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New Podcast Episode, Featuring Michael Mohallem
A new episode of KickBack: The Global Anticorruption Podcast is now available. In this week’s episode, I interview Michael Mohallem, a Brazilian law professor, lawyer, and consultant based in Rio de Janeiro, about recent developments in Brazil’s struggle against corruption. Our conversation focuses on the so-called Lava Jato (“Car Wash”) operation, particularly recent developments including the Bolsonaro Administration’s decision to terminate the Car Wash task force, and recent decisions by the Supreme Court invalidating the corruption conviction of former President Lula. We also discuss the Bolsonaro administration’s overall anticorruption record, and the prospects for future progress against corruption in Brazil in light of what appears to be a very challenging and inhospitable political environment for the foreseeable future.
You can also find both this episode and an archive of prior episodes at the following locations:
GAB | The Global Anticorruption Blog 
Interesting podcast. Some of this strongly rhymes with the corruption related debates in Pakistan. Genuine accountability that leads to real anti-corruption reform vs the use of the corruption issue as a weapon to get rid of political opponents through selective accountability. And all the polarization when there are corruption cases involving prominent political figures. The key question remains, are there examples in history where accountability campaigns centered around punishing important political leaders have succeeded in bringing reform? Perhaps this really cannot happen unless there is a deeper socio-economic transformation in society that adequately shifts people’s incentives in a way that makes corrupt leaders less politically appealing for voters. Until that happens, one or two pro-accountability institutions cannot really become (or successfully operate as) islands of virtue in a society where corruption is otherwise widespread. Apologies if this sounds too pessimistic.