Corrupción en gobiernos locales en Chile: redes sociales, aspectos organizacionales e informalidad

Abstract

This article analyzes how organizational aspects, informality and social networks originate and enable corruption in local governments in the southern part of Chile. Municipalities have a growing political, economic, and social importance, since they are the closest entity for citizens, however, public opinion studies highlight a high perception of corruption in those. Using a qualitative methodology, we dialogue with the literature on corruption in the region according to the proposed dimensions, emphasizing the dialogue with the thesis developed by Meza and Pérez-Chiqués (2020) on the consolidation of corruption at the local level, criticizing the traditional views on this phenomenon. Under this context, this article aims to contribute to an analysis of corruption, understanding it as a social and organizational practice, which operates through links, and which coexists with formal institutions, especially in local contexts.