Alexander Chance

Alexander Chance

Senior Research Fellow

Name

Alexander Chance

E-mail

a.chance@azureforum.org

Alex Chance

Profile

Dr Alexander Chance is Senior Research Fellow at The Azure Forum and a consultant specialising in strategic approaches to transnational organised crime and corruption, in particular in post-conflict settings.

Alexander has over 20 years’ international experience working on these issues from within both government service and civil society. In his early career, he coordinated sensitive mediation and peacemaking processes in the Middle East and West Africa. He then entered law enforcement, where he served in operational, strategy and management roles – including in South America – focused on tackling serious and organised crime. He has particular insight into drug trafficking and corruption, as well as the influence of peacebuilding activities and faith communities on the illicit economy.

Alexander completed his PhD at Trinity College Dublin, where his research examined the relationship between organised crime, governance and liberal peacebuilding in post-war Mozambique. He also holds an MPhil (with Distinction) in International Peace Studies from TCD, and a BA in Law and Politics from Durham University. He consults for public and private sector organisations, is an Associate of Transparency International Ireland, where he advises on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and public integrity frameworks, and is a practising mediator, accredited by the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland.

Recent papers and lectures

Scholarly

  • ‘A Critique of Liberal Peacebuilding: The Case of Post-War Mozambique’. Guest lecture for the School of Religion, Theology and Peace Studies, Trinity College Dublin, 5thApril 2022.
  • ‘Exploring Criminology: International Responses to Transnational Organised Crime’. Guest lecture for the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, 21stApril 2021.
  • ‘Liberal Peacebuilding in Mozambique’. Guest lecture for The Politics of Peace and Conflict in a Globalised Worldat Trinity College Dublin, 20th April 2021.
  • Winning the peace, losing the state? Organised crime, governance and liberal peacebuilding in post-war Mozambique, Trinity College, The University of Dublin, 2021.
  • ‘Globalisation and Crime’. Guest lecture at the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast, 10thDecember 2019.
  • ‘Foreign justice? Assessing the rule of law component of liberal peacebuilding in post-war Mozambique, and its implications for transnational organised crime’. Paper presented at the conference Transitional Justice and Borders, hosted by the UK-Ireland Transitional Justice Network at Trinity College Dublin, 8thJuly 2019.
  • ‘The Challenges of Peacebuilding: The Case of Mozambique’. Guest lecture at the School of Religion, Trinity College Dublin, 5thNovember 2018.
  • ‘Cyber Security and Data in Conflict Settings’. Presentation with Dr Brendan Ciarán Browne at the workshop ICT and Development Research: New Opportunities and Research Methods, hosted by the Development Studies Association of Ireland at Trinity College Dublin, 27thJune 2018.
  • ‘Illicit Economy, Organised Crime or Neglected Pandemic? Understanding the global trade in counterfeit medicines, and implications for a human security centered response’. Paper presented at the colloquium Addressing the Development Implications of Illicit Economies: A Cross-Sectoral and Cross-Disciplinary Exchange, hosted by Christian Aid and the University of Glasgow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, 20thApril 2018.
  • ‘Understanding falsified medicines within the context of wider transnational organised crime, and implications for the policy response’. Presentation at the conference Medicines that Lie: A Deadly Public Health Crisis, hosted by the Brazzaville Foundation, Harvard Global Health Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine at the Wellcome Trust, London, 28thMarch 2018

Public engagement and outreach

  • ‘Exploring Serious Organised Crime across the UK and Ireland: Towards a shared understanding of a shared threat’, The Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy, Dublin, March 2022.
  • ‘Safe Haven? Targeting the Proceeds of Foreign Corruption in Ireland’, Report co-authored with Dr Colin King for Transparency International Ireland, Dublin, 2021.
  • ‘Ireland’s anti-money laundering framework for tackling the proceeds of overseas corruption’. Presentation at webinar Safe Haven?organised by Transparency International Ireland, 23rd February 2021.
  • ‘Corruption, Organised Crime and Conflict in Mozambique: Exploring the Role of International Donors’. Article in Strategic Insights, The Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy, 21stFebruary 2021.
  • ‘Winning the Peace, Losing the State? Exploring the connections between organised crime, elite corruption and western peacebuilding in post-war environments’. Online and static poster for Inspiring Generations 2020, hosted by the Trinity Long Room Hub Institute for the Arts and Humanities, November 2019.
  • ‘Dialogue, Peace and Reconciliation: Learning to disagree well’. Guest lecture to graduates at the Irish School of Ecumenics Annual Commencements Event, Trinity College Dublin, 16thApril 2019.
  • ‘A Criminalised Peace? The impact of organised crime and corruption on peacebuilding in Kosovo’. Module on SDG 16 for Trinity College Dublin’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Achieving Sustainable Development, hosted by FutureLearn, 2017-20