Conceptual models on combating corruption. Contemporary anti-corruption tools

The first specialized anti-corruption bodies appeared long before the establishment of the Singapore and Hong Kong commissions in the 1950s and 1970s. However, there are several types of anti-corruption bodies that exist and operate in different countries. The issue of corruption gained international importance in the late 1990s and was accompanied by a growing debate on the role of specialized anti-corruption institutions. This process has been closely linked to the process of political democratization and economic liberalization in many parts of the world, including parts of Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. It is also linked to efforts to build the rule of law and good governance in many post-authoritarian and post-conflict environments, as economic and political transitions provide fertile ground for corruption.