption Paradox in Albania 1 Limitations of Corruption Analysis Introduction The Modernization Paradigm The Economic Paradigm of Corruption The Political Paradigm of Corruption Conclusion: The Limits of Corruption 2 A Discourse Analysis of Corruption: A Theoretical Framework Introduction Corruption as Discourse Corruption as Signifier Power and Knowledge: The Process of Objectification Methodological Implications Conclusion 3 The Emergence of Corruption in Albania: The Floating Signifier Introduction Anti-communist Discourse: Red Corruption Anti-Authoritarian Discourse: Blue Corruption Transition Discourse: Black Corruption Conclusion: Corruption as a Floating Signifier 4 International Intervention: Fixing the Meaning of Corruption, 1998–2005 Introduction International Discourse on Corruption in Albania, 1998–2005 Corruption as an Albanian Problem The Specificity of International Intervention Power and Knowledge: Reconstructing Corruption Conclusion: A Story of Corruption 5 The International Politics of Anti-Corruption: Instituting Neoliberal Order Introduction Neoliberal Order in Albania, 1992–2005 Corruption: The Usual Suspect Sustaining the Asymmetry: Implementing a Neoliberal Institutional Framework Legitimizing Neoliberal Order: Anti-Corruption as an Empty Signifier Conclusion 6 Corruption Discourse in the Albanian Political Scene, 1998–2005 Introduction The Emergence of Corruption Discourse The Discourse of Corruption in the Albanian Political Scene, 1998–2005 The Politics of Corruption: The Specificity of Corruption Discourse in the Albanian Political Scene Conclusion 7 Sustaining Neoliberalism against Corruption Introduction The Anti-Politics of Anti-Corruption: From Policies to Politicians Neoliberal Policies as Anti-Corruption Measures Subsuming Alternative Articulations: Anti-Corruption as an Empty Signifier Conclusion Conclusion Instituting Neoliberal Order through the Discourse of Corruption List of References Index