The Western Balkans face a corruption crisis that has eroded the trust in institutions and normalized corrupt practices. The shift from conventional values to a corrupted social model is evident, particularly among young people, who grow up in environments where bribery, nepotism, and organized crime are not only tolerated but seen as necessary paths to success. The consequences of corruption extend to organized crime, which often infiltrates political and economic systems. This paper investigates how low-quality education and institutional failures contribute to this issue, and how civil society, journalism, and governance reforms can serve as tools for deconstructing these corrupt networksThis paper aims to address the ways in which corruption is entrenched within the social fabric, its linkages to organized crime, and the role of education in perpetuating a corrupt social model. Drawing from interviews with experts in the region, the paper explores the roots of this problem and offers policy recommendations to deconstruct corruption networks, reform educational systems, and empower civil society and journalism to challenge the status quo.
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This paper was realised as part of the ‘MOVE GRANTS’ program supported by the Western Balkans Fund.
