Institute for Global Analytics

🆕 New RESPOND_EU x IGA Report Release 📘 Political Graft in Europe on the Loose: Anti-Corruption Legal Frameworks in Comparative Historical Perspective Produced within the EU-funded RESPOND project, the report offers a comparative analysis of anti-corruption regimes in nine European countries – Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia and Ukraine. 🔍 What’s inside: • Explores political finance, lobbying, revolving doors and media regulation • Adopts a social constructivist lens to show how history and culture shape anti-corruption outcomes • Identifies key divergences between Western and Central-Eastern Europe – and areas of convergence in legal design • Maps patterns in Europe’s approaches to political corruption • Features comparative insights, detailed country chapters and full catalogues of current regulations Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eaMneBRJ #AntiCorruption #GoodGovernance #RESPONDProject #PoliticalGraft #Europe #RuleOfLaw #EU

RESPOND_EU has officially launched our project's edited volume "Political Graft in Europe on the Loose: Anti-Corruption Legal Frameworks in Comparative Historical Perspective". The research - led by IGA, has involved cooperation with a team of leading European researchers. The cross-comparative investigation provides a pioneering analysis of the key similarities and differences among 9 European states as regards proclivities to corruption and capacities to counter it. Patterns in European regulatory approaches to political corruption as well as policy-relevant recommendations are further identified. For additional details, follow the link and description below:

Rumena Filipova, Ph.D. participated in the Security Challenges in the Balkans conference organized by the West University of Timisoara and the New Strategy Center, which took place on October 9 in Timisoara. She participated in the panel "Battle of Narratives: Defending Democracy in the Digital World Dominated by AI", alongside representatives of academia and the private sector, including Ion Ionita (Historia, Romania), Alina Bargaoanu (New Strategy Center and SNSPA University, Romania), Margineanu Lucian (Flex, Romania), Lucian Oros (BCR, Romania) and Adrian Racotanu (Eviden Technologies, Romania). The panel discussion highlighted the challenges and promises of AI for the development of democracy and media literacy in the region. The IGA chairperson's intervention focused on the distinct historical contexts in Bulgaria and Romania, which condition different proclivities to pro-Kremlin messaging. At the same time, she also underscored overarching similarities in Russia's strategy of incitement of protests, riots and destabilization - as the offline counterparts to online hybrid activities - applied across the Balkans.

In another episode of RESPOND Explained, Stoyan Panov of the Institute for Global Analytics examines how corruption adapts in the digital age. In the video he explores: · How new technologies — from digital platforms to cryptocurrencies — open fresh channels for illicit financial flows. · How this has recently manifested in the case of the 2024-2025 Romanian elections. See the full video here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eEc4cR6h #RESPONDExplained #Romania #RomanianElections #Russia #Corruption #Digital #Governance #Democracy

IGA’s Chairperson, Rumena Filipova, Ph.D., delivered a presentation in Plovdiv on youth attitudes in Bulgaria and Europe, exploring their views on geopolitics, the economy, and society, as well as the growing impact of Chinese influence on Bulgarian academia. The event marked the forging of a dialogue between the think tank sector and the private-corporate sector, in partnership with ICT Strypes. Addressing youth concerns about politics and the future of the workplace will remain a crucial undertaking and opportunity in the coming years.

In an interview for Bloomberg TV Bulgaria on the occasion of the SCO meeting and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in East Asia, IGA Chairperson Rumena Filipova, Ph.D. commented on: - how China is mirroring Russia's methods of influence as regards the distortion of history and a common rhetoric about international relations to be based on "sovereignty, international law and multilateral engagement". - that the SCO does not represent an alternative platform for a new world order not least due to the absence of new concepts and the diverse interests of its member states. - the complex structural factors, which are not likely to determine an easy rapprochement between India and China. Watch the full interview (in Bulgarian): https://lnkd.in/ejYsacDN

In a series of episodes for RESPOND Explained, the IGA team highlight key aspects of their work. In the first episode, IGA’s Founder, Rumena Filipova, Ph.D., shares her insights on how foreign powers interfere in Bulgaria’s politics, economy, and society. Rumena Filipova explores: ·      How Russia relies on opaque patronage networks across politics, business, and media. ·      How China builds ties with academia and political elites, while introducing corrosive capital practices that undermine Bulgaria’s economy and governance. Watch the full video here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZ5uPNe3 #RESPONDExplained #Bulgaria #Russia #China #Corruption #Governance #Democracy

In an interview for Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, IGA Chairperson Rumena Filipova, Ph.D., examined the impact of sanctions on Russia and the US’s strategy on the war in Ukraine. In focus were also the West’s relations with India and the latter’s ties to Moscow and Beijing, as well as the role of Europe and its priorities in the areas of security, economics, and scientific-technological development. Key points: ·      India’s imports of Russian oil have surged, benefiting Indian refineries but straining relations with Western partners seeking a clearer stance on the war. New Delhi’s policy of “balancing among enemies” may not be sustainable in the long term. ·      The prospect of strong US-led sanctions on Russia’s energy sector—coupled with falling oil and gas revenues for Russia over the past year—are pressuring the Kremlin toward peace talks. The Russian regime may yield to power politics more so than diplomacy. ·      The US President now takes into greater consideration European and Ukrainian positions. Peace talks with the Russian President are unlikely to lead to a settlement that would appear as Ukraine’s capitulation but would rather reflect realities on the ground. ·      A peace agreement could allow Europe to refocus on priorities that are of significance to the continent, including building internal resilience, establishing defenses against hybrid threats from Russia and China as well as doubling down on technological and economic development. Watch the full interview (in Bulgarian): https://lnkd.in/eXtuKSgG #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #India #Russia #Ukraine #EnergySecurity #Sanctions #Europe #BloombergTV #OilMarkets #SecurityAndDefense

In an interview for Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, IGA Chairperson Rumena Filipova, Ph.D. analyzed the results of the recent G7 summit meeting, the place of India in the format, the impact of the Israel–Iran conflict, the position of Canada in international affairs, and the status of East Asian countries' relations with the US. Key points included: - Ongoing US-Europe differences on Ukraine, but greater convergence with respect to the call for “de-escalation” in the Middle East; - The inclusion of other partners at the G7 summit, notably India, as a bridge to the Global South; - The consequences of Canada’s chairmanship of the G7 summit in carving out a distinctive role for the country in international affairs; - Iran’s internal and external weaknesses; - The lack of a meeting between the Japanese Prime Minister and the US President as posing questions about the status of relations between East Asian countries and Washington. Watch the full interview (in Bulgarian): https://lnkd.in/ee_N8p_q #G7Summit #USForeignPolicy #UkraineWar #MiddleEast #Canada #India #EastAsia #GlobalPolitics #IGA #BloombergTV

IGA is pleased to be part of RESPOND_EU as the project marks its first anniversary. RESPOND — “Rescuing Democracy from Political Corruption in the Digital Age” — has spent the past 12 months mapping how digital platforms reshape corruption and trust. Funded by Horizon Europe, led by University of Bologna and powered by 16 partners in 12 countries, the project is: • Uncovering the systemic roots of corruption and institutional fragilities, not just isolated incidents • Running comparative fieldwork and co-creation workshops with citizens & institutions • Broadcasting the podcast “RESPOND News: Dispatches on Democracy’s Hidden Threats” As Year 1 closes, RESPOND has become a vibrant hub for collaboration and public engagement. Year 2 will deepen these conversations, turning empirical evidence into hands-on solutions for transparency in the digital age and shaping new democratic imaginaries. Full press release: https://lnkd.in/eqXnW5ut #IGA #RESPOND #HorizonEurope #Democracy #AntiCorruption #DigitalGovernance ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IGA се радва, че е част от проекта RESPOND_EU, който отбелязва първата си годишнина. RESPOND — „Спасяване на демокрацията от политическата корупция в дигиталните общества“ — анализира през последните 12 месеца  как дигиталните платформи променят тенденциите в корупцията и доверието. Финансиран от „Хоризонт Европа“, ръководен от University of Bologna и осъществяван от 16 партньори в 12 държави, проектът: • Разкрива системните корени на корупцията и институционалните слабости, а не само отделни инциденти • Провежда сравнителни теренни изследвания и съвместни обсъждания с граждани и институции • Излъчва подкаста „RESPOND News: Скритите заплахи пред демокрацията“ С приключването на първата година RESPOND се превърна в средище за сътрудничество и обществено ангажиране. Втората година ще задълбочи тези дискусии, превръщайки емпиричните данни в практични решения за прозрачност в дигиталната ера, оформяйки нови демократични представи. Пълно прессъобщение: https://lnkd.in/epVw4qR9 #IGA #RESPOND #ХоризонтЕвропа #Демокрация #Антикорупция #ДигиталноУправление