<div><strong>Help me investigate how Western capital flowing into authoritarian regimes damages democratic security. And help me develop a research model for asset managers to filter out entities that equip oppressive regimes and their aggressive geopolitical ambitions.</strong>
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<div>In a recent chart-topping and award winning podcast with Carole Cadwalladr and Peter Jukes, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/sergei-the-westminster-spy-ring/id1370376823" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sergei and the Westminster Spy Ring</a> , I helped expose <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jan/11/human-intelligence-naomi-alderman-the-week-in-audio-sergei-the-westminster-spy-ring-carole-cadwalladr-peter-jukes-review-unreality-talia-augustidis-the-hole-truth-marnie-duke" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how Russia interfered in the British politics</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-sergei-and-the-westminster-spy-ring-episode/id1747192337?i=1000682635604&amp;l=en-GB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corrupting our democratic systems</a>.
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<div>Now I am asking for your help to fund my research onto another story largely hidden from public view: how greedy asset managers used our savings and pensions to equip oppressive regimes around the world, causing untold harm to democratic security.
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<div>Western democracies cannot defend themselves while their own money helps strengthen oppressive regimes.
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<div>My previous research exposed how European “sustainable” funds invested in Russia in the run-up to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That work is now complete. Funds are now badly needed for the next stage, delving into how Western investments in authoritarian regimes undermine democratic security.
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<div>This project will examine how capital from democratic countries can reinforce repression, state resilience and geopolitical aggression in regimes hostile to the West.
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<div>I am carrying out this research as a self-funded PhD. That means I need help to cover the real costs of independent work, such as access to specialist financial data, source materials, research expenses, travel where needed, and the time required to investigate and write properly. Without support, this work becomes far harder to sustain. With support, it can make a serious contribution to public understanding and policy debate.
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<div>If you believe democracies should stop financing the regimes that threaten them, please donate and share.
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Leslie Owen

Richard C Aris

Jeremy Bate

Anonymous

Lauren Bailey

James Bergeron

JEREMY BATE

Dodona Kiziria

Suze Crowther

Stephen Gibbons

heidi cuda

Fund a PhD to challenge investment in dictatorships

Fund a PhD to challenge investment in dictatorships

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