Liz David-Barrett
banner
lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social
Liz David-Barrett
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social
Director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption, University of Sussex
Check out the latest research news from the Centre for the Study of Corruption and the GI ACE programme!
🚨 The January 2026 edition of the GI ACE Newsletter is out now!

Inside you’ll find information about our latest publications, events, blogs, podcasts, and more.

🔗 Read this month’s newsletter: bit.ly/3LXvojB

🔗 Subscribe to receive future editions via email: bit.ly/49Xj62F
January 27, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Join us on 5 Feb 2026 (2–3pm GMT) for a GI ACE seminar on using leaked & sensitive data to research illicit finance, with @szakonyi.bsky.social and Tom Mayne, chaired by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social. In collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab.
Register here: bit.ly/3ZkcV3U
January 21, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Our first Kickback episode of 2026 🎙️
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Anna Persson on why anticorruption reforms fail, systemic corruption as collective action, and why transparency alone isn’t enough.
🎧 bit.ly/SpotifyKB142
🎧 bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...
🎧 bit.ly/AppleKB142
January 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Lots of food for thought here over the holidays!
New KickBack episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Naomi Roht-Arriaza on how grand corruption undermines human rights, blocks post-conflict justice, and why recognising victims and broader reparations matters.

Listen: bit.ly/AppleKB141 | bit.ly/SoundCloudKBep141
December 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
New KickBack episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Naomi Roht-Arriaza on how grand corruption undermines human rights, blocks post-conflict justice, and why recognising victims and broader reparations matters.

Listen: bit.ly/AppleKB141 | bit.ly/SoundCloudKBep141
December 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
New GI ACE blog: How can the IMF help counter state capture? @tshipley1.bsky.social & @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social explore the Fund’s growing role, its leverage in reforms, and the risks that could hold it back.
Read more: bit.ly/StateCapture...
December 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Part 3 of #GIACE’s blog series is out! @devipillay.co.za unpacks the Zondo Commission’s 353 recommendations and why South Africa’s post-capture reforms remain uneven. Key gaps persist in law enforcement and whistle-blower protection. Read more: bit.ly/GIACEPart3
December 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Professional enablers often work behind the scenes—but their influence can drive corruption and state capture. Join our GI ACE roundtable with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, @devipillay.co.za, Alex Cooley, @jheathershaw.bsky.social, Corentin Cohen and @tenaprelec.bsky.social

🔗 bit.ly/GIACERoundtable
Consultants, capture, and kleptocrats: how professional service providers enable corruption
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
I had such a fun time speaking with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social on the KickBack podcast about the role that both voters and women officeholders can play in electoral accountability for corruption in Latin America. Thanks for having me on @kickbackgap.bsky.social!
🎙️ New KickBack Ep. 140!

Why do voters support corrupt politicians?

@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks with emilyelia.bsky.social about why voters back corrupt politicians - and whether women candidates help parties recover after scandals.

🎧 Listen:

SoundCloud bit.ly/SoundcloudKB140
November 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Today’s #GIACEseminar was a lively dive into how illicit finance is reshaping tourism and hospitality.

Thank you to Jean-Patrick Villeneuve, @ofabianobomfim.bsky.social, Dieter Zinnbauer, @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social and all the participants who joined!

Learn more: bit.ly/corruptionin...
November 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
🚨The Nov GI ACE Newsletter is out!
From real estate money laundering to sanctions evasion & a new blog on anti-money-laundering in the Global South — explore the latest from the GI ACE network.
🔗Read: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter_7
🔗SUB: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme (Uni. of Sussex)
Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme (Uni. of Sussex) Email Forms
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
New KB episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks with József Péter Martin and Áron Hajnal about research on Hungary, state capture dynamics, EU conditionality, and scenarios ahead of April 2026.
Listen: Soundcloud: bit.ly/47cGU2J

#Governance #StateCapture #EU #Hungary
139. Áron Hajnal & József Péter Martin on systemic corruption in Hungary
Hungary, once seen as a democratic success story is now widely recognized as one of the EU's most corrupt member states. Regular KB host Liz David-Barrett sits down with József Péter Martin and Áron H
bit.ly
October 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
This month in GI ACE: new insights on corruption in carbon markets, state capture and legal accountability. Watch, read and listen to the latest research from across the GI ACE network.

🔗Full October newsletter: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter6

🔗Subscribe here: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
GI ACE Newsletter: Latest News & Updates
bit.ly
October 9, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
How do consulting giants enable state capture?

@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks to @devipillay.co.za on McKinsey’s role in South Africa, drawing on the Zondo Commission.
🔗Listen: bit.ly/KBspotify138
🔗Paper: lnkd.in/eczS5NAM

#StateCapture #SouthAfrica #AntiCorruption
October 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
🌍 Applications are open for the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship at ITC (Geneva).

Work with a UN–WTO agency supporting SMEs in developing countries, contribute to trade strategies, and take part in high-level discussions.

Deadline: 20/11/25

🔗 Apply now: https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/fellowships
October 1, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Really enjoyed chatting cleaning up politics with @politicshome.bsky.social along with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social, @danieljbruce.bsky.social and Lloyd Hatton MP. Lots to do still...
September 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Join us on 18 September as we kickoff our first #GIACESeminar with Dan Marks & @jenniferscotland.bsky.social from @rusi.bsky.social, and reflections from Pablo Fernandez (EcoSecurities).

📖 Scoping Corruption in Voluntary Carbon Markets
🕰️ 12:30–1:30 PM (UK time)
🔗 bit.ly/GIACESeminar1
September 12, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
#GIACE hosted our Mid-Year Conference (8–9 Sept) with researchers, Fellows, FCDO & CSO partners.
Day 1 featured multiple panels on research themes, ending with a roundtable on the Changing Global Order.
Day 2 focused on impact - turning research into real-world solutions and more.

bit.ly/giaceconf
September 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social co-chaired a panel on state capture at the @ecpr.bsky.social annual meeting in Thessaloniki.

Our takeaway: Tackling capture means understanding not just corruption itself, but the mechanisms & motivations that make states vulnerable.

Recap blog> bit.ly/ecprconferen...
September 9, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM
New paper!

Q: Does State Capture Facilitate Strategic Corruption? www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

A: Not necessarily. Even where states are deeply captured, supra-national and domestic institutions with oversight functions can create regulatory barriers
Does State Capture Facilitate Strategic Corruption?
Scholars have suggested that great powers seeking to engage in strategic corruption, particularly through corrosive capital, target countries where there are governance weaknesses. This article res...
www.tandfonline.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Masking who wields real influence …..? Time to introduce a comprehensive statutory lobbying register to shine a light on lobbying whatever name it goes by….?
@danieljbruce.bsky.social @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
Portugal’s Attorney General has launched a probe into possible corruption involving Portuguese construction firm Zagope and the eldest son of Equatorial Guinea’s longtime dictator, following an exposé by ICIJ and its media partners.

Read our latest: www.icij.org/news/2025/07...
Portugal launches probe into construction giant’s dealings with Equatorial Guinea’s vice president - ICIJ
The president’s son, known as Teodorin, has repeatedly caught the attention of international authorities, including in France where a messy legal battle is underway after French authorities seized…
www.icij.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Liz David-Barrett
📚 Highlights from the CSC Summer Academy!

Two days of rich discussion on state capture, grand corruption, integrity in sport, and more. Interested in anti-corruption?
Apply to our MA in Corruption & Governance:
lnkd.in/e-vEK2sb
#AntiCorruption #GoodGovernance #CSC
July 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Thanks Mo @mo.ibrahim.foundation for a really fascinating discussion about #anticorruption, #goodgovernance, #aid and #doingbusiness in Africa!
🎙️ New Kickback episode: Mo Ibrahim joins @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social to talk about founding the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, African-led governance, the IIAG & leadership prize. Inspiring insights on self-reliance & reform.

🎧 Listen: apple.co/46MHZOD | bit.ly/4eWj9Ot | bit.ly/KB136Soundcloud
July 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM