Patronage and Corruption in the Czech Republic

Corruption was endemic to the communist system of the Soviet bloc prior to its collapse in 1989, and Czechoslovakia was no exception. In the postcommunist Czech Republic, corruption remains a deeply rooted problem. A corrupt elite political and business class has emerged to exploit opportunities for illicit profit that are inherent in the process of postcommunist transition. Corruption has inflicted damage upon the Czech economy, prolonged the process of transition, and imposed costs on Czech taxpayers. It has also damaged democracy and for some, delegitimized the political system. There are three potential explanations for the continuation of elite corruption in the Czech Republic. First, preconditions amenable to corrupt behavior are still in place in the Czech Republic, as in other postcommunist countries. Second, high-level corruption lies in corrupt networks that are firmly embedded in the Czech government and have become worse over the past four years. Lastly, external corrupt networks, most notably the Russian mafia and intelligence services, effectively exploit the favorable conditions for corruption, to strengthen their own presence in the Czech Republic and to exert greater influence throughout the government.