New research paper - Conceptualising the interplay of corruption and an informal security welfare regime: Pakistan case study

A new research paper and policy brief, Conceptualising the interplay of corruption and an informal security welfare regime: Pakistan case study, has been launched by SOC ACE researchers Dr Zahid Mumtaz and Dr Caryn Peiffer.

This research investigates the complex relationship between corruption and informal security welfare regimes, using Pakistan as a case study. In contexts where formal welfare systems are weak or inaccessible, individuals often rely on kinship ties, community relationships, and patron-client networks for social protection. The study reveals that corruption plays a dual role: it undermines formal welfare provision while simultaneously acting as a survival mechanism for those excluded from official support.

The paper proposes that policy responses must be politically grounded and mindful of the functional nature of these relationships, as well as the need to focus on elite actors, rather than grassroots corruption.

Read the research paper here, and explore the Understanding functionality for more effective SOC & corruption strategies and interventions SOC ACE project for further information.