Caption
Chinese People's Liberation Army honour guard members march during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on November 12, 2025, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)
Caption
Photo by: Ivan Vdovin
Recent global events show that the post-Cold War flow of money and values was not a one-way affair. The West is witnessing an increasingly coordinated assault on its own democratic system. This destructive import of corrupt practices comes not only from post-Soviet kleptocratic regimes like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, but also from China and other countries around the world whose ruling elites now possess far-reaching financial and political interests in the West.
On October 11th, Hudson Institute’s Kleptocracy Initiative held a discussion of Ilya Zaslavskiy’s report, How Non-State Actors Export Kleptocratic Norms to the West After opening remarks by Mr. Zaslavskiy and responses by Jeffrey Gedmin and David Kramer, two expert panels explored the development of corrupt norms and the true nature of contemporary kleptocratic regimes, as well as the methods they deploy to undermine Western democracy – and what can be done to fight back.
Related Events
20
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Canceled | A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on the Takaichi Government’s Economic Strategy
Featured Speakers:
Yasutoshi Nishimura
Kenneth R. Weinstein
20
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Canceled | A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on the Takaichi Government’s Economic Strategy
On January 20, Hudson Japan Chair Kenneth R. Weinstein will host Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, former head of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), for remarks on the Takaichi government’s economic security strategy.
Featured Speakers:
Yasutoshi Nishimura
Kenneth R. Weinstein
22
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Why Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Matter for America
Featured Speakers:
Bay Fang
Lisa Curtis
Alexis Mrachek
Hyun-Seung Lee
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
22
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Why Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Matter for America
At Hudson, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders will gather for a conversation on next steps the US government should take to provide a future for RFA and RFE/RL and ensure comprehensive information access around the globe.
Featured Speakers:
Bay Fang
Lisa Curtis
Alexis Mrachek
Hyun-Seung Lee
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
27
January 2026
In-Person Event | Washington Convention Center
Apex Defense Conference 2026
Featured Speakers:
Bryan Clark
Nadia Schadlow
Timothy A. Walton
27
January 2026
In-Person Event | Washington Convention Center
Apex Defense Conference 2026
Apex Defense, in collaboration with Hudson Institute, will host a dynamic defense technology event that unites warfighters, acquisition professionals, startups, small and medium businesses, investors and industry leaders to tackle operational challenges from the seabed to space.
Featured Speakers:
Bryan Clark
Nadia Schadlow
Timothy A. Walton
29
January 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Pax Silica: Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg on the AI Race and Economic Security
Featured Speakers:
Jacob Helberg
Joel Scanlon
29
January 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Pax Silica: Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg on the AI Race and Economic Security
Please join Under Secretary Helberg and Hudson Executive Vice President Joel Scanlon for a discussion on the Pax Silicia initiative, America’s strategy to win the global AI race, and the new geopolitical imperatives of economic security and technology.
Featured Speakers:
Jacob Helberg
Joel Scanlon
Related Research
Caption
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, and Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello appear at Palacio Federal Legislativo on January 15, 2026, in Caracas, Venezuela. (Getty Images)
Caption
Protesters block a road on January 8, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images)
Caption
(Screenshot via Fox News)