SOC ACE Newsletter: February 2024

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

SOC ACE Monthly Newsletter Our last update covered a range of research, from examining the paramilitaries, illicit economies, and organised crime nexus in the borderlands of Afghanistan to examining organised crime and, illegal trade displacement on Eurasia as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Get up to date with last month’s newsletter now! This month’s newsletter includes: Whistle-blower schemes in the fight against economic crime Politically feasible responses to security sector reform for addressing organised crime Illicit markets and power brokers in Balochistan Paramilitary violence and organised crime in war-to-peace transitions Drugs trafficking in Central Asia featured in Al Jazeera report Using experimental methods to test strategic communications and awareness-raising messages aimed at organised crime and corruption  The role of civil society in helping to address organised crime.  Each month, we’ll be showcasing our latest research, news & events. Click on the subscribe button to receive our newsletter. Subscribe New SOC ACE Research Whistle-blower Incentivisation Schemes in the Fight Against Economic Crime: Global Lessons for the UK’s Future Economic Crime ‘Enabler’ Policy. Eliza Lockheart of RUSI is leading new research into the effectiveness of financial incentivisation schemes for whistleblowing, with a focus on its utility in terms of generating actionable information and intelligence on the enabling of economic crimes. Drawing on experiences and lessons from whistleblower incentive schemes in comparative jurisdictions, the research will consider how viable such a scheme may be in working to reduce the role of the UK’s ‘enabling’ sectors in the laundering of global illicit financial flows. Read more. Exploring Politically Feasible Security Sector Reform to Counter Serious and Organised Crime Dr Liam O’Shea, of RUSI, is leading research to explore politically feasible security sector reform approaches to tackling serious organised crime, drawing on lessons of success from Georgia, Colombia and South Africa. The research will seek to understand what political conditions may be more supportive of SOC-focused SSR. It will also examine, which SSR interventions have proven effective in curtailing politicians’ and security actors’ involvement in SOC and SOC in general. Finally, it will examine where external actors may be able to effectively facilitate such reforms in certain political conditions. Read more. Power Brokers and Illicit Markets in the Frontiers: Balochistan, Borderlands and the Taliban This project investigates the influence of illicit markets on and by local political, power, patronage, and frontier dynamics in Balochistan, spanning Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Based on the premise that the Taliban’s central control of Afghanistan has been challenged by non-state actors with vested interests, this research project seeks to answer the central research question: how can local actors use illicit economies to amass political power and act as spoilers for neighbouring and broader regional political processes, including challenging the Taliban? Read more. Policy Lab: Addressing paramilitary violence and organised crime in war to peace transitions Dr Jonathan Goodhand and Dr Patrick Meehan of The Centre for the Study of Illicit Economies, Violence, and Development (CIVAD), SOAS University of London, are leading an invitation-only Policy Lab. This initiative brings together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers who aim to establish sustainable war to peace transitions in areas affected by paramilitary violence and organised crime. The participants will analyse innovative approaches and models of policy and practice for peacebuilding in such places, keeping in mind the unique challenges of each context while identifying shared patterns and dynamics. Ultimately, the Policy Lab aims to explore, experiment and innovate new ideas and models that address the paramilitaries, organised crime nexus. Read more. SOC ACE Updates SOC ACE researcher Dr Erica Marat of the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University, recently shared insights in an interview with Al Jazeera. Dr Marat explores the connections outlined in her 2022 paper with Dr. Gulzat Botevo on Drug Trafficking, Violence, and Corruption in Central Asia, as they delve into the question: Did an arrested Uzbek ‘mafia chieftain’ organise killings of dissidents? Latest SOC ACE Publications Testing to see if an awareness messaging campaign about ‘social bads’ will actually work: Why experimental techniques are best Dr Caryn Peiffer (University of Bristol) & Prof Nic Cheeseman (University of Birmingham) Awareness raising campaigns that aim to inform the public about controlling or fighting so-called ‘social bads’ (e.g. corruption and organised crime), sometimes end up having little effect, or may even backfire, making the situation worse. This briefing note explains how following the “three T’s” of tailoring, targeting, and testing messages using experimental techniques, can help policy makers avoid such disappointing results. Read more. Civil Society and Organised Crime Ian Tennant & Prof Prem Mahadevan (GI-TOC) This briefing note summarises GI-TOC’s research and experiences in engaging with and supporting civil society responses to organised crime. This is provided in the context of the ongoing threats and shrinking space for civil society, and a need for policymakers and officials to understand civil society’s role, value and potential. Read more. Other related news SOC ACE partners Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) have launched the Central and South Asia Observatory (CSA Obs). The observatory monitors regional organised crime, employing local field research for transnational responses. It combines extensive local field research in countries in high-risk environments with rigorous analysis to produce a new generation of responses to transnational organised crime. Did you enjoy our newsletter? Share it with your network. Share FOLLOW SOC ACE