From Corruption Networks to State Capture and Back: Is It Time for a Real Big Bang Policy in the Czech Republic?

The article compares key aspects of various forms of state capture in the Czech Republic and its evolution. This research focuses on the issue of public procurement and as a research method it uses multiple case studies analyzing selected corruption cases. In the case of corporate state capture, decentralized informal structures operate in parallel with official structures. In the case of oligarchic state capture, corruption practices are centralized, with prominent politicians linked to various local players. These types of state capture frequently involve the public accountability pillar, which has the power to discipline local players in the network. Consequently, local corruption networks are converted into a centralized network controlled by politicians who simultaneously control accountability institutions.