Co-sponsored by the National Defense University Center for Complex Operations

Experience has shown that international interventions are directly undermined by the presence of criminal and political patronage networks, militias, and other proscribed groups that enrich themselves through trafficking, exploitation of national resources, and the capture of state institutions. How countries address these illicit networks – and deprive them of their power – represents one of the great challenges of the 21st century. This conference, which is based on the new book Impunity: Countering Illicit Power in War and Transition, discussed the nature of these networks and what can be done to dismantle them.

Agenda

0900-0915—Welcome and Introductory Remarks

0915-1030—Panel One: Illicit Networks; Here, There, Everywhere: Afghanistan, Haiti, Kenya 

• Introduced by Michael Miklaucic, Director of Research, PRISM Editor, Center for Complex Operations (INSS)
• Carl Forsberg, Harrington Doctoral Fellow and Fellow, Clements Center for National Security, University of Texas at Austin
• Gretchen Peters, Executive Director, Satao Project
• David Beer, Senior Executive Advisor, Public Safety and International Capacity Building, Iron Door Inc.
   

1030-1045—Coffee Break

1045-1215—Panel Two: Confronting Illicit Power 

• Introduced by Michelle Hughes, Founder, President, and CEO, VALRAC Innovation, LLC
• David Johnson, Executive Director, C4ADS
• Mark Kroeker; Senior Partner, Kroeker Partners LLC
• Scott Carlson, Principal, New-Rule LLC
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1215-1230—Concluding remarks