Corruption in 21st Century Honduras: The Convergence of the Criminal, the Economic Elite, and the Politician

Abstract

Criminal-government corruption impacts nations across the world and carries both domestic and international implications. This public policy issue has uniquely impacted Honduras throughout the 21st century, with criminals, economic elites, and politicians converging to orchestrate violent schemes to advance their objectives in the private and public sectors. This leads to widespread violations of human rights within the nation and impacts international neighbors, particularly with immigration. So why have there been no successful attempts to fight corruption in Honduras in the 21st century? Corruption is deeply entrenched throughout the structure of the private and public sectors, alongside a lack of incentives for anyone in power to change the status quo because they benefit from it and enjoy impunity. Investigating the inner workings of this corruption, however, leads to a more developed discourse and the emergence of well-informed solutions to address the conditions that allow for corruption to happen. This research is the most novel on criminal government corruption in Honduras, with significant evidence included that recently became available. The methods behind this research are qualitative and started with an analysis of Honduran media to select Honduran public figures involved in criminal trials as case studies. From there various court cases were accessed and the testimonies were analyzed to gain insights into the operating system of corruption. Followed by a review of secondary literature and academic theories on corruption specifically in the context of Honduras to supplement the observations of corruption revealed throughout the trials. In response to the gathered evidence and additional sources, policy conclusions were generated and tailored to the specific context of Honduras. Major themes and concepts surfaced as continued patterns throughout the analysis of these sources. The idea of Honduras as a kleptocracy was prominent stemming from vast political corruption and power consolidation. As well as the presence of an oligarchic force where the private sector controls most resources and thus possesses mass influence. Accompanied by the prominent role of organized crime and how these three actors merge to personify ongoing corruption in Honduras. The findings from this investigation explain how Honduras was shaped into this state, and why actors chose their actions. Public sector officials engage in different acts of unchecked political corruption abusing their authority to retain power. Private sector actors have dominated the Honduran economy historically and use their control to engage in financial crimes with no repercussions. The Honduran judicial system, law enforcement, and other security forces are meant to deter such corruption but instead, escalate lawlessness and impunity for allies and abuse their positions against enemies. This creates conditions for drug traffickers and organized crime to flourish if the economic elite and politicians benefit as well. The response to systemic corruption in Honduras has been rooted in a problem of security, but the real issues are more foundational which inform solutions. Honduras currently favors privatization and public-private partnerships, but these policy tools have become instruments of corruption that should be looked away from. In addition, Honduras should bolster the independence of the government and the separation of powers by increasing civil society participation in political processes. The most hopeful avenue for change lies within domestic reforms to allow for international cooperation against corruption.