Business schools as agents of change : addressing systemic corruption in the Arab World.

Abstract

While the last thirty years has seen a significant improvement in research and policies aimed at studying and addressing corruption, it continues to be a subject that is difficult, if not risky, for scholars to pursue. This thesis contributes to the existing literature on the subject by addressing the intersection of education and corruption. In doing so, it seeks to examine the role that business schools might play in the fight against corruption through education, an anti-corruption platform that has scant mention in the literature. The particular geographic area of focus of this study is the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In analyzing the literature on corruption, especially as it relates to business, I answer the question of why businesses should adopt anti-corruption platform and why educational institutions across MENA should mainstream business ethics and anti-corruption courses in their curricula. This approach is consistent with much of the current sustainability literature, which I will discuss in detail. In synthesizing the sustainability literature with the anti-corruption agenda, I construct a pedagogical technique I feel is appropriately suited for classrooms of business schools in the MENA region. Finally, the research compiles a practical report about the current ways business schools in MENA address corruption, the regional companies that give credence to the issue, and institutional platforms and tools that are available to MENA students and companies alike. Given that formal business education in the region is relatively young, I hypothesize and find that there is ample room to provide progressive and innovative ideas for classroom instruction on the issue of corruption, as most schools have not yet developed a rigorous or proven approach. In light of the report compiled, a compelling analysis and conclusion are provided.