Crime, Kleptocracy, and Politics: Developments in Modern Russia

How do the levers of corruption operate in Russia, who is in charge, and what are the geopolitical implications for the United States and its allies?

To address the role of corruption and organized crime in Russian domestic politics and its influence on U.S.-Russia relations, Hudson Institute hosted Dr. Mark Galeotti, Clinical Professor of Global Affairs at New York University and founder of NYU’s new Initiative for the Study of Emerging Threats (ISET). As the author and editor of 13 books, a frequent voice in newspaper opinion pages, and the co-host of the “Power Vertical” podcast at RFE/RL, Dr. Galeotti is a well-known expert in transnational organized crime, security affairs, and modern Russia. Charles Davidson, Executive Director of the Kleptocracy Initiative and Publisher and CEO of The American Interest, moderated the discussion.

__Hudson’s Kleptocracy Initiative was founded in 2014 to address the threats posed by corrupt authoritarian regimes to Western democracy and U.S. national security. Systemic corruption facilitates human rights abuses, undermines the rule of law, and increasingly empowers revanchist governments whose territorial aggression presents a direct threat to the security of the U.S. and our allies. The Kleptocracy Initiative aims to promote public recognition of this influence, propose policy options, and develop strategies for curtailing the use of our financial system as a safe haven for the illicit assets of our adversaries.__