Forum Focus: January 2024

In light of the increased attention on kleptocracy due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in 2023 the Forum sounded the alarm on how kleptocratic networks are adapting and cooperating with each other to evade sanctions and other measures. Democracies must sustain the momentum in the battle against transnational kleptocracy. Highlights include:

• A report by Matthew T. Page and Jodi Vittori exploring how “bridging jurisdictions” or third-party countries help facilitate Russia’s kleptocracy;
• A second report by J.R. Mailey and Andrea Ngombet Malewa examining how kleptocratic networks emanating from Russia, China, and Africa embolden and empower each other;
• A country-specific analysis with Rafael Marques on kleptocracy’s challenges in Angola on the Power 3.0 podcast.

In the coming year, we will examine:

• How kleptocrats in Russia, China, and Africa deepen their cooperation with one another;
• Geopolitical challenges and their relationship with kleptocracy;
• New civil society adaptations to meet evolving kleptocracy threats.

This past year, the Forum focused on key threats to democratic values and responses to information manipulation around the world. Highlights include:

• A publication by Adam Fivenson, Galyna Petrenko, Veronika Víchová, and Andrej Poleščuk about how  civil society has led efforts to counter Russian information operations targeting Ukraine since the 2022 full-scale invasion;
• Analysis by Iria Puyosa and Mariví Marín Vázquez concerning the recent intensification of collaborative authoritarian information operations targeting democracy in Latin America (Spanish version here);
• Several country- as well as regional-specific (Latin America and Africa) information space contexts, threats, and responses.

In 2024, the Forum will shine a spotlight on:

• How changes in the information environment—such as new generative AI technologies—may create opportunities for authoritarians to undermine democracy;
• Emerging strategies to accelerate the work of elections-focused civil society organizations as more than 80 national elections are due to take place in 2024.

In 2023, the Forum further explored the impact of emerging technology on democratic practice. Highlights include:

• A report by Krzysztof Izdebski, Teona Turashvili, and Haykuhi Harutyunyan about how new technologies can influence government accountability worldwide;
• A report by Beth Kerley outlining how civil society can help set democratic ground rules to govern the use of AI and related technologies;
• Analyses about the impact of state-aligned technology platforms from repressive contexts and their country-specific applications.

In 2024, we will further examine:

• The rise of digital authoritarianism and ways that emerging technologies can be used to enhance civic engagement;
• The establishment—and enforcement—of international digital norms;
• International standards-setting for emerging technologies.

We look forward to hearing from you and working alongside you to address these defining challenges to democracy. To stay in touch, follow us on our new LinkedIn page and our Twitter and Facebook accounts. Also, join us online at our events highlighting our latest research, and subscribe to our newsletters on kleptocracy, information and technology issues, and other announcements.