Combating Kleptocracy
Combating Kleptocracy

About

Combating Kleptocracy shines a light on how corrupt actors around the world use their illicit finances to undermine democracy and strengthen authoritarianism.

If there’s one link between every modern dictatorship, it’s corruption. Every authoritarian government relies on illicit finance and trans-national money laundering to hide its wealth and target its enemies. And all too often, the tools these regimes use are found in democracies, which have welcomed their dirty money.

Launched in 2023, this program reveals how these networks operate and who has benefited the most. Combating Kleptocracy dives into the links between illicit finance and kleptocrats — from shell companies to dictatorial donations, from private enterprise to suspect finance — and explores how to disrupt these networks.

Our Initiatives

Publications

Publications

In 2024, the Combating Kleptocracy Program published the acclaimed book Foreign Agents, the first investigation into how the U.S.'s foreign lobbying industry has spent years aiding dictators, threatening democratic movements and entrenching despots around the world.

Podcast

Podcast

HRF's "Dissidents and Dictators" podcast features voices from the frontline of the fight against dictatorship around the world, learning from their successes and highlighting their stories.

Original Investigations

Original Investigations

HRF's Combating Kleptocracy Program conducts a range of original, ground-breaking research, such as on how the UAE's dictatorship has authored the most successful political influence and interference campaign in the U.S.

News & Media

Latest Web Header - America’s Adversaries Are Targeting Its Cities and States - V1
America’s Adversaries Are Targeting Its Cities and States
Sep 30, 2024
Latest Web Header - The Indictment of Eric Adams Shouldn’t Surprise Us
The Indictment of Eric Adams Shouldn’t Surprise Us
Sep 28, 2024
Latest Web Header - Despots and oligarchs have many means to meddle in American politics - V1
Despots and oligarchs have many means to meddle in American politics
Sep 5, 2024
In America, there is finally good news on the anti-money laundering front
Financial Times
In America, there is finally good news on the anti-money laundering front
Feb 27, 2024
Russia has stifled another Putin opponent. Here’s how the West might help him header image
Russia has stifled another Putin opponent. Here’s how the West might help him
Apr 28, 2023
Combating Kleptocracy - News - American Kleptocracy
Macmillan Publishers
American Kleptocracy: How the U.S. Created the World’s Greatest Money Laundering Scheme in History
Nov 23, 2021

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