ORGANISED CRIME - A Global Business

In the organizer's words:

ORGANISED CRIME: A Global Business discusses the complexities of organized crime and corruption at a global scale. From the local to the global, the conference shows how corruption and organized crime are closely intertwined.

The annual costs of international corruption amount to a shocking $3.6 trillion. Taking form as bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, tax evasion, just to name a few of them, corruption grows out of poverty, wealth assymetries, human rights violations, international organized crime, fragile economic growth, and low income per capita. It is boosted by the cumulative and incremental flow of international commerce, privatization measures (for example in the transitioning from socialist to capitalist economies), and the growing institutional influence on the markets - factors that boost opportunism and tempt civil servants to act in self-interest. Corruption causes poverty, obstructs development, and drives away investment, while boosting real estate speculation, drug trafficking and money laundering, from the local to the global level. Investigating corruption goes well beyond economic calculations, and requires analyzing connections between institutions, banks, multinational corporations.

Corruption is not an issue circumscribed to a specific form of government, but it involves a global network of countries as well as different structures of economies and parliamentary systems. Global corruption is a distinct and convoluted phenomenon that intervenes and prominently influences both politics and the private sector, making it more difficult for the system to legislate effectively and to efficiently combat it. To study corruption in a comprehensive way, we need to critically analyze, identify and explore the dynamics and relationships between organized crime, institutions and the private sector.

To effectively inform the public and enhance literacy, we need the perspectives of knowledgeable journalists, researchers and activists from regions where corruption is considered particularly visible and detrimental to democratic development. These perspectives are also needed to counter stereotypes and to promote a critical, balanced understanding on the mechanisms of globalised politics, trade and crime.

We want to empower our local and global audience to mobilise and participate in their local communities and networks, to spread knowledge in their respective countries and take part in a globalised critical exchange.

SCHEDULE

Friday November 24, 2023

16:30 - Doors open

17:00 - 17:15 - OPENING

Tatiana Bazzichelli (Artistic Director, Disruption Network Lab, IT/DE), Mauro Mondello (Investigative Journalist, IT/DE/PT).

17:15 - 18:45 - KEYNOTE.

Julian Hessenthaler (Private Investigator, AT). Moderated by Frederik Obermaier (Investigative Journalist, DE).

19:30 - 21:30 - PANEL

Stevan Dojčinović (Investigative Reporter & Editor, OCCRP, SRB), Floriana Bulfon (Investigative Journalist, IT), Shehryar Fazli (Author & Senior Policy Advisor, Open Society-Asia Pacific, PK/UK).

Saturday November 25, 2023

15:30 - Doors open

16:00 - 16:10 - INTRODUCTION

Tatiana Bazzichelli (Artistic Director, Disruption Network Lab, IT/DE), Mauro Mondello (Investigative Journalist, IT/DE/PT).

16:10 - 18:15 - PANEL

Vincenzo Musacchio (Lawyer & Professor of Criminal Law, IT), Dritan Zagani (Whistleblower, Former Anti-Drugs Police Officer, AL), Pleurad Xhafa (Artist & Activist, AL), Andrea Dip (Investigative Journalist & Researcher, BR/DE), Anton Radniankou (Director, Center for New Ideas, BY/PL). Moderated by Verena Zoppei (Advisor, Anti-Corruption & Integrity, GIZ, IT/DE).

18:30 - 19:00 - PERFORMANCE

"Find Your Toungue", Pleurad Xhafa (Artist & Activist, AL).

19:15 - 20:45 - KEYNOTE ADDRESS.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas (Investigative Journalist, GH). Moderated by Stephanie Busari (Senior Editor for Africa, CNN, UK/NG).

Sunday November 26, 2023

11:00 - 13:00 - WORKSHOP

Stevan Dojčinović (Investigative Reporter & Editor, OCCRP, SRB).

14:30 - 17:00 - WORKSHOP

Julia Auf dem Brinke (Co-Founder, Corruption Tracker, DE), Ruth Rohde (Co-Founder & Programme Manager, Corruption Tracker, DE/UK), Rhona Michie (Director of Projects & Planning, Shadow World Investigations, UK).