In a stark warning for global stability, corruption has evolved from simple cash bribes into a systemic threat that shields the powerful and sacrifices the vulnerable, according to a recent analysis. This shift comes as the United States, traditionally an anchor for anti-corruption efforts, is accused of weakening key safeguards under the administration of Donald Trump, raising alarms about the erosion of democratic institutions worldwide.
Transparency International's Grim Findings
The latest Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International paints a troubling picture of backsliding across many nations. The report highlights a "worrying trend" where democratic frameworks are being undermined by political donations, cash-for-access schemes, and state targeting of activists and journalists. With over a decade of stagnation in public-sector corruption, most countries have made minimal progress, and the United Kingdom has slid to its lowest score since 2012.
Despite political upheaval and institutional strain, the US only modestly declined to a score of 64, while Israel dropped to 62 amid scrutiny over allegations of genocide and covert operations. This suggests that global reputation often remains resilient, with power and influence mitigating declines and geopolitical sympathies sometimes reshaping what constitutes corruption.
US Role in Global Anti-Corruption Erodes
For decades, anti-corruption initiatives have relied on the US as a central enforcer, leveraging its economic might and financial systems to set global standards on money laundering, sanctions, corporate transparency, and foreign bribery. However, under Trump, decisions have been criticised for dismantling safeguards built over years, turning anti-corruption tools into political leverage rather than principled instruments.
Selective enforcement has become a central concern, with sanctions and anti-bribery laws applied harshly to adversaries but relaxed for allies, rewarding loyalty over justice. UN experts and humanitarian agencies warn that such measures often devastate civilian economies, deepen poverty, and restrict access to essentials like medicine, allowing corruption to mutate in environments of scarcity and discretionary power.
Attacks on Accountability Mechanisms
Alarm is growing over assaults on international accountability, with judges and prosecutors from bodies like the International Criminal Court facing threats, sanctions, or vilification. Figures such as Second Vice-President Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Prosecutor Karim AA Khan KC have been targeted, alongside UN mandate-holders like Francesca Albanese, who investigates human rights in Palestinian territories.
In a particularly contentious move, the US imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of suppressing freedom of expression. This sets a dangerous precedent by using state power to intimidate those upholding international law, blurring lines between public authority and private interests.
The Need for Distributed Leadership
With Washington unable to credibly steward global anti-corruption norms, leadership must shift to a coalition of actors. The European Union, with its regulatory reach and anti-money laundering directives, can enforce transparency standards extraterritorially if applied consistently. Countries like Canada or Nordic nations, known for transparency and governance reforms, offer moral and institutional credibility.
Coalitions from Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, regions historically impacted by extractive corruption and coercive sanctions, are poised to reshape the agenda toward development-centred approaches. International institutions and civil society, including Transparency International, UN special rapporteurs, and journalists, must hold the line as states falter.
A Call for Principled Action
What is required is not a new hegemon but a normative coalition that insists anti-corruption laws serve the public good, not geopolitical convenience. Enforcement must be impartial, and transparency should apply upward, not just to weaker nations. Those defending international law or exposing illicit finance will face political pressure and intimidation, particularly from the Trump administration, but retreat risks deepening inequality and mistrust.
As the world reaches a critical juncture, waiting for Trump to exit is not an option. His administration has weakened core safeguards, politicised enforcement, and attacked watchdogs, threatening the credibility of global anti-corruption efforts. The responsibility now falls on others to lead collectively and courageously, ensuring that when the centre abdicates, the margins become guardians of integrity.
