Anti-corruption policy of Ukraine: challenges and prospects

The article is devoted to identifying the challenges and prospects of Ukraine’s anti-corruption policy. It emphasizes that corruption is a negative phenomenon that undermines the foundations of democracy, the rule of law, and the country’s economic development, which underscores the relevance of the state’s anti-corruption policy. The article clarifies the concept of “anti-corruption policy”, including presenting an institutional approach to its understanding. It identifies key characteristics of anti-corruption policy: its comprehensive, systematic, and consistent nature; the state, represented by public administration bodies, as the primary actor in its implementation; the essential role of civil society interaction; and its main goal – preventing and reducing corruption, identifying its manifestations, and eliminating the conditions that contribute to it. The structural elements of Ukraine’s anti-corruption policy are outlined, developed in several stages since 1991. The current phase involves the institutional development of the state anti-corruption policy and further implementation of international approaches. Despite some achievements, the anti-corruption policy faces a number of difficulties: insufficient institutional capacity of anti-corruption bodies; corruption within the judiciary; weak public engagement in combating corruption; shortcomings in anti-corruption legislation; and the need to address wartime and post-war reconstruction challenges. The article also highlights that many reforms are carried out under pressure from international partners as a condition for receiving financial and military aid. The latest sociological research findings are presented, evaluating the performance of anti-corruption bodies and their implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy. It is noted that current challenges shape the future direction of improving Ukraine’s anti-corruption policy. Particular attention is drawn to the need to strengthen the internal resilience of Ukraine’s anti-corruption system in order to minimize the risks of rollback in reforms following a reduction or cessation of international support, especially in the post-war period.