KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast

How accurate is the idea that liberal democracies have lower levels of corruption? Join @csc-barrington.bsky.social on 20 Oct, 13:00–14:30 UK time, chaired by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, with Rebecca Dobson Phillips and Dominic Martin as discussants. bit.ly/4hoTMGx

The webinar will also look at institutional integrity and accountability in liberal democracies, with an opportunity to engage directly with the book’s key arguments. Register here: bit.ly/4hoTMGx

Chaired by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, the session will explore the nature and extent of corruption in the UK, the health of UK democracy, the risk of state capture, and the prospects for reform. and what these trends mean for the health of UK democracy.

What does corruption look like in a liberal democracy - and how vulnerable is the UK to forms of state capture? Join our CSC and GI ACE webinar on 20 Oct, 13:00–14:30 UK time for a discussion of Corrupted Kingdom by @csc-barrington.bsky.social 🧵⬇️

Read more about Resisting State Capture from the Grassroots: bit.ly/4cyMNth And Building Resilience to State Capture: bit.ly/4Aa5Q7p

Many thanks to @carynpeiffer.bsky.social, Nic Cheeseman, Jozsef Peter Martin and John Osae Kwapong for joining @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social and @tshipley1.bsky.social to present their research and contribute to a stimulating discussion.

A few photos from our APSA 2026 panel, “Defending Democracy: Resisting State Capture from Above and Below”, which brought together #GIACE researchers to share insights into how state capture can be resisted through institutions and grassroots action.

New on KickBack: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with @csc-barrington.bsky.social about *Corrupted Kingdom*, Britain’s decline in public integrity, weaknesses in accountability and what it will take to rebuild trust. Listen: Spotify: bit.ly/4hiYY0h SoundCloud: bit.ly/4ho1RwK

Join us on 16 July at Daunt Books, Cheapside, for the launch of "Corrupted Kingdom" by @csc-barrington.bsky.social. Described as “a wake-up call for all of us”, the book examines corruption across British public life and what can be done to rebuild integrity. RSVP: rsvp@profilebooks.com

What should the UK’s next Prime Minister do differently on ethics and integrity? In a new CSC blog, Prof @csc-barrington.bsky.social examines Keir Starmer’s record and what Andy Burnham’s approach might mean for standards in public life. Read: blogs.sussex.ac.uk/centre-for-t...

Interested in where an MA in Corruption & Governance can take you? Join our session on 17 June to hear from Louise Machareth, Lena Raballand and Tom Wright on careers across business integrity, financial crime, investigations, research and development. Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/macag-alum...

🎧New KickBack ep (148): Why does beneficial ownership transparency matter—and how do we prove it works? @tshipley1.bsky.social speaks with @thomtownsend.bsky.social & Alanna Markle (@openownership.bsky.social) on the gaps in BOT research and measuring real impact. Listen: SoundCloud bit.ly/48SGSgI

The report analyses the wide range of bodies safeguarding integrity across the public sector — and is expected to help shape the Commission’s future work. Read the report here: eic.independent-commission.uk/wp-content/u...

As one of its first actions, the Commission commissioned Dr Rebecca Dobson Phillips (Centre for the Study of Corruption, @sussex.ac.uk) to map the UK’s standards landscape. ⬇️

📢The UK government has established a new Ethics & Integrity Commission in response to concerns about standards in public life. 🧵⬇️

KB – Episode 145🎙️ @csc-barrington.bsky.social speaks with @marianizzero.bsky.social about research reframing kleptocracy as a transnational criminal enterprise, and the implications for UK asset recovery and national security. 🎧 Spotify bit.ly/SpotifyKBep145 🎧 SoundCloud bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...

❓ “Is Peter Mandelson corrupt (assuming the allegations against him are true)?” In a new blog, @csc-barrington.bsky.social examines this question using corruption analysis rather than focusing solely on criminal liability. 🔗 Read now: bit.ly/3M9SFz6

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

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

🚨New CSC blog: Prof. Dan Hough examines FIFA’s decision allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to play in all 2026 World Cup matches after his red card, and what this shows about disciplinary processes in football governance. 🔗Read more: bit.ly/4oy6tQR

🎙️ 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

🚨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

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

📢 CSC Seminar: From London to “Dubai-Kong” (1980–2024) 🗓 Mon 27 Oct, 12:00–13:00 UK | Online How US-sanctioned networks shifted from Western hubs to a Dubai–Hong Kong axis. Speaker: Daniel Haberly | Discussant: Tom Keatinge | Chair: @csc-barrington.bsky.social Register Here: bit.ly/CSC2webinar

We are delighted to announce the upcoming Research symposium on #BeneficialOwnership #transparency, co-organised with @openownership.bsky.social and the World Bank's Beneficial Ownership Transparency Thematic Working Group. Read More: bit.ly/oo-wb-csc-symposium

New on the CSC blog: the 4th post in our Tasmania series by @robynlewis.bsky.social & Michael Johnston examines “quiet capture” and outlines reforms - independent ACA, stronger transparency/lobbying oversight, public-service capacity, meaningful participation. Read: bit.ly/Tasmania4

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

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

🎙️ New #KickbackPodcast! @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks with Nicola Bonucci on the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention - its 1993 origins, peer review’s impact on business, and shifts in US enforcement. 🎧 Listen: Soundcloud: bit.ly/421B15h Spotify: bit.ly/421B15h #AntiCorruption #OECD

Sussex Spark 2025: Is the UK Politically Corrupt? Join us at Brighton Dome on 18 Sept for a public debate on the Nolan Principles and standards in public life. Panel: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social,Becky Dobson Phillips, @suehawley.bsky.social, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social. 🎟️ Tickets: t.co/eQ90lgoToS

New blog by Robert Barrington explores the risks of applying anti-terror laws to protest groups & what it could mean for civil society’s role in anti-corruption. Reflects on UK & global trends. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/3UjVK04 #Governance #CivilSociety #RuleOfLaw

📚 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

New on the CSC blog: @robynlewis.bsky.social & Michael Johnston explore how informal elite networks - what they term Elite Cartels - may shape governance and development outcomes in Tasmania. 🔗 bit.ly/CSCblog11 #Governance #CSC #EliteCartels #Tasmania #PublicPolicy

📢 New on the CSC blog: @csc-barrington.bsky.social explores what the upcoming Lammy Summit might signal for UK leadership on illicit finance and anti-corruption—opportunity or missed chance? 🔗 bit.ly/CSCBlog10 #IllicitFinance #Anticorruption #Governance #UKPolicy #CSC #LammySummit #Transparency

🎙️ 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

📢 Now hiring! Join the University of Sussex as a Lecturer in Politics (part-time, fixed-term) and help teach on our renowned MA in Corruption and Governance. Remote teaching possible (UK-based only). Apply by 21 July: jobs.sussex.ac.uk/job/08e2705d...

New KickBack episode out now: @csc-barrington.bsky.social speaks with Nicole Rose (NACC) and AJ Brown (TI Australia) about corruption in Australia, the rise of “grey corruption,” and how new institutions are responding. 🎧 Listen here: SoundCloud: bit.ly/Soundcloud135KB #KickBack #AntiCorruption

The June GI ACE newsletter is out! ✅ Congo Hold-Up spotlight & upcoming seminar ✅ Blogs on grassroots resistance & UNCAC ✅ New GI ACE Fellowship ✅ Latest KickBack on inclusion & power 📖 Read: bit.ly/GIACENewsletterJune 📬 Subscribe: bit.ly/giacesubscribe #GIACE #AntiCorruption #StateCapture

🚨New Kickback episode out now! Oguzhan Dincer and Michael Johnston join @csc-barrington.bsky.social to discuss their book Corruption in America, exploring how corruption operates across all 50 U.S. states. 🎧 Listen: bit.ly/Soundcloud134KB 📘 Book: www.cambridge.org/core/books/c... #Governance #KB

Is anti-corruption still true to its roots — or part of the problem? Rebecca Dobson Phillips, @aj16.bsky.social & Helen Taylor join @csc-barrington.bsky.social to explore the UK’s anti-corruption landscape. 🎧 Listen to KickBack Ep133: bit.ly/133SoundcloudKB #anticorruption #KickBackPodcast