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Corruption in Business and International Development (936M9)

30 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring teaching

When we study corruption, we often think about it as a problem of countries or individuals. This module focuses more on organisations as actors and on the corruption-related risks that arise when they operate internationally. You’ll look at this in the context of business relationships and international development work.

You’ll explore:

• the day-to-day realities of operating in difficult environments
• how governments have tried to control corruption using laws and enforcement.

You’ll think about theoretical frameworks such as:

• rational choice theory
• principal-agent theory
• the development of norms and culture.

You’ll analyse:

• why corruption is a risk to organisations operating internationally
• why tough laws are seen as the answer
• the importance of leadership, culture and political will.

This module begins by:

• introducing the main patterns of corruption in international business and international development
• drawing on the latest research to identify where the key risks lie
• discussing what data sources can be used to investigate corruption in this area.

The module then focuses on:

• anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act
• how the legal and regulatory framework is developing, including patterns of enforcement
• particular risks that arise in certain sectors, such as construction, pharmaceuticals and defence.
• a range of strategies that organisations can use to address corruption risks, including whistleblowing policies, audits and collective action.

You’ll learn about:

• the corruption risks that face organisations operating internationally
• anti-bribery legislation, enforcement around the world, and how organisations have responded to this
• the risks which surround public procurement and government contracts
• a range of tools that can be used to manage and mitigate the risks.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.