The U.S. Embassy and University of Latvia to Host Opening of the Latvian Language Edition of Professor Rasma Karklins’ “Corruption in Post-communist Societies”

Riga, September 1, 2006. – The Latvian language edition of Professor Rasma Karklins’ “Corruption in Post-communist Societies” will be opened for public September 5, at the Small Hall of the University of Latvia. The event will start with a round-table discussion “Accountability report: Latvia 2006” with participation of well-known experts in the field: Inese Voika, Aleksejs Loskutovs, Linda Mūrniece, Inguna Sudraba, and Jānis Domburs.

In 2005, the book was originally published in English with the title „The System Made Me Do It: Corruption in Post-communist Societies”. The book’s translation into Latvian was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Latvia.

In her study, the author analyzes the causes of corruption, its forms and consequences in the Eastern Europe. Despite the fact that researchers recognize corruption as a very serious hurdle to building democracy and national economy, this problem is not enough studied. Rasma Karklins offers new cognitions in the analysis of corruption as well as practical solutions for eliminating it. The author emphasizes: „By deforming the idea of public institutions, corruption damages the understanding of a good statehood and democracy. Citizens not only loose their trust in public and political institutions, they are made to pay high for bad public administration. However, there are ways to fight it and decrease corruption, and I tried to show it in my book.”

Corruption is a controversial issue both in Europe as well as in the U.S. President of the United States George Bush has come up with an announcement this August 10 addressing kleptocracy: „It threatens our national interest and violates our values. It impedes our efforts to promote freedom and democracy, end poverty, and combat international crime and terrorism. Together, we can confront kleptocracy and help create the conditions necessary for people everywhere to enjoy the full benefits of honest, just, and accountable governance.”

The outstanding corruption researcher Susan Rose–Ackerman, professor at Yale Law School, wrote in her review of „Corruption in Post-communist Societies”: “Rasma Karklins masterfully blends general scholarship on corruption and democracy with an overview of the special case of countries making the transition from communism. She combines a neo-institutionalist approach with first-hand knowledge of the transition process to produce a book that should be of interest both to reformers in the region and to those interested in corruption’s impact on democracy worldwide.”

Rasma Karklins is a member of the Professors’ Senate of the University of Latvia, foreign member at the Latvian Academy of Science, professor of political science at the University of Illinois in Chicago. She is the author of four books and many scientific publications. Since 1990ties, she has been actively working on researching the political process in Latvia, and the findings, along with those from other Eastern European countries, are published in the book.

Note to the editor:

With support of the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan, the book has just been published in Russian language; a few copies will be available during the event.

Reporters and photographers interested to cover the book opening on September 5, 14:00, at the Small hall of the University of Latvia, Raina Blvd. 19, are welcome to register by calling or sending an e-mail to Signe Dilane (7509037 or dilanes@state.gov).

U.S. Embassy, Riga, Public Affairs Section
Smilsu iela 7
Riga, LV 1050
Phone: 371 750-9037
Internet: www.usembassy.lv
e-mail: ruklisk@state.gov; dilanes@state.gov