Mind the Costs (of Rule of Law Initiatives), too: Assessing the Resource Challenges of Indonesian Anti-Corruption Efforts
Mind the Costs (of Rule of Law Initiatives), too: Assessing the Resource Challenges of Indonesian Anti-Corruption Efforts

Summary/Abstract: The law and development and comparative legal research literature have highlighted the importance of considering the efficiency of legal reform (or transplants) projects in developing countries. However, the existing literature on the efficiency assessment of rule of law programs is limited compared to the development program in health and education in Asia. This paper examines the Indonesian anti-corruption reform as part of broader Rule of Law initiatives, particularly focusing on the challenges posed by inadequate resources. During the Reformasi period, Indonesia introduced a range of anti-corruption policies, accompanied by the creation of new institutions aimed at curbing corruption. These reforms were largely supported by International Development Organizations (IDOs) and donors, whose involvement played a pivotal role in shaping and sustaining these initiatives. However, despite the institutional framework established and the support from international donors, the implementation of anti-corruption policies has faced significant hurdles. The lack of sufficient infrastructure, human capacity, and financial resources has been a central challenge in ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of these reforms. Drawing on secondary sources, such as prior publications on Indonesian anti-corruption policies, as well as interviews with key actors involved in these projects, this paper highlights how the limited allocation of resources remains a key obstacle, impeding both the enforcement of anti-corruption laws and the operational efficiency of newly established agencies. Through the lens of Indonesia's anti-corruption efforts, this paper contributes to a broader understanding of the challenges that developing countries face in implementing reform-based development projects. These resourcing challenges suggest a lack of sustained political will to sustain the anti-corruption efforts, which was initially supported by the multilateral push. These insights provide further support for moderate or "good enough governance" reforms that are not too big, too much, and too fast, by considering the recipient country's political will, capacity, and resources.

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