Perception of Corruption in Colombia over the Past Two Decades (2001-2020)

Abstract

This article answers the question of how the perception of corruption in Colombia has been configured over the last two decades. The thesis associated with this study argues that corruption, far from decreasing, remains a structural phenomenon linked to institutional deficiencies and citizen distrust toward Congress, the government, and local administrations. Using a longitudinal, exploratory, descriptive theoretical-methodological approach, information was compiled from Transparency International, Our World in Data, Latinobarómetro, and The Global Economy. The analysis shows that Colombia persistently ranks among the countries with the most negative perceptions associated with corruption, which undermines the legitimacy of the political system and limits social development. It can be concluded that corruption impacts citizen trust, weakens democracy, hinders economic development, exacerbates inequality, increases poverty and social divisions, among other factors. Unlike previous studies, this work emphasizes the connection between international indicators and national public opinion to understand the magnitude of the problem.