Coercive Capital with Elaine Dezenski

From smuggling and trafficking to cyber fraud and trade-based money laundering, the illicit economy is estimated to represent more than $2 trillion of illegal activity annually.  And the international criminal networks that drive the illicit economy have continued to evolve and grow more sophisticated with every operation. This shadow economy is massive and its real-life consequences are widespread resulting in deaths by overdose, violence in communities, and government destabilization.

David M. Luna is a true expert on the illicit economy. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE). He also held senior positions with the U.S. State Department and at the White House.  and has worked internationally with the Organization of Econ and Dev. And the UN.

Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski recently spoke with David M. Luna about the contours of the shadow economy and why breaking the corruptive power and financial power of these transnational criminal networks is a critical element of our national security strategy.

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Foreign adversaries’ weaponization of information is nothing new. Still, the means and modes by which rogue nations use disinformation, propaganda, and cyber-attacks to influence American public opinion are increasingly worrisome – weakening democracy, weaponizing free speech, and polarizing citizens in ways they may not recognize - like in Russia, Iran and China where governments have built a global apparatus sowing discord and a growing anti-west narrative.

Dr. Ivana Stradner is a renowned security expert and Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Barish Center for Media Integrity, where her work examines both the psychological and technical aspects of Russian information warfare. Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski recently spoke with Dr. Stradner about what she describes as the “covert war for American Minds.”  

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Transnational kleptocracy describes how corrupt rulers steal public funds and then launder those funds within the international financial system. It's accomplished by moving those funds from fragile states to “safer” jurisdictions—like the U.S.

Many of America’s foreign adversaries operate as kleptocracies and cutting off their illicit financial flows weakens their impact on free and open societies across the globe.

Anti-corruption organizations worldwide are increasingly focused on rooting out the kleptocrats, their funds, their networks, their shell corporations, and their facilitators.  

One such organization, the National Endowment for Democracy, is an independent, bipartisan, non-governmental organization focused on strengthening democratic institutions worldwide.  Zoë Reiter is the Director of NED’s program on combating kleptocracy. She recently spoke with Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski on her work and efforts to bolster the role of a civil society in exposing the networks of kleptocrats.

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The evolution and modernization of how we manage and protect identity has moved into a new era. More than two decades after the tragic events of 9/11- when 19 hijackers used falsified identity documents to board planes, US travelers over the age of 18 will now be required to present a REAL ID compliant form of identification to board an aircraft, or access certain types of federal facilities Identity verification is also at the core of Know Your Customer requirements. And it’s why financial services providers are a key stakeholder in the evolution of digital identity.

Furthermore, new digital identity infrastructure has the potential to put the customer at the center of a user-based system that will help individuals retain their personal data and reduce the risk of fraud, identity theft and account takeover.

Coercive Capital host, Elaine Dezenski recently spoke with Amit Sharma, Founder and CEO of FinClusive, about the concept of sovereign ownership of identity and the integrity of personal data as a fundamental human right.

Sanctions enforcement is at the forefront of modern economic statecraft and the challenges are escalating. As governments confront increasingly-sophisticated evasion tactics and geopolitical challenges, the need for robust collaboration with the private sector has never been greater. Whether focusing on the latest sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions and tracing their impact on global financial networks, or examining how Russia’s sanctions-evasion strategies are interconnected with the tactics of China, Iran, and North Korea, creating a web of illicit activity that tests the limits of enforcement, understanding these complex threats is paramount. 

Cari Stinebower, is a Partner and Chair of the International Trade Practice at Winston and Strawn, with over 25 years of experience in both government and the private sector. Cari recently spoke with Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski and helped to break down and examine the tools, strategies, and partnerships necessary to strengthen enforcement and safeguard the integrity of international commerce. 

Reading the tea leaves of the US-China relationship is challenging, even in times of relative calm. From anticipating supply chain disruptions and the risk of military conflict... to considering the impact of tariffs and how the US banking sector’s assessment of doing business in China may diverge from the US government's prevailing view.... understanding and managing the risks for US companies doing business in China is no small task.

There is perhaps no more articulate voice on navigating the challenges ahead for US companies operating in China than Isaac Stone Fish. Isaac is a scholar, author, and expert on doing business in China. He's the Founder and CEO of Strategy Risks .... a research and data company focused on reducing US companies’ exposure to China.   

Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski recently spoke with Isaac on the evolving risks of doing business in China and his Strategy Risks’ index... The SR 250....  that tracks China risk exposure of the top 250 public companies in the U.S.

In this episode of Coercive Capital, Elaine Dezenski hosts David Rader, Senior Advisor at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Adjunct Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies along with Wes Spurlock, Senior Advisor and Co-Founder of the Office of Strategic Capital at the Department of Defense and a former U.S. Air Force Military Officer. They discuss the supply chain economics of the Department of Defense, adversarial capital, and much more.

In the 1970s, corruption in the U.S was often not considered a problem. Or it was viewed as a problem that happened “over there”.... in other parts of the world. But in retrospect, the reality and our perception of corruption has changed.   And even though anti-corruption legislation like the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was implemented to help combat the issue, corruption continues and grows in ways that no one could have predicted. 

Kleptocrats around the world are uniting to attack us- in Russia, China, Venezuela, North Korea, and Iran- use their power to attack their neighbors, and destabilize the global economy… allowing dictators and criminals to leverage our own system against us – hiring lobbyists, lawyers, and corporate service agents to influence our elections, buy off our politicians, move dirty money, compromise our economy, and weaken our resilience.

To help understand the urgency of these new risks and the tools needed to protect America, democracy, and, maybe, the world, Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski speaks with Scott Greytak, the Director of Advocacy of Transparency International US, and Casey Michel, Director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program at the Human Rights Foundation.

The ongoing fentanyl crisis in America shows few signs of abating. Roughly 200 people per day, more than 75,000 Americans per year, lose their lives due to fentanyl use. But how do we stem the tide?  Looking through a financial and national security lens to follow the money, Coercive Capital host Elaine Dezenski and Ray Donovan, a 28-year veteran of the DEA, serving as its Head of Operations, and a leading voice on the matter take a deep dive on the Chinese underground money laundering networks and manufacturers of precursor chemicals that ensure that criminal networks get paid and that chemicals flow to the Mexican cartels producing and distributing fentanyl in the United States.  

In the debut episode of Coercive Capital, Elaine Dezenski hosts Juan Zarate, who served as the Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism in the George W. Bush administration and is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. In a wide-ranging discussion, Elaine and Juan discuss today’s economic security landscape, America’s complex and vulnerable relationship with China, and the growing weaponization of trade. They also discuss transparency, ally-shoring, and new economic alliances as well as the critical role that private capital and American companies play in the global economic realignment that is shaping our world.

Coercive Capital explores the intersection of U.S. economic and national security and global financial reform. Global adversaries are weaponizing our trade and financial systems, while Illicit financial flows, kleptocracy, and organized crime continue to erode democratic systems and destabilize economies. Elaine Dezenski brings together experts who understand these emerging threats and provide insights into the risks and emerging opportunities to strengthen our collective response.