Corruption undermines nearly all key legal and developmental priorities today, including the effective functioning of democratic institutions and honest elections; environmental protection; human rights and human security; international development programs; and fair competition for global trade and investment.

New anti-corruption laws and intensified law enforcement, in particular in OECD Member States, are motivating companies to implement sound anti-corruption compliance programmes. They will help reduce risk, but they may also serve as a business argument. Yet, companies are increasingly voicing the need for a harmonised approach to compliance. The OECD Guidance enacted in 2010 may well serve as a template for such a standard since it has been adopted by the Member States of the OECD by unanimity.

This analysis of 'globalised' standard-setting processes draws together insights from law, political sciences, sociology and social anthropology to assess the authority and accountability of non-state actors and the legitimacy and effectiveness of the processes. The essays offer new understandings of current governance problems, including environmental and financial standards, rules for military contractors and complex public-private partnerships, such as those intended to protect critical information infrastructure.

In this interview, Richard Bistrong, former international sales executive and current blogger and speaker on FCPA, compliance and anti-bribery issues, speaks with Sherbir Panag of MZM Legal, where they discuss bribery and anti-bribery compliance in India. Mr Panag stresses that despite very real corruption risks in the country, business in India is possible without bribery.

For companies to achieve this, an anti-bribery strategy must focus on knowing the challenge and preparing for it, and avoiding avenues of bribery.