Corruption in migration management: a network perspective

Points for practitionersThe article develops an analysis useful to foster the effectiveness of anti-corruption strategies by analysing the criticalities of the governance system implemented by the Italian government to deal with migration inflows. In so doing, the article offers relevant insights to policymakers and national and European institutions.This article explores the relation between networks as an emerging mode of public governance and corruption. Adopting the theoretical lens of actor-network theory, the article investigates an Italian episode of corruption related to the awarding of government contracts for the management of Mineo's CARA, Europe's largest reception centre for migrants. The analysis shows that a governance network may turn corruption itself into a network where abuse of power can proliferate thanks to the opacity resulting from the multiplicity of actors, interactions and fragmentation characterizing the governance system.