Welcome to the SOC ACE blog: countering organised crime, illicit finance & transnational corruption
Welcome to the official blog of the Serious Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Evidence (SOC ACE) research programme! This blog will feature opinions, voices and debates from SOC ACE researchers around the world, as well as contributions from other experts and practitioners.
SOC ACE research focuses on developing politically feasible approaches for countering organised crime, illicit finance and corruption. These transnational threats have often devastating consequences for local communities, national security and geopolitics alike, creating vulnerabilities that undermine the resilience of states, societies and economies around the world.
We start by being problem-led, rather than starting with preconceived ideas about the ‘right’ tactics and solutions. We aim to think differently about prevention through developing better understanding of the ways in which organised crime and corruption provide solutions to the everyday problems people face, ones that often have deep social, structural, economic and political roots, particularly in resource-scarce environments.
In particular, we look at practical, feasible ways we can move beyond seeing political will as a barrier to effective responses. This doesn’t mean that our research doesn’t challenge those in power who block meaningful reform, or that we don’t ask difficult questions about often intractable challenges.
Instead, it means that the approach we take is sensitive to context and explicitly considers tensions, trade-offs and the potential for negative unintended consequences. We think and work politically in our research and our engagement, considering the potential need for compromise as seriously as the need for collective action.
Our aim is to stimulate debate and discussion through this blog and beyond, so we welcome you to leave comments via our contact form and share our content online to expand the conversation.
Discover more about the SOC ACE approach and find out how to get started with our research by visiting our About Us page. And be sure to explore our new website where you’ll find fresh content and exciting updates. We’re constantly adding more, so stay tuned for the latest developments!
We also value your feedback on the website, so please feel free to share your thoughts through our contact form.
Heather Marquette is Professor of Development Politics in the International Development Department at the University of Birmingham and is the Director of SOC ACE.
Twitter account: @hamarquette