Corruption in Lebanon: does e-government help?

Abstract

The expansion of e-government applications since the 1990s has led many countries in the developing world to follow the advanced industrialized societies in using e-government as an enabling tool to achieve reform goals. Lebanon is implementing e-government initiatives as part of international efforts to integrate the developing world in the information society. With corruption plaguing the country, this research aims to examine if the government in Lebanon is taking steps to tackle this rampant problem through e-government projects, and to assess the nature of such projects and the level of information access provide. Finally, the thesis examines whether the level of access is enough to achieve the desired result which is reduction of corruption. Based on the analysis of the aforementioned factors, partly through comparisons with e- government initiatives in developing countries, this research concludes that the current Lebanese government is focusing on efficiency -- relative as it might be -- and is not attempting to combat corruption through e-government initiatives that must provide full access to information first, before any other service.