ILLICIT TRADE IN GOODS: COMMON AND DISTINCTIVE FEATURES AND RELATED RESEARCH GAPS

Background

COST Action GLITSS aims to create a holistic research agenda on illicit trade practices, to increase public awareness with a view to enhancing societal resilience and to explore how technological innovation facilitates illicit trade but can also be used to fight it. This workshop is organized by the Working Group ‘The phenomena: Goods and money’ that focuses on the ‘phenomena’ making up illicit trade, providing a forum for discussion between all those who study the ‘goods’ (counterfeiting, smuggling, trafficking etc.) and the ‘capital’ (money laundering, tax evasion etc.). The workshop is envisioned as a platform for sharing best practices, proposing effective strategies, and encouraging collective action against this illicit trade phenomenon.

Objectives

This workshop aims to assemble a diverse array of experts, scholars, policymakers, and concerned stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the characteristics of illicit trade and as a result contributing to the development of more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.

The central questions explored in this workshop will be: What are the common and distinctive features of the phenomenon of ‘illicit trade’? The following sub-questions will guide the discussion during the workshop:

• What are the boundaries of the phenomenon ‘illicit trade’, for example, how does it relate to phenomena like organized crime or corruption?
• What does ‘illicit’ mean and when certain practices become so?
• What are the characteristics of illicit trade across various research disciplines?
• What are the sectoral (e.g., drug trafficking vs illicit trade in gemstones) and regional characteristics of illicit trade?
• How is the concept of illicit financial flows related to the phenomenon of illicit trade in goods?
• What are the underlying methods and evolving trends in the illicit trade of goods?
• Who are the key actors involved in the illicit trade or along the smuggling network?
• What are the best practices and lessons learned from regulatory efforts?

By addressing these questions, the workshop aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of illicit trade, promote effective policies, and foster collaborative efforts to combat this problem. The primary outcome of the workshop will be a drafted research agenda that not only indicates the main research gaps requiring further exploration to answer the aforementioned questions but also outlines the goals and priorities for future research activities.

Format

The workshop will be carried out in a hybrid format, with 10-15 in-person participants and the option to attend via the web. It will take place in Kyiv or Prague. The event spans two days and comprises various sessions. The precise schedule will be determined once the participants are confirmed. The sessions will include presentations and discussions on the aforementioned topics. Additionally, some sessions will be specifically dedicated to joint discussions aimed at formulating a research agenda and plans for future (joint) publications.

Submission and deadlines

GLITSS members are invited to express their interest to attend the workshop by choosing one of the roles:

• Speakers: abstract up to 200 words (including disciplinary perspectives, methods, and preliminary results).
• Young researchers and innovators: motivation letter up to 200 words;
• Discussants: summary up to 100 words providing a description of the applicant’s research interests in connection to the workshop objectives.

The deadline for submission is 29 February 2024.

The selected participants will be informed by 15 March 2024 via email.

Please submit your proposals via Google form – https://forms.gle/JgogAC5tALNpDQko8

Based on selected proposals, workshop organizers will determine the exact scope and might invite additional participants (stakeholders, experts, politicians etc) to contribute to the event.