The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) was established in late 1989 as an interdisciplinary public policy institute fostering the reform process in Europe through impact on policy and civil society. CSD’s mission is “building bridges between scholars and policy-makers” and as an independent, interdisciplinary think tank it combines research excellence with policy advocacy. CSD is best known in Europe for its work on anti-corruption, good governance, and tackling Russian malign influence. In its efforts to counter strategic corruption, CSD developed a methodology for estimating authoritarian-driven economic footprint through the “Kremlin Playbook” series. The approach also identifies the enablers of corrosive capital and vulnerable sectors in the given countries.
Role in the Project
CSD will apply its expertise in corruption dynamics, state capture and foreign malign influence, to propose and implement innovative methodologies to assess the links between state-driven corruption and foreign undue influence in Europe. Research and policy work will focus on Russia’s infiltration in Europe, MENA countries’ undue influence on EU institutions, and Chinese subversion of EU good governance policies in Africa. CSD will also study media capture as a tool for shaping policy agendas abroad, including by amplifying the spread of disinformation and propaganda. CSD’s work will include mapping anti-corruption regulatory and institutional frameworks, assessing enforcement gaps, and creating policy recommendations and training materials. These efforts will build on CSD’s breakthrough Kremlin Playbook series, which estimates the economic footprint of authoritarian influence.