Corruption in Montenegro Untangling the Knot

Corruption in Montenegro exists on various levels. The focus of this paper is high level corruption, particularly conflict of interest cases regarding privatization processes, spatial planning and the procurement of public contracts. The reason for this focus is that the abuse of power by the government is one of the largest obstacles to creating a democratic environment of trust and a society structured around the rule of law. These are the primary areas were the government of Montenegro continues to exert inappropriate influence. The first section of the paper will analyze the origins of corruption and attempt to simultaneously provide a sense of the systemic nature of corruption in Montenegro. The second section will outline some of the most pertinent elements of present day corruption practices. The third section will address some effects that corruption has in Montenegro; politically, economically and socially, and then I will conclude with an outline of the various anti-corruption strategies in place, including the proposed initiatives for the upcoming years. It is my goal to demonstrate that tackling corruption is a multi-faceted undertaking, requiring the combined efforts of the government, civil society (NGOs and the media) and the international community. Corruption is not simply a fundamental quality of Montenegrin politics. Corruption is also one of the elements that shapes the way citizens understand their government. It must be realized that corruption is not only an obstacles to achieving the tangible statistical expectations required for European Union (EU) membership. Eradicating corruption is also an obstacle to forming a political culture of trust, and the civil society that is required for a functional democracy