Thinking and Working Politically to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows and Serious and Organised Crime
By openly sharing our insights, we have established a reputation as thought leaders who effectively turn ideas into practical results. Illicit economies and the organised criminal groups they support threaten national security and stability, reduce government revenues, and hinder economic growth and foreign direct investment.
These illicit networks also fund transnational gangs through activities like laundering proceeds from drug and people trafficking, making streets in the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries unsafe. Addressing illicit finance is a crucial way to protect donor countries from such risks.
The Role of Political Economy Analysis
Political economy analysis (PEA) plays a vital role in donor programs targeting illicit finance. PEA and the approach of “thinking and working politically” (TWP) examine how power and resources are distributed among social actors and their motivations to either support or resist reforms.
Lessons from the Tackling Illicit Financial Flows (TIFF) Project
The TIFF initiative, funded by the U.K., targets illicit finance and organised crime in Central and South America. Three key lessons from this project highlight the necessity of political thinking and working for sustainable impact.
“Fighting serious and organised crime requires understanding power and resources.”
These lessons emphasize that addressing the political and power dynamics is essential for effective interventions against illicit financial flows and organised crime.
Author’s Summary
This article underscores how integrating political economy analysis into anti-illicit finance efforts enhances donor programs’ impact by addressing power dynamics and incentives driving organised crime.