Presenting the fall 2004 Payne Distinguished Lecture on Oct. 4, Peter Eigen, founder and chairman of Transparency International, discussed "Chasing Corruption Around the World: How Civil Society Strengthens Global Governance."

Transparency International, the only international non-governmental organization devoted to combating corruption, brings civil society, business and governments together in a powerful global coalition. Through its international secretariat and its more than 85 independent national chapters around the world, the organization works at the national and international level to curb both the supply of and demand for corruption. In the international arena, Transparency International raises awareness about the damaging effects of corruption, advocates policy reform, works towards the implementation of multilateral conventions, and subsequently monitors compliance by governments, corporations and banks. At the national level, its chapters work to increase levels of accountability and transparency, monitoring the performance of key institutions and pressing for necessary reforms in a nonpartisan manner.