Countering Transnational Kleptocracy: How Democracies Can Lead the Way

By Nate Sibley Reports of the prominent Russian investigative journalist Arkady Babchenko’s demise turned out to have been greatly exaggerated. His re-appearance at a press conference the day after he was reportedly gunned down in Kyiv in May should not distract from the alarming trend that made his ...

The 16+1 Initiative: China’s Divisive Equation for Central and Eastern Europe

By Martin Hala With the toppling of its communist regimes, Eastern Europe embarked on a transformation inspired most immediately by Western Europe’s example. As East European states entered the EU accession process, the prospect of integration into an affluent and democratic Europe became a key driv ...

How Beijing is Reshaping the Infrastructure of Development

By Shanthi Kalathil Through means subtle and strategic, China has reshaped the arena of development assistance. Beijing has emerged as an alternative source of infrastructure financing and become an institutional player through its Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank ...

Neutralizing ‘Corrosive Capital’ in the Balkans

By Martina Hrvolova Earlier this year, Serbia and Russia sealed a deal to construct the Serbian Stream pipeline, a project that will further strengthen Gazprom’s dominance in the energy sector in the Balkans. Dependence on Russian energy has already adversely affected the ability of countries in the ...