Fighting Corruption

Working together, people can really make a difference in the amount of corruption in their government. What is needed is a good understanding of the kind of corruption that is going on, and a commitment of citizens and leaders in government to fight it together. Leaders in government cannot be left to make the change on their own because they will often not have the will to overcome resistance within their own ranks. Pressure and cooperation from concerned citizens in business, the religious community, and other walks of life can keep the commitment alive.
The specific steps that need to be taken will vary from country to country. The reforms need to reflect each country's problems (such as rampant corruption among tax collectors versus corruption in the courts) and opportunities (such as a new mayor who is a real reformer versus a leader in the parliament who is pushing the fight against corruption).
What doesn't change, however, is the importance of educating citizens about their role in fighting corruption. Citizens need to understand that corruption is a problem that lowers their standard of living and that they need to resist it in their own lives. They need to think beyond whether giving a bribe to get a phone line installed is worth it to them personally, and realize that giving a bribe contributes to the problem in their country more generally. In addition, citizens can take a more active role in reporting abuses, reviewing the government's work, and otherwise monitoring government performance.
It is important to recognize that the traditional approach to fighting corruption by case-by-case investigations is not enough. The effort also needs to reduce opportunities for corruption, improve incentives for good performance, and raise awareness about the need for citizens to work with government to bring about change.