📼 The recording of last week’s GI ACE seminar ‘Addressing corruption in crisis situations: towards effective crisis-responses in the Malawian health system’ is now available to watch on YouTube: bit.ly/42hH2KN
“They’ve learned from Hungary that you have to change the voting rules. That’s how autocrats win elections - by rigging the system. That’s exactly what Trump has been trying to do.”
Vital conversation w/ @kimlanelaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/trumps-nex...
A recurring theme w/ MAGA/radical right is *endlessly* accusing their enemies (falsely) of doing why they are *actually* doing
It’s Orban who spent fortune interfering in politics outside Hungary
Including paying Reform’s Matt Goodwin €10k a month democracyforsale.substack.com/p/orbans-brits
📃 New working paper: Madagascar at a crossroads: breaking the cycle of state capture
Authored by Dafy Faramalala Andriamparany, @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, Ketakandriana Rafitoson, and Tom Shipley.
Access the paper in both French and English: bit.ly/4aTWx0L
📼 The recording of our second GI ACE seminar held in collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab, ‘Sourcing data for the next generation of illicit finance research’, is now available to watch on YouTube: bit.ly/4bcmgAj
KB – Episode 145🎙️
@csc-barrington.bsky.social speaks with @marianizzero.bsky.social about research reframing kleptocracy as a transnational criminal enterprise, and the implications for UK asset recovery and national security.
🎧 Spotify bit.ly/SpotifyKBep145
🎧 SoundCloud bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...
Opening remarks were delivered by Alanna Markle (OO), Yara Esquivel (WBG), and @thomtownsend.bsky.social (OO), and the keynote speech was delivered by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social (CSC/US).
We look forward to engaging discussions over the next two days.
🚨 The February 2026 edition of the GI ACE Newsletter is out now!
🔗 Read this month’s newsletter: bit.ly/4aIui5b
🔗 Subscribe to receive future editions via email: bit.ly/4rxx8j4
“U.S. foreign policy is now largely subordinate to the private interests of the president and his retainers,” write @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social and @dhnexon.bsky.social.
🎙️ New KickBack episode
Why do liberation movements that fight for freedom so often succumb to corruption once in power? 🧵
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Lord Peter Hain about Liberation and Corruption, exploring state capture, global finance, and the lessons from South Africa and beyond.
📼 Our latest GI ACE seminar, 'The promise and perils of using leaked and sensitive data to research illicit finance’, is available: bit.ly/4ciYrZI
Thank you to @szakonyi.bsky.social, Tom Mayne, and @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social.
The event was held in collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab.
Check out the latest research news from the Centre for the Study of Corruption and the GI ACE programme!
Join us on 5 Feb 2026 (2–3pm GMT) for a GI ACE seminar on using leaked & sensitive data to research illicit finance, with @szakonyi.bsky.social and Tom Mayne, chaired by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social. In collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab.
Register here: bit.ly/3ZkcV3U
Our first Kickback episode of 2026 🎙️
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Anna Persson on why anticorruption reforms fail, systemic corruption as collective action, and why transparency alone isn’t enough.
🎧 bit.ly/SpotifyKB142
🎧 bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...
🎧 bit.ly/AppleKB142
Lots of food for thought here over the holidays!
New KickBack episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Naomi Roht-Arriaza on how grand corruption undermines human rights, blocks post-conflict justice, and why recognising victims and broader reparations matters.
Listen: bit.ly/AppleKB141 | bit.ly/SoundCloudKBep141
New GI ACE blog: How can the IMF help counter state capture? @tshipley1.bsky.social & @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social explore the Fund’s growing role, its leverage in reforms, and the risks that could hold it back.
Read more: bit.ly/StateCapture...
Part 3 of #GIACE’s blog series is out! @devipillay.co.za unpacks the Zondo Commission’s 353 recommendations and why South Africa’s post-capture reforms remain uneven. Key gaps persist in law enforcement and whistle-blower protection. Read more: bit.ly/GIACEPart3
Professional enablers often work behind the scenes—but their influence can drive corruption and state capture. Join our GI ACE roundtable with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, @devipillay.co.za, Alex Cooley, @jheathershaw.bsky.social, Corentin Cohen and @tenaprelec.bsky.social
🔗 bit.ly/GIACERoundtable
I had such a fun time speaking with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social on the KickBack podcast about the role that both voters and women officeholders can play in electoral accountability for corruption in Latin America. Thanks for having me on @kickbackgap.bsky.social!
Today’s #GIACEseminar was a lively dive into how illicit finance is reshaping tourism and hospitality.
Thank you to Jean-Patrick Villeneuve, @ofabianobomfim.bsky.social, Dieter Zinnbauer, @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social and all the participants who joined!
Learn more: bit.ly/corruptionin...
🚨The Nov GI ACE Newsletter is out!
From real estate money laundering to sanctions evasion & a new blog on anti-money-laundering in the Global South — explore the latest from the GI ACE network.
🔗Read: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter_7
🔗SUB: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
New KB episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks with József Péter Martin and Áron Hajnal about research on Hungary, state capture dynamics, EU conditionality, and scenarios ahead of April 2026.
Listen: Soundcloud: bit.ly/47cGU2J
#Governance #StateCapture #EU #Hungary
This month in GI ACE: new insights on corruption in carbon markets, state capture and legal accountability. Watch, read and listen to the latest research from across the GI ACE network.
🔗Full October newsletter: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter6
🔗Subscribe here: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
How do consulting giants enable state capture?
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks to @devipillay.co.za on McKinsey’s role in South Africa, drawing on the Zondo Commission.
🔗Listen: bit.ly/KBspotify138
🔗Paper: lnkd.in/eczS5NAM
#StateCapture #SouthAfrica #AntiCorruption
🌍 Applications are open for the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship at ITC (Geneva).
Work with a UN–WTO agency supporting SMEs in developing countries, contribute to trade strategies, and take part in high-level discussions.
Deadline: 20/11/25
🔗 Apply now: https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/fellowships
Really enjoyed chatting cleaning up politics with @politicshome.bsky.social along with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social, @danieljbruce.bsky.social and Lloyd Hatton MP. Lots to do still...
Join us on 18 September as we kickoff our first #GIACESeminar with Dan Marks & @jenniferscotland.bsky.social from @rusi.bsky.social, and reflections from Pablo Fernandez (EcoSecurities).
📖 Scoping Corruption in Voluntary Carbon Markets
🕰️ 12:30–1:30 PM (UK time)
🔗 bit.ly/GIACESeminar1
#GIACE hosted our Mid-Year Conference (8–9 Sept) with researchers, Fellows, FCDO & CSO partners.
Day 1 featured multiple panels on research themes, ending with a roundtable on the Changing Global Order.
Day 2 focused on impact - turning research into real-world solutions and more.
bit.ly/giaceconf