Corruption in unlikely places

The case of Denmark seen through Luhmann’s system theory

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1858

Keywords:

Corruption, system theory, genealogy, public administration reform, Denmark

Abstract

Corruption, defined as the “misuse of public position for private gain”, represents an act of deviance from official duties in the interest of self-enrichment. Denmark is ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Danish court records, however, show that corruption cases have appeared in the 21st century. Using Luhmann’s systems theory and Foucault’s method of genealogy, this article asks how this has happened. I argue that understanding corruption in Denmark may go back to changes in public administration ideas and practices since the 1990. New Public Management reform has increased the complexity in public administration where meaning horizons of communication related to different functional systems – especially the sub-systems of law and economy – clashes. I theorise and illustrate using court cases how the coexistence of different codes creates an environment for public employees that in some circumstances – however still rare – result in corruption.

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Author Biography

Karin Pedersen, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University

Karin Hilmer Pedersen, Ph.D. Associate professor, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Denmark. Email address: khp@ps.au.dk

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Published

01-10-2024

How to Cite

Pedersen, K. (2024) “Corruption in unlikely places: The case of Denmark seen through Luhmann’s system theory”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 14(5), pp. 1272–1295. doi: 10.35295/osls.iisl.1858.