In light of the latest World Cup controversies, Professor Dan Hough of the Centre for the Study of Corruption explores integrity in football and FIFA. Power, money and football have always been uneasy bedfellows. But never has that been more…
Blog Archives
Why the UK’s next Prime Minister needs to take a firmer stance on ethics and integrity
Professor Robert Barrington of the Centre for the Study of Corruption (CSC) considers Keir Starmer’s record on ethics and integrity, and the questions that may shape assessments of Andy Burnham’s approach. Few people doubt that Keir Starmer is a decent…
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The UK’s facilitation of illicit finance drives child undernutrition globally
In this guest blog, Sunit Bagree, Research Associate in the School of Global Studies and Senior Policy Advocacy Consultant at Results UK, explores the harm to populations in the Global South in areas like child undernutrition that can result when trade-related…
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Corruption and the Mandelson-Epstein affair
Professor Robert Barrington of the Centre for the Study of Corruption (CSC) applies the lens of corruption analysis to the Peter Mandelson case, to explore whether we can apply the term in this case and why that might be useful.…
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Evaluating the evidence base for the UK’s 2025 Anti-Corruption Strategy
Professor Robert Barrington from the Centre for the Study of Corruption looks at the use of research and evidence in the UK’s new Anti-Corruption Strategy. Anti-corruption plans and strategies have a well-known challenge: what is the evidence base on which…
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Ronaldo, FIFA and the Challenge of Integrity
On 25 November 2025 FIFA decided that one of football’s global superstars, Cristiano Ronaldo, would indeed be allowed to play in all of his country’s games at the 2026 World Cup finals. The decision will no doubt by cheered by…
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Reforming Governance and the Quiet Capture of Democracy in Tasmania
In this final blog in a 4-part series on Elite Cartels in Tasmania, Robyn A. Lewis1 and Michael Johnston2 draw on experiences elsewhere to suggest potential anti-corruption reforms. Elite3 Cartels (ECs) operate subtly – often legally and opaquely – contributing…
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Why it matters whether Palestine Action are really terrorists
Professor Robert Barrington explores the implications of using anti-terrorist laws against Palestine Action, arguing that civil society plays a key role in the UK’s anti-corruption architecture and applying such laws to campaigners can set a dangerous precedent which a future…
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Tasmania’s Hidden Tax: Elite Cartel Corruption and Its Real Costs
Robyn A. Lewis[1]Michael Johnston[2] Australia’s island state Tasmania faces another cluster of economic, social and environmental crises. Despite intermittent growth, Tasmania remains Australia’s poorest, least dynamic state. In 2023-24, GSP[3] per capita was A$70,679, 73% of Australia’s per capita GDP…
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The Lammy Summit: global leadership – or niche and unambitious?
Professor Robert Barrington reflects on the UK government’s plans for the upcoming Lammy Summit, drawing on past examples to consider what the initiative might signal about current efforts to address corruption and illicit finance. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced in May 2024…
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