Erin Saltman, PhD

NEW PSJ BLOG POST ALERT! Understanding Policy Influence in Hybrid Regimes: Insights from a Qualitative Study of Policy Advice in Ukraine and Moldova by Denitsa Marchevska & Trui Steen #PSJ #PolicyStudiesJournal #PSJblog #PSJnews

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The latest issue of the RSA Journal explores #democracy across the globe, #courage, #art, #AI and more. Reviews of recent books read by RSA staff and new US Fellows Manideep Yenugula FRSA and Christoph Niemann FRSA are highlighted. Explore the journal digitally here: https://lnkd.in/gCNE8baC and let us know what you learned, what it provokes in you and also what it propels you to explore further.

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At a three-day training in Almaty, expert team from Kazakhstan, the #EU and the #ICMPD shared knowledge with Kazakh operatives about the application of modern technological approaches in identification and investigation of cases of human trafficking and identifying implications for border regions. In particular, participants acquired knowledge in analytical intelligence, data collection tools and analysis, methods of operational-search activity in the era of digitalization, and systematised processing and maintenance of data collected online. This activity was organised by #BOMCA10 and OSCE. #BOMCA #BOMCA10 #EU4KAZ #BorderManagement 

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Fellow #IACC2024 Delegates, Welcome to #Vilnius and hope that you can join us on Day 1, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 at 9:00 - 10:30am at ICAIE's Workshop 3: Threat Convergence: How Authoritarian Regimes and their Proxies (and Enablers) are Financing Global Corruption and Building Ecosystems of Criminality. 🗓️ Date: Tuesday, June 18 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM [Vilnius/(GMT+3)] 📍 Location: Workshop 3 Coordinated by ICAIE Moderator: David M. Luna 🦏 🌎 🐘 Threat Convergence ≜ Kine-Dynamics, Executive Director, ICAIE Rapporteur: Sam Radocchia, Futurist & Anthropologist, RADOC    Speakers: ·Clark S. Gascoigne, Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse ·Michael Larson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Cross-Border Financial Crime Center, U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Tom Cardamone, President, Global Financial Integrity, GFI · Paul Radu, Executive Director, The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) ·Jennifer Lane, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon Mercedes De Freitas, Executive Director, Transparency International Venezuela There is a strong inverse relationship between #corruption and global security, #authoritarianism and #democracy backsliding, and #kleptocracy and equality. The ICAIE Workshop session will specifically focus the involvement of authoritarian states and their proxies (and enablers) in expanding illicit economies around the globe – including across the digital world – which generates not only greater expansion of criminality and corruption, but also market chaos, insecurity, and instability. Through malign influence and active measures, such authoritarian states are hostile to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, and also leverage their corruptive influence to increase illicit wealth for their ruling elites and impel their global revanchist geopolitical operations towards greater power in a multi-polar world. The result of economic incentives (bribes) and subsequent coercive pressures aimed at vulnerable nations is that subordinate dependent vassals are being held ransom by authoritarian finance that exploit governance and regulatory gaps, resulting in the co-option of national sovereignty, the pillaging of critical minerals and national resources, targeted political interference, transnational repression, criminalized markets and online marketplaces, full penetration by diasporic criminal proxies, and help to finance armed conflicts through the laundering of dirty money. Such strategic corruption serves as a threat multiplier. Let's fight corruption together! Join us to shape the way forward at the International Anti-Corruption Conference 2024 from 18-21 June 2024! https://lnkd.in/em54dZN2 #illicitfinance #threatfinance #threatintelligence International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE) / ICAIE Labs US Congress U.S. Department of State The White House

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The graphic shows eligible cases processed by the independent accountability mechanism(s) of OPIC and DFC since 2005, when OPIC established its Office of Accountability. It further confirms the analysis that the IAMs of bilateral DFIs are somewhat underutilized when compared to their multilateral peers (see here stats: https://lnkd.in/g22xf8Y6). Will modeling DFC-IAM's TOR after the IFC/MIGA CAO policy help reposition DFC's IAM? Will you join our second public consultation webinar on the Draft TOR on 21 June 2024 from 4-6pm EST to share your experiences, thoughts and recommendations? Please register here: https://lnkd.in/gAvr2JaC 🌻 The Draft TOR can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/gbsF2DWz 📺 The Discussions Notes (slide deck) can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/gUcTDySU 🤝 As noted in Stakeholder Engagement Plan, which can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/giVFKr57, the 60-day public consultation period for the TOR ends on July 30th. Independent Accountability Mechanisms network (IAMnet)

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Decisions journalists make in the field covering political events have a direct impact on their safety and that of others. The risks inherent in this can never be fully eliminated, but careful planning and risk assessment can mitigate the dangers. 🚨CPJ’s risk assessment template makes sure you and your team are prepared: https://lnkd.in/dsCyTADd #USElections

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NEW: A new curriculum in Yemen gives rare insight into the ruling Houthis’ ideology and shows how they are preparing the next generation for war, reports Dan Wilkofsky https://lnkd.in/e-jWpDkv 

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As more countries invest in national qualifications databases, how can we ensure they are interoperable to compare qualifications and connect them to jobs, careers, and learning pathways? 📚💼 Can we use the existing European digital tools to support the interoperability and information exchange between countries? 💻🔍 To answer these questions, the European Training Foundation has published the policy briefing on the Network of National Qualifications Databases. At Knowledge Innovation Centre, we have been supporting ETF on this topic and are excited to see the results of the work. #Qualifications #Databases #Interoperability #DigitalTools

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As we celebrate our anniversary, we're taking a look back at some of our videos from “Online discussion Series”. Our hybrid discussion on "Malign Kremlin Influence on Democratic Institutions, the Case of the Czech Republic and Implications for Central Europe" is still very relevant today. Watch the recording to hear from our expert panelists, including Veronika Víchová (Centrum pro informovanou společnost), Kristyna Bagge (Semantic Visions), Rasto Kuzel (MEMO 98), Kevin Sheives (National Endowment for Democracy), and Matt Bailey (The International Foundation for Electoral Systems), as they discussed the challenges posed by Kremlin-sponsored propaganda and the importance of strengthening cybersecurity, tracking illicit financial flows, and combating disinformation.   #Cybersecurity #IFESREO #CelebratingDecadeofDemocracy #EuropeDemocracyExchange 

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🚨 Evidence submitted by UK Home Office to Parliament's Joint Committee on National Security Strategy inquiry on #DefendingDemocracy about the UK’s political finance laws and enforcement does not reflect the view of independent bodies and security experts. https://lnkd.in/gpSykJur The Home Office asserts that “UK electoral law sets out a stringent regime of controls that safeguard elections”. But the effectiveness of those controls is disputed by @ElectoralCommUK @PublicStandards, parliamentarians, civil society & academia. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eGE5ZP6P The Home Office also claims that legislative tools empower the Electoral Commission to “enforce offences to mitigate the risks of foreign interference in elections through political donations”. This is misleading given that the Commission: 👉 recently lost the power to initiate criminal proceedings 👉 doesn’t have the tools or powers to tackle foreign interference 👉 thinks the maximum it can fine is too low to deter serious offences As our evidence to the inquiry highlighted: the UK has a criminal enforcement gap, with no agency responsible for leading the national enforcement response to serious crimes in political finance, including foreign interference and money laundering. https://lnkd.in/gQE8ejiM

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This 2022 publication is worth revisiting because it explores complexities around dealing with data in a humanitarian response, based on lessons learnt in Ukraine. It tackles technical hurdles such as those around deduplication, as well as delicate political considerations. It investigates self-registration platforms exploring both their potential benefits and unforeseen consequences. Finally, it delves into the critical question of data sharing: what can you share, with whom, and how? If you are a humanitarian deploying a registration system, tackling deduplication, working in partnership with a government – or in fact doing anything that involves data handling – then this one is for you. 👉 https://calp.net/3JPy7Hk   

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A topical webinar on elections security with Sebastian Bay: 'On the Frontlines of Democracy: Bolstering Trust in Elections Across the Atlantic' Sebastian wrote us a Research Report which provides a thorough analysis of hybrid threats to elections, with a focus on physical attacks, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks that pose a threat to the integrity of democratic processes. 👉 See the webinar recording here: https://lnkd.in/dJJBN9MU 👉 And the Hybrid CoE paper on countering hybrid threats to elections here: 20240319-Hybrid-CoE-Research-Report-12-Countering-hybrid-threats-to-elections-WEB.pdf #elections #disinformation

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❗️The slow progress in addressing firearms trafficking highlighted in the recent #UNTOC Constructive Dialogue underscores the urgent need for stronger civil society engagement. 🐌 Despite slow progress, the meeting underscored the urgency for inclusive action. By amplifying our voices and collaborating effectively, we can drive meaningful change in combating transnational crime. Learn more about the discussions and the imperative for stronger civil society engagement ⬇️

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Last week, IST’s Deputy Director for Digital Security Taylor Grossman joined The SAIS Review of International Affairs for “After the Dust Settles,” a panel on the future of cyberspace in warfare through the lens of Western aid to Ukraine. “I think what you do really see during war time is major changes to the way that technology is used in war, and is actually produced for war,” Taylor said. “I also think you see this in Ukraine as well, just a huge ramping up of efforts and a real shift in where production capacity is going, so in that case I think you're building a lot of capacity very quickly, and the ramifications of that on future innovations...can be really interesting.” For more on the intersection of technology and geopolitics, check out Taylor’s recent article in Binding Hook on the role of technology companies in the conflict in Ukraine: https://lnkd.in/gvj4zWWH Watch the discussion: https://lnkd.in/gb5abMFw

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Turkiye’s defence industry has undergone dramatic changes over the last 50 years and the country has become a significant defence exporter. As part of a joint project, the IISS and the Center for Foreign Policy and Peace Research explore the process and the issues that lie ahead. Read the latest research report: https://lnkd.in/eQNYHnek Authors: Sıtkı Egeli, Serhat Güvenç, Çağlar Kurç and Arda Mevlütoğlu #Turkey #Defence #Military

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As technology advances, new ways to track, profile and impact us emerge. Digital rights protect us from real-world harms, enabling us to challenge decisions and new forms of surveillance. Our Manifesto sets out what the next government needs to do ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eTs-38_p #DigitalRightsAreHumanRights #privacy #freedomofexpression #GeneralElection #dataprotection

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Stay ahead of the curve with POLITICO's Global Playbook, your essential guide for the 27th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference. Subscribe now for in-depth perspectives, exclusive interviews, and daily analysis! https://lnkd.in/eDHdBYxx #MIGlobal #newsletter

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Buoy Diplomacy… There already is a tsunami alert system that provides a regional good based in Hawaii with inputs from multinational sensors - will this buoy’s data feed be included in that? NOAA Alert System: https://lnkd.in/eF94Azfw. Also, concerning is what sensors are on the buoy? If more than a wave detector it could be intelligence gathering of what is a militarily important maritime region. “…The Japanese government said Friday it has confirmed China has installed a buoy in the high seas over Japan's southern continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean.” “Last July, China installed another buoy inside Japan's EEZ near the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.” https://lnkd.in/eXJ2mFrv

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