Are concentrations of violence, environmental stress, poverty and illicit activities in borderlands a result of how these regions have been integrated into national, regional, and global political economies, rather than their 'lack' of integration? This is what new research by Prof Jonathan Goodhand and Dr Patrick Meehan at Centre for the Study of Illicit Economies, Violence & Development (CIVAD) is seeking to understand. Exploring how conflict-affected borderlands are connected to development processes and wealth accumulation in metropolitan centres through a detailed case study of the illicit corridor connecting Myanmar's north-eastern border and China, the research aims to inform agency responses to borderland illicit economies, transnational organised crime and their impact on development and security.

We’re pleased to announce new SOC ACE Research led by Kathryn Westmore with Maria Nizzero of the Centre for Finance and Security (CFS) at RUSI that is exploring whether the threat posed by Chinese Professional Money Laundering Organisations should be considered alongside other state threats and whether policy responses to money laundering need to change to build resilience against this specific threat. With work well underway, research findings will look to be available in Spring 2025.

We’re excited to share the new Deep Dive Podcast - Colombia & Total Peace: Part 1 - "The ELN - The Easy Win"! The first part of a two part series, the episode features research by Felipe Botero, Mariana Botero, Juanita Duran, Kyle Johnson, as part of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime led research project, 'Negotiating with criminal groups: Colombia's Total Peace Policy', supported by SOC ACE.

We are excited to announce the release of Addressing Organised Crime and Security Sector Reform and Governance by Huma Haider. This timely research delves into the critical relationship between security sector reform (SSR) and effective governance. This publication examines contemporary challenges in SSR, including the importance of integrating governance principles to enhance security and stability.

This month, we have a bumper crop of new publications, we report back from our first-ever SOC ACE Research Conference held at the University of Birmingham, with updates on an innovative Policy Lab on Para-statal armed groups, illicit economies and organised crime and much more. Sign up for next month’s newsletter now!

We are thrilled to announce the release of a new book chapter by Slobodan Tomic (University of York) and Elizabeth David-Barrett (University of Sussex), titled The Legal Design of Domestic MLA Procedures in Southeast Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A new paper from Christopher Blattman, Gustavo Duncan, Benjamin Lessing, and Santiago Tobón on Gang Rule: Understanding and Countering Criminal Governance, has been published in in The Review of Economic Studies, Oxford Academic. The paper explores how gangs often take on governance roles in communities with limited state authority, offering insights to shape policies aimed at reducing crime and improving security.

Political scientist Benjamin Lessing advocates using incentives rather than force to reduce Latin American cartel violence, in recent Economist article: Use incentives, not brute force, on the cartels, says a political scientist.

New SOC ACE research from Huma Haider examines how security and justice institutions, organised crime, SSR/G and counter-organised crime interventions influence and impact each other, positively and negatively.

We’ve summarised our recent publication from Dr Tena Prelec, on examining the nexus between information manipulation and organised crime. The paper introduces a new framework for assessing the nexus, highlights emerging trends and proposes several areas for further research.

We’re thrilled to share the Spanish translation of SOC ACE briefing note ‘Organised crime groups, criminal agendas, violence and conflict: implications for engagement, negotiations and peace processes,’ written by Huma Haider. The briefing note, now provided in Spanish, demonstrates the importance of creating a framework for engaging with criminality and organised crime groups that extends beyond confrontation – allowing for accommodation and incorporating a wider societal change agenda through transformation.

This month, new journal articles explore the impact of raising awareness about corruption and organised crime. Dr. David Ucko discusses Irregular Warfare and organized crime on the U.S. Naval War College’s 'Trident' podcast. We've participated in events on illicit networks in the Levant, functionality and strategic corruption, and combatting modern kleptocracy. SOC ACE will also be aking part in the IACC Conference. Sign up for next month’s newsletter now!

We’re thrilled to be attending the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Vilnius next week. SOC ACE is particularly excited about contributing to a timely panel titled "Combatting Modern Kleptocracy: Assessing the Impact of Two Years of Sanctions on Russia,” hosted by our partners at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Join us on Thursday 20 June, at 14:30 - 16:00 (Europe/Vilnius)

This June, SOC ACE researchers will participate in a roundtable on ‘Illicit Finance, Transnational Corruption, and Informal Economies in Contemporary Conflict’ at the Central and Eastern European Schools Association - International Studies Association (CEEISA-ISA) Joint Conference: ‘Knowing the Global-Local: Imagining Pasts, Debating Futures.’

Professor Heather Marquette (University of Birmingham) and Dr Caryn Peiffer (University of Bristol) are launching the next phase of their research on "Understanding Functionality for More Effective SOC and Corruption Strategies and Interventions” starting with a workshop in London this June.

Alina Rocha Menocal is attending a panel discussion on ‘Studying Illicit Networks in the Levant and Beyond’ at the Carnegie Middle East Center's workshop focused on the growth of illicit networks in the Levant since the onset of Syria’s civil war.

SOC ACE researchers are pleased to be leading the Rethinking stabilisation and responding to transnational threats roundtable at the BISA 2024 Conference Whose International Studies?

Last month, Dr Tena Prelec attended the first Finance, Integrity and Governance (FIG) Policy Symposium hosted by UNDP’s Global Policy Centre for Governance in Oslo.

We are thrilled to announce that our recent research has been published in two distinguished journals, Behavioural Public Policy and European Journal of Political Research, shedding new light on the unintended consequences of awareness-raising strategies against serious and organised crime (SOC) and anti-corruption campaigns.

This month, we present research on whistle-blower schemes in the fight against economic crime, Balochistan’s illicit markets, paramilitary violence and organised crime in war-to-peace transitions. We also explore politically feasible SSR responses to organised crime (OC), test strategic communications combating it, and analyse civil society's role in addressing OC. Sign up for next month’s newsletter now!