This prescient book explores corruption in democracies, emphasizing how a society’s definition of the concept can change in different contexts and periods. Contributors examine both occurrences of corruption and resistance to it, as well as the democratic decline that can transpire when there is an absence of such resistance.

Expert authors discuss key situations that aid our understanding of corruption, including instances of reform generated due to external demands, and corruption that takes place without provoking resistance or inciting immediate danger of democratic decline. Chapters delve into detailed case studies from around the world such as the Europeanization of anti-corruption policies in Spain following the COVID-19 pandemic; clientelism and democratic decline in Cyprus; and the rise of online political communities in India and China. The book also offers methodological perspectives on future studies of the dynamic relations between corruption, resistance, and democratic decline.

Students and scholars of political science, sociology, law and public administration, and management will greatly benefit from this book. It is also a vital resource for policymakers and practitioners in the fields of regulation, governance, and anti-corruption.