Corruption's Clear and Present Danger to Democracy

Description

Corruption enables autocrats to retain power by enriching those most loyal at the expense of the many. It undermines democratic institutions and thrives when they are weak. In recent decades, the globalization of corruption—and use of opaque financial vehicles and loopholes in the global financial system—has driven a rise in state capture and the misuse of public office for personal gain in a growing number of countries around the world. Moderated by SNF Visiting Fellow Camille Eiss, this discussion will feature investigative journalist and Publisher of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) Drew Sullivan and financial crime prevention expert, Justyna Gudzowska, who currently serves as Senior Advisor at The Sentry and Associate Fellow with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Speakers will explore the ways in which illicit webs of actors and schemes undermine democratic governance globally and share firsthand how various actors across the anti-corruption ecosystem are working to counter this threat. The discussion will shed light on the evolving risks for those working to expose corruption as well as the critical ways in which civil society investigations help foster accountability.

JHU graduate and undergraduate students are invited to join the SNF Agora Institute for this off-the-record discussion. Dinner will be provided for all attendees.