How bad is Yemen’s culture of corruption compared to that witnessed in neighboring states? How can aid agencies support projects in Yemen while news broadcasts claim that dollars are not reaching citizens? At the highest levels of Yemeni government, is there even the political will to combat corruption? In a dynamic dialogue following last week’s screening of Destructive Beast, a CIPE documentary on corruption in Yemen, individuals representing the Washington-based Yemeni community, the Embassy of Yemen, National Endowment for Democracy organizations, and development groups were bubbling with questions like these.
The dialogue underscored a shared U.S.-Yemen interest in combating corruption, though the American audience seemed to doubt the feasibility of curbing this societal ill. In my opinion, the film and discussion showcased the role that Yemeni youth will play in fighting corruption and the optimism that should accompany greater Yemeni political will behind this issue.
International attention on Yemen has intensified in 2010. Foreign Policy ranked Yemen 15th on its Failed State Index. Houthi rebels continue to foment violent unrest in the North. A restive South is increasingly tied to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. And not a year ago a man, trained in Yemen, attempted to detonate a bomb aboard a flight to Detroit. In this context, U.S. decision-makers and international groups (such as Friends of Yemen) are pausing to reevaluate how best to combat terrorism emanating from this country and, more importantly, how to construct long-term plans that address the systemic flaws in Yemen’s democratic governance.
A key challenge that presents itself is uprooting a culture of corruption that has resulted from the abuse of power, a corrupt judiciary, and inconsistent rule of law. It is an issue that causes or aggravates each of Yemen’s well known problems: scarce water resources, unemployment, poverty, poor public education, extremism and the list goes on.
Destructive Beast documents concrete instances of everyday corruption and connects low-level bribery and incorrect implementation of the law to Yemen’s larger societal breakdown. Hidden camera footage and personal interviews provide visual case studies that attach significance to abstract terms such as “rule of law” and “separation of powers.” Corruption undermines Yemen’s future, resounds its sobering message. For an audience tuned-in to a world of terror threat levels and drone strikes, at first the documentary film may seem to darken an already dire portrait of Yemen. Yet international and domestic political will, and a promising generation of Yemeni youth, signal that things can change.
President Saleh’s government has its own incentives that are prompting it to put political support behind campaigns to limit corruption. For instance, as Yemen seeks to decrease unemployment by calling on Gulf neighbors to host one million Yemeni nationals, these states want assurance that Yemeni passports are valid and that foreign workers are legally entering their country. The intersection of nascent domestic and strong international support to curb corruption provides a real opportunity to improve conditions in Yemen.
By showcasing the impassioned statements on fighting corruption that Yemeni youth made at a “children’s parliament,” and by proposing concrete recommendations for combating corruption, Destructive Beast concludes on a constructive note. The film encourages viewers not to file away Yemen as a failed state, but to engage in a debate on how citizens and international groups can push back corruption, and in doing so, strengthen Yemen’s democratic governance, economy, and general stability.
Published Date: October 15, 2010