The Role of Society in Eradicating Corruption: Building Participation and Anti-Corruption Movements

Abstract

Corruption is an extraordinary crime that has a systemic impact on the state’s finances, governmental stability, and public trust, and it can significantly reduce the level of societal welfare. Efforts to prevent corruption cannot be entirely delegated to law enforcement agencies alone; they also require the active participation of society as an essential element within a democratic system. This study focuses on analyzing the role of the public in enhancing the effectiveness of corruption eradication efforts. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a literature study approach. The findings indicate that the role of society in combating corruption can be realized through social control functions, reporting suspected acts of corruption, participation in anti-corruption education, and the establishment of community-based and social movements such as the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Transparency International Indonesia, and KOMPAK API. The role of society in the prevention and eradication of corruption has been legitimized under Article 41 of Law Number 20 of 2001. This law also outlines the forms of protection granted to citizens who report suspected corruption cases. Therefore, collaboration among the government, law enforcement institutions, and the public is the key to successfully building a clean, transparent, and accountable system of governance.

Keywords: Corruption, Public Role, Anti-Corruption Movement