Tag Archives: Syria

2021 Corruption Perceptions Index

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Gary Cordner

Transparency International’s 2021 perceptions of public corruption index is available here. Among 180 countries, the least corrupt were Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand. The most corrupt were South Sudan, Syria, and Somalia. Over the last 5 years, the countries that … Continue reading →

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Policing since the Arab Spring

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Gary Cordner

This article reviews police reform efforts across the Arab world since 2011. Policing in the region remains focused more on protecting state control than on protecting and serving people, but modest changes have taken place in several countries. Some reforms … Continue reading →

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Context matters in police reform

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Gary Cordner

Police reform measures promoted around the world, including in conflict zones, often incorporate best practices as understood in developed countries. However, local conditions vary dramatically. This article presents a typology of four scenarios based on patterns of violence and who … Continue reading →

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Europol counter-terror efforts

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Gary Cordner

An interview with Catherine De Bolle, Europol executive director and former commissioner general of police in Belgium, is available here. She discusses counter-terror developments in Belgium following the 2016 attacks in Brussels and current EU-wide initiatives including those focused on … Continue reading →

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Security sector change during and after conflict

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Gary Cordner

This column interviews two officials who were heavily involved in police reform efforts in Georgia, Ukraine, and Jordan. They describe how changes were implemented in post-Soviet and post-conflict situations, and even in circumstances of active conflict. International assistance was key … Continue reading →

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Terrorism at lowest level since 2002

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Gary Cordner

Global terrorism has been decreasing steadily since 2002. The number of terror attacks decreased 19.8% in 2017, following drops of 9.2% and 11.5% in the preceding two years, according to this article. Terrorism-related deaths declined 24.2% in 2017 following drops … Continue reading →

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Shifting face of international terrorism

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Gary Cordner

Counter-terrorism efforts directed mainly at ISIS, Al Qaeda, and the Middle East will need to shift attention to Russian-speaking individuals and networks in the coming years, according to this article. Terror groups that previously resisted oppressive governments in their own … Continue reading →

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Thieves in law

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Gary Cordner

This article discusses interlocking organized crime groups throughout Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region, led by “crowned thieves” and “thieves in law.” Many of the leaders are from Georgia where a 2005 crackdown inspired them to take up residence in … Continue reading →

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Policing & protecting refugees in Jordan

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Gary Cordner

This article reviews the policing situation in Jordan, particularly related to protection of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. About 20% of the refugees live in official camps where a variety of formal and informal security measures have been implemented … Continue reading →

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Finland is happiest

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Gary Cordner

According to the latest World Happiness Report, Finlanders are happiest among 156 countries while Venezuelans are least happy. By region, North Americans (combined with Australia and New Zealand in this analysis) and Western Europeans are the most happy while South … Continue reading →

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