In this HFG Research and Policy in Brief , Diana Chigas and Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church examine the corrosive interdependence of corruption and conflict and make the case for addressing these twin ills to secure a durable peace. As conflicts in Afghanistan, Guatemala, South Sudan, and other countries have shown, corruption can become an entrenched feature of political economies and a major obstacle to building sustainable peace after a war ends. Likewise, political violence can create...

How can overlapping social norms shape corrupt behaviors — and how can practitioners identify them? Corruption is often influenced not by a single norm, but by multiple, interacting expectations tied to gender, faith, professional culture, and community roles. These overlapping pressures shape how different people experience and engage in corrupt behaviors, yet most anti-corruption efforts still analyze norms in isolation. This innovative practice brief presents lessons learned from over a...