John Heathershaw and Tena Prelec chaired by Oliver Bullough

Experts in international affairs and corruption Professor John Heathershaw and Professor Tena Prelec discuss their analysis of how Western professionals have enabled kleptocratic elite networks and undermined the rule of law.

The authors explain how the British government allowed extremely wealthy kleptocrats based largely in Russia and Eurasia to move to London and thrive with impunity. They use case studies to show how financial, legal and other services gamed the system to allow these kleptocrats to operate. It includes how they exploited deregulation, under-enforcement of the law and offshore finance and how they enhanced influence and reputations through philanthropy and political donations. Heathershaw, Prelec and their co-author Tom Mayne argue that kleptocracy is not just a moral problem, it also impoverishes the global south and undermines institutions in the global north.

Heathershaw is professor of international relations at the University of Exeter and author of Dictators Without Borders and The UK’s Kleptocracy Problem. Prelec is assistant professor at the Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe at the University of Rijeka. Her research focuses mostly on anti-corruption and EU politics, with a geographic focus on the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Discussions are chaired by journalist Oliver Bullough, author of Butler to the World and Moneyland.