Florian Weigand 8/4/24 Florian Weigand 8/4/24

Border control paradox: The political economy of smuggling between Colombia and Venezuela

In this working paper, Jorge Mantilla explores state-criminal cooperation in roadblock politics. His study discusses the way in which, between 2015 and 2023, the bilateral tensions and border closure between Colombia and Venezuela created a political economy of smuggling in which state officials delegated basic state functions to organised crime groups to contain foes, domesticate illegal economies, and maintain social control.

Florian Weigand 6/26/24 Florian Weigand 6/26/24

Choking points: opium flows, roadblocks and illicit finance in Burma’s Shan State

The flow of opium presented unique opportunities and challenges for the Burmese armed groups interested in profiting from its concentrated wealth. In this working paper, John Buchanan explores the emerging features of armed group predation tied to the explosive growth of Shan State’s opium sector from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Florian Weigand 6/26/24 Florian Weigand 6/26/24

The border business: a political economy analysis of checkpoint taxation in Afghanistan

Checkpoints and the transit taxes that can be levied at them have been central to the vagaries of Afghan state formation and conflict—and are crucial to understand the rise to power of the Taliban. In this new working paper Sarajuddin Isar posits that checkpoint taxation is a key means of creating and negotiating rents between state and non-state actors, driving political settlements and conflict.

Florian Weigand 6/7/24 Florian Weigand 6/7/24

Roadblocks and revenues: the politics of passage

From Afghanistan and Yemen and from Mali to Somalia, checkpoints are central to dynamics of armed conflict, funding insurgents, driving violence and shaping governance by various types of armed actors, state and non-state alike. A new working paper series on roadblocks and revenues sheds lights on checkpoints in conflict contexts across the world and provides a new window into dynamics of authority and power.

ashley jackson 4/26/24 ashley jackson 4/26/24

Time for change: the normalization of corruption and diversion in the humanitarian sector

Although the aid sector often treats corruption and diversion as an anomaly, they are pervasive, systemic and often unwittingly perpetuated by standard aid sector practices. Drawing primarily on evidence from Somalia and Afghanistan (with reference to other contexts), this paper explores the specific aid practices that enable and perpetuate corruption and diversion, and what donors and implementers should be doing differently.

Florian Weigand 2/23/24 Florian Weigand 2/23/24

“Never say never:” learning lessons from Afghanistan reviews

This “review of reviews” looks at how and what Western governments and international organisations have tried to learn from the intervention in Afghanistan.

ashley jackson 12/10/23 ashley jackson 12/10/23

Transferring climate funds to conflict zones

Conflict-ridden and fragile countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change and least prepared to deal with it. They are largely excluded from climate adaptation programmes and funding. This article charts a path forward on how to address climate adaptation in conflict zones.