iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Rijeka, Palazzo Modello, 07.03. - svi ste pozvani / all welcome / siete tutti i benvenuti! We'll mark the beginning of the Minor in Political Transformations with an all-star panel: Anastas Vangeli, Elvio Baccarini, Senada Selo Sabic & @vedrandzihic.bsky.social. csmk.uniri.hr/en/dogadjanj...

csmk.uniri.hr

Transformations in Europe and the Adriatic: Social, Political and Geopolitical Perspectives – Centar za studije mira i konflikata

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Thrilled that Dr Barbara Frey has been awarded an MSCA PF under my supervision for ENVIJUST-WB, an urgent and important project on environmental justice in the Balkans. The only MSCA at the University of Rijeka this year, and one of just two in Croatia. csmk.uniri.hr/en/dr-barbar...

csmk.uniri.hr

Dr. Barbara Frey awarded an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship at CSMK for ENVIJUST-WB – Centar za studije mira i konflikata

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John Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

David Lammy announces the new UK anti-corruption strategy at Mansion house yesterday, just three years overdue. Evidence from our @oxunipress.bsky.social @tenaprelec.bsky.social Indulging Kleptocracy is cited. But will the many incremental changes proposed fix a problem which is transnational?

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Holger Kiik @holgerkiik.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Remind me again what kind of diplomatic position is "son-in-law"? Is "clan member" also an official representative of a democracy? Or is this about business, not peace and the security of a sovereign country? 🤔 #kushner #ukraine #russia #trump

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Enrolment is open for the new English-taught Minor in Political Transformations at Uni Rijeka. We explore political change through the rule of law, IR, social theory, and engaged democracy, with a hands-on Challenge module. Apply by 31/01. Feel free to get in touch! uniri.hr/en/vijesti/e...

uniri.hr

Enrollment for Two New Minors is Open! | UNIRI

Minor in Political Transformations (30 ECTS) War, migration, disinformation, climate collapse, and democratic erosion are reshaping politics worldwide. The Minor in Political Transformations explores…

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Catherine Owen @catherineowen.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Looking forward to next week's discussion of @jheathershaw.bsky.social's excellent and important book, Indulging Kleptocracy, co-authored with Tena Prelec and Tom Mayne, at @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social!

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John Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

This reminds me of when our paper on kleptocracy and reputation laundering was edited by Chatham House after legal threats from someone who made his money from kleptocracy and was laundering his reputation. Similar cowardice from the embattled BBC. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...

theguardian.com

Reith lecturer accuses BBC of cowardice for censoring his remarks on Trump

Dutch writer Rutger Bregman says claim that Trump was ‘most openly corrupt president in US history’ was removed

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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Professional enablers often work behind the scenes—but their influence can drive corruption and state capture. Join our GI ACE roundtable with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, @devipillay.co.za, Alex Cooley, @jheathershaw.bsky.social, Corentin Cohen and @tenaprelec.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/GIACERoundtable

bit.ly

Consultants, capture, and kleptocrats: how professional service providers enable corruption

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Weds 26/11 in London - looking forward to this discussion, alongside co-author Tom Mayne, hosted by the Transparency International Professional Supporters Network. Link to register www.tipsnetwork.org/events/indul...

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

#EUEnlargement The European Commission has released its annual country reports. Wondering what’s new on the Western Balkan front, how countries compare to previous years, and what the key takeaways are? BiEPAG has you covered: www.biepag.eu/blog

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

New OA article @europe-asia.bsky.social: The Incumbency Advantage and the Enabler Effect: How Londongrad Beat the UK AML Regime Drawing on £2bn of property data, we show that not a single incumbent kleptocrat (0/72!) lost their UK assets. with @jheathershaw.bsky.social T. Mayne & S. Tokubayev

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

It was great to have you with us, Filip & @eui-eu.bsky.social team! Long overdue, but wonderful to celebrate together: Croatia has joined the European University Institute. Looking forward to new generations of PhDs, postdocs, and academic collaboration with Europe’s best and brightest.

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ÖGfE @oegfe.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Democracy, security, enlargement, and the future of Europe – these were just some of the big topics discussed at this year’s #CresSummerSchool. As a result, 18 young people from 13 European countries wrote a joint op-ed: 🗞️ This is the state of our Union! 👉 europeanwesternbalkans.com/2025/10/20/t...

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Grateful to @uisweden.bsky.social for hosting my talk on Serbia’s unrest in Stockholm last night. A full house, thoughtful questions from diplomats, academics & the wider public — a real sense that Serbia’s democratic experiment, and its civic energy, resonate far beyond its borders.

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GEO-POWER-EU @geopower-eu.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

📢 Tomorrow Assistant Prof. @tenaprelec.bsky.social @cas-see-uniri.bsky.social will present findings on how public attitudes toward democracy & governance in 🇷🇸 have evolved since the 2024 protests from the #GEOPOWEREU project at an event hosted by our consortium partner UI Sweden.🔗 shorturl.at/EzjMF

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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

New paper! Q: Does State Capture Facilitate Strategic Corruption? www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... A: Not necessarily. Even where states are deeply captured, supra-national and domestic institutions with oversight functions can create regulatory barriers

tandfonline.com

Does State Capture Facilitate Strategic Corruption?

Scholars have suggested that great powers seeking to engage in strategic corruption, particularly through corrosive capital, target countries where there are governance weaknesses. This article res...

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

A blog I’ve written about the contested concept of Strategic Corruption - more to come (follow @soc-ace.bsky.social if you’d like to hear more!) I’d like to thank @isrfoundation.bsky.social for their support for this project - wonderful foundation, pursuing a truly innovative approach to research.

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Great to see this paper out. Whatever sensitive topic one might tackle - whether it is war crimes, corruption or others - the phenomenon of secrecy in closed institutions is one that raises imp questions, esp. in (semi)authoritarian contexts. Congrats @lanabi.bsky.social @denisakost.bsky.social

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Holger Kiik @holgerkiik.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

💥Free online conference by the the Italian Institute for the Future. I could only participate yesterday, but fascinating talks upcoming e.g. @miasmafactory.bsky.social, @tenaprelec.bsky.social, @jlmarti.bsky.social www.instituteforthefuture.it/frontiers-of... #philsky #futurestudies #polisky

instituteforthefuture.it

Frontiers of Politics: Transforming Democracies in the Digital Communication Age – June 19-20 – Italian Institute for the Future

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GEO-POWER-EU @geopower-eu.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

📢 On 20 May, Dr. @tenaprelec.bsky.social & Dr. @sonjasg.bsky.social presented at the 🇪🇺 Parliament Library, sharing insights from Indulging Kleptocracy and research from #GEOPOWEREU on corrosive capital. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/45O7iiP

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John Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Ditto. I’d like to make sure my research is “in sync” with Trump administration so I’m still able to visit the US, but I’m not sure whether he wants to use our book as a how-to guide for indulging kleptocrats. @tenaprelec.bsky.social

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Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG) @biepag.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

🔊Listen to the ep.15 of 🎙️Seriously Balkans - The #BiEPAGtalks 🔹What the new German Government means for the Balkans Host: @fbieber.bsky.social Guests: Frauke Seebass, Fellow at @swp-berlin.org & Researcher @dgap.org Adnan Ćeramagić, Senior Analyst, ESI 🎧 tinyurl.com/5n9y55u8

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Full house - and a great discussion - at yesterday’s launch event of ThinkEurope in Ljubljana. I represented @cas-see-uniri.bsky.social bringing in some @geopower-eu.bsky.social research into the mix. Good luck to our friends Sabina Lange and Zoran Nechev with this new venture

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Next week in the European Parliament! We’re bringing the fight against enabling to the heart of 🇪🇺 @agillies.bsky.social on enabler networks @sonjasg.bsky.social on corrosive capital and your faithful trio on Indulging Kleptocracy Register: ep-events.secure.europarl.europa.eu/greensefa/ev...

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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 01/05/2025

📽️ Watch Helen, our Senior Legal Researcher, talking about the findings of our “Gatekeepers, enablers or technicians?” report, which unpacks the different labels used to describe the role of UK lawyers in combatting #kleptocracy, #statecapture and grand #corruption. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVix...

youtube.com

Helen Taylor introduces Spotlight's "Gatekeepers, enablers or technicians?" report

YouTube video by Spotlight on Corruption

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John Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Last week, the Indulging Kleptocracy tour went to Geneva to brief a special session of the UN on illicit finance and Paris to speak to the OCED on the book. Thanks to hosts and fellow speakers. unctad.org/meeting/spec... @tenaprelec.bsky.social @oxfordacademic.bsky.social @cais-exeter.bsky.social

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Center for Advanced Studies - South East Europe @cas-see-uniri.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

📚 BOOK LAUNCH & PANEL | 20 May, 12:30h, European Parliament Library ‘Indulging Kleptocracy’ and The Battle Against Transnational Enabling 📍 REGISTRATION: ep-events.secure.europarl.europa.eu/.../eve.../e...

ep-events.secure.europarl.europa.eu

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Looking to apply for a postdoc on corruption, authoritarianism, EU (non) enlargement and other fun topics… and you want to do it while sipping your favourite beverage by the seaside? Come work with me in Rijeka 🇭🇷 uniri.hr/en/vijesti/m...

uniri.hr

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Rijeka 2025. | UNIRI

The University of Rijeka (UNIRI), a modern European University, is looking for motivated postdoctoral researchers (Postdocs) for the Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF)…

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Thank you so much for reading our book! Love your writing @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

As the US retreats from #anticorruption, the UK and EU need to act together, aligning approaches on enablers, legal accountability & systemic reforms. This op-ed by @jheathershaw.bsky.social, Tom Mayne and I is a first step in joining those dots. More to come. national.thelead.uk/p/time-to-st...

national.thelead.uk

Time to stop indulging kleptocrats: The UK and EU must step up as America steps back

Kleptocracy isn’t some exotic export. It’s made here too. Tena Prelec, John Heathershaw and Tom Mayne write as their new book is published.

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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Liz challenged the over-reliance on AML frameworks like FATF standards which often fail when kleptocrats rewrite laws,block investigations, or legalise corruption. Her message: "We often talk about ‘moving beyond compliance’, but I think we can do better and aim for avoiding complicity."

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Florian Bieber @fbieber.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Increasing evidence that the Serbian government used a sound weapon against protesters (during 15 minutes of silence!) to create a mass panic. EU should demand an investigation. The use of repressive tools against peaceful protesters is a serious escalation & deliberate attempt to harm citizens.

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Why do lawyers decide to take on high-risk clients? What shapes their choices? Our research, hosted by @appgonacrt.bsky.social in Parliament this week, tackles these questions - read the @spotlightcorruption.org report here: www.spotlightcorruption.org/report/gatek...

spotlightcorruption.org

Gatekeepers, enablers or technicians?

This report explores the contested role of lawyers in relation to kleptocracy, state capture and grand corruption.

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Gresa Hasa @gresahasa.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

This is the atmosphere in #Serbia ahead of the protest scheduled for 16:00. In #Belgrade, citizens greeted students marching from across the country toward the capital for what is expected to be the largest demonstration in history.

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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

🎙️ New #Kickback episode! @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social & Kevin Davis discuss Trump’s suspension of the FCPA & its impact on U.S. firms, global corruption, & regulation. What’s next for anti-bribery efforts? 🔗 SoundCloud: bit.ly/Soundcloudep128 🔗 Spotify: bit.ly/SpotifyEp128 #FCPA #AntiCorruption

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

#NewBlog As #Serbian students and citizens prepare for the biggest protest yet, fears of violence grow. Journalists are being denied entry, and our colleagues in academia, media, and civil society face vicious smear campaigns. The regime is cornered, yet still backed internationally.

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Great to see that #IndulgingKleptocracy has been receiving some attention in Ireland. The role of EU countries in the kleptocracy problem - Ireland included - needs much more scrutiny. Let's keep the discussion going @irishtimes.com @irishexaminer.bsky.social

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I'm so gutted I can't be there, but you, Oxford people, should:

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John Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Thank you Marianne Kamp & Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar school for hosting the final of six talks on @tenaprelec.bsky.social @oxunipress.bsky.social Indulging Kleptocracy. Thanks @szakonyi.bsky.social @nargiskassenova.bsky.social @zoereiter.bsky.social Alex Cooley & Jeffrey Winners too.

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John Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

The US really is indulging Kleptocracy. We never meant for our @oxunipress.bsky.social @tenaprelec.bsky.social Tom Mayne book (with a foreword by @oliverbullough.bsky.social) to be taken as a programme for government. global.oup.com/academic/pro...

global.oup.com

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Tena Prelec @tenaprelec.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Indulging an American breakfast in NYC. We’ll be speaking about other indulgences at Harriman Institute @columbiauniversity.bsky.social later today - join us! harriman.columbia.edu/event/indulg... @jheathershaw.bsky.social Tom Mayne @oupacademic.bsky.social

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