Strengthening Integrity through Information Disclosure to Combat Corruption, Leveraging a Collaborative Network of Organizations as a Foundation

Abstract

This research article aimed 1) to study and analyze the problems, context, necessity, and theoretical concepts related to strengthening integrity through information disclosure measures to combat corruption, using organizational collaboration networks as a foundation based on modern approaches; 2) to examine Buddhist principles relevant to the study; and 3) to provide recommendations on the issues examined. This qualitative research analyzed both domestic and international data and conducted in-depth interviews with 23 experts.

The findings revealed as follows: 1) Corruption is a major national problem with 12 key causes: abuse of power for personal gain; collusion among multiple sectors; policy-level corruption; centralized bureaucracy and patronage systems; values and cultural norms that enable corruption; economic conditions where the state serves as a source of benefits facilitating bribery; loopholes in systems and laws; insufficient protection mechanisms for whistleblowers; inadequate systems of oversight, participation, information disclosure, and public reporting; lack of knowledge and moral and ethical awareness; limitations due to the absence of integrated organizations for coordinating networks across nine institutional sectors; and imbalanced systems of incentives and penalties. Strengthening integrity can be achieved through a “two-way information disclosure” measure: the state transparently discloses information while also providing opportunities for the public to actively report misconduct and participate in oversight, thereby establishing social norms. The theories and concepts supporting integrity enhancement through information disclosure measures to combat corruption consist of 7 theories and 10 concepts. The theoretical components include altruism, social capital, social norms, transparency, agency theory, public interest disclosure, and the triune brain theory. The conceptual components include whistleblowing, whistleblower protection, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, ethical immunity building, integrity indicators alongside other performance indicators, governance indicators, technology-based information disclosure measures, and the F.A.I.R. Society model proposed by the researcher, which begins with a foundation of integrity and ethics, continues with transparency, is strengthened by honesty, and achieves sustainability through multi-sectoral accountability. 2) The key Buddhist principles supporting the study include the Threefold Integrity (Sujjarita), the Five Qualities of Fearlessness (Vesārajjakaraṇa-dhamma), and the Ten Royal Virtues (Dasavidha-rājadhamma). 3) The recommendations include: (1) formulating a national strategy to promote an organizational culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability; (2) strengthening collaboration among nine institutional networks, with religion as the core for cultivating values and ethics; (3) building ethical immunity in society through knowledge development; (4) establishing policies that promote integrity, transparency, and participation at all levels; (5) utilizing technology for information disclosure and monitoring; (6) applying transparency indices for evaluating information disclosure; and (7) advancing whistleblower protection laws, revising laws that hinder oversight and involve conflicts of interest, and enforcing strict penalties to deter corruption.