Requirements, Implications, and Obstacles to Establishing an Effective Anti-Corruption Oversight Institution in Light of the Second Step Statement of the Islamic Revolution

Corruption, as opposed to soundness or rectitude, refers to a deficiency in the components or conditions of an act. When corruption permeates the sphere of governance, it can have devastating consequences and inflict a severe blow to the institutional structure of government. To combat this detrimental phenomenon, the Second Step Statement of the Islamic Revolution—which serves as a strategic document articulating three key dimensions of the Islamic Revolution, namely, its ideals, achievements, and the requirements for advancing toward the summit of the Islamic Revolution—emphasizes the necessity of establishing an effective institution with a vigilant approach and decisive conduct within the three branches of government to combat corruption.
Using a descriptive-analytical methodology and drawing on library-based sources, this study seeks to examine the legal requirements, implications, and obstacles to realizing this objective. The findings indicate that the establishment of an effective and vigilant oversight institution requires simultaneous attention to legal, institutional, executive, and cultural dimensions. The existence of such an institution would not only contribute to the prevention of and fight against corruption but would also enhance public trust, strengthen social capital, accelerate development, and promote the realization of justice. Nevertheless, the fragmentation and inconsistency of laws, particularly with regard to the scope of oversight powers; inadequate enforcement mechanisms for oversight reports; expediency-driven considerations and institutional conservatism; insufficient legal protection for public whistleblowers; protracted judicial proceedings and delays in adjudication; and inadequate transparency in publishing the results of oversight constitute some of the most significant legal obstacles to achieving the objective articulated in the Second Step Statement of the Islamic Revolution.