Organized crime and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific: toward a transnational crisis?

Conference

Évènement
Date: October 29, 2024 from 09:00 to 17:45
Place: Sciences Po, Paris, FR

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The Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS) and the Center for International Studies (CERI) of Sciences Po are jointly hosting a public conference, entitled “Organized Crime and Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific: Toward a Transnational Crisis?”. Bringing together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, the event aims to deepen our understanding of the complexities surrounding transnational organized crime (TOC) and illicit networks in the region, while fostering cooperation and dialogue among like-minded partners.

This one-day event, held entirely in English, marks the 4^th international conference organized under the Observatory of Multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific, an initiative launched by the French Ministry of Armed Forces in 2023. FRS leads this multi-year research program in cooperation with four prominent think tanks and universities: Institut Montaigne, the European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR), Sciences Po, and the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco).

The conference will begin with keynote speeches for an overview of current and emerging trends in TOC and multilateral security cooperation. It will then be structured into three panel discussions, each focusing on a critical aspect of organized crime in the Indo-Pacific region:

The conference will be in English only (without interpretation) and held under the Chatham House rule.

Program:

08:30 – 09:00	Registration
09:00 – 09:30	INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Arancha GONZÁLEZ, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po Dr. Xavier PASCO, Director, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS)
09:30 – 10:45	KEYNOTE SPEECHES Overview of the current and emerging trends regarding transnational organized crime in the Indo-Pacific, and the diverse forms of multilateral and regional cooperation, with a focus on common challenges and best practices. Moderator: Arancha GONZÁLEZ, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po Africa S. APOLLO, Head Regional Bureau Nairobi, Interpol and CEO, East Africa Police Chief Cooperation Organization
10:45 – 11:00	Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30	SESSION 1. AN ISSUE AT SCALE: THE SPREAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME ACROSS THE INDO-PACIFIC Panel discussion on selected environmental crime issues (critical minerals, waste, wildlife and wood trafficking, etc.), key enablers, patterns of crime convergence, and cooperation mechanisms at the law enforcement and political levels. Moderator: Tiphaine CHAPEAU, Independent policy advisor on strategies for effective international action and cooperation against environmental crime, AIM4Action Prof. Emer. Lorraine ELLIOTT, Professor Emerita of International Relations, Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University (online) Hugo RODRIGUES, Head of Intelligence & International Cooperation Department, Central Office against Environmental Crime and Public Health Crime (OCLAESP) Louis MARÉCHAL, Political counselor, Extractive Industries, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Sarah FERGUSON, Conservation Crime Convergence Lead, TRAFFIC
12:30 – 14:00	Lunch break
14:00 – 15:30	SESSION 2. BRIDGING THE GAP? TECHNOLOGIES AND ORGANIZED CRIME Panel discussion on emerging trends in organized crime, including the role of advanced technologies – cryptocurrency, blockchain, generative AI, etc. – in fueling the surge of telecom fraud, cybercrime, and money laundering. Moderator: Julien BASTRUP-BIRK, Strategic Advisor on Security and Organized Crime, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) Helena HUANG, Associate Research Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Hieu Minh NGO, Threat Hunter, Vietnam National Cyber Security Center (online) Seong Jae SHIN, Associate Program Officer, Organized Crime Analysis & Threat Monitoring, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Dr. Lennon CHANG, Associate Professor, Cyber Risk and Policy, Centre for Cyber Resilience and Trust, School of Information Technology, Deakin University
15:30 – 15:45	Coffee break
15:45 – 17:15	SESSION 3. FEEDING A VICIOUS CIRCLE? TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME AND POWER RIVALRY Panel discussion on the geopolitics behind organized crime, including the interconnexions between TOC and conflict, the difficulties to cooperate against the backdrop of growing power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific, and the instrumentalization of law enforcement cooperation for political influence. Moderator: Dr. Antoine BONDAZ, China Fellow, DG IDEA, European Commission Virginia COMOLLI, Head of Pacific Program, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) Dr. Christian LECHERVY, Special Envoy for Myanmar, France Dr. Sheena CHESTNUT GREITENS, Associate Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin (online)
17:15 – 17:45	CONCLUDING REMARKS Dr. Christophe JAFFRELOT, Research Director, CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS, President of the French Association of Political Science (AFSP)