Charles Davidson

Former Executive Director, Kleptocracy Initiative

At A Glance:

Charles Davidson is Executive Director of the Kleptocracy Initiative at Hudson Institute.

Biography

Charles Davidson is former Executive Director of the Kleptocracy Initiative at Hudson Institute. Davidson is also Publisher & CEO of The American Interest LLC. He co-founded The American Interest magazine with Francis Fukuyama in 2005, along with partners Josef Joffe and Walter Russell Mead. Davidson co-founded the think tank Global Financial Integrity in 2006 and is its former Board Chair. He also produced the documentary We’re Not Broke that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012.

Charles Davidson is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

05
October 2018
Past Event
Countering Russian Money Laundering: Lessons from Latvia
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Joshua Kirschenbaum
Andris Teikmanis
Nicolas Veron
Ilze Znotiņa
05
October 2018
Past Event
Countering Russian Money Laundering: Lessons from Latvia

Charles Davidson, Joshua Kirschenbaum, Andris Teikmanis, Nicolas Veron, and Ilza Znotina discuss kleptocracy

Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Joshua Kirschenbaum
Andris Teikmanis
Nicolas Veron
Ilze Znotiņa
06
September 2018
Past Event
The Enablers: How Western Professionals Import Corruption and Strengthen Authoritarianism
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Elise Bean
Mark Hays
Ben Judah
Nate Sibley
06
September 2018
Past Event
The Enablers: How Western Professionals Import Corruption and Strengthen Authoritarianism

Charles Davidson, Elise Bean, Mark Hays, Ben Judah, and Nate Sibley discuss kleptocracy.

Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Elise Bean
Mark Hays
Ben Judah
Nate Sibley
25
May 2018
Past Event
Dismantling Russian Transnational Crime Organizations: A Conversation with José Grinda Gonzalez
Featured Speakers:
Judge José Grinda Gonzalez
Charles Davidson
Ben Judah
Sebastian Rotella
Members of the Spanish Guardia Civil during a raid targeting the Russian mafia in the southern resort of Marbella, September 26, 2017 (JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)
25
May 2018
Past Event
Dismantling Russian Transnational Crime Organizations: A Conversation with José Grinda Gonzalez

Spain’s Judge José Grinda Gonzalez and U.S. experts discuss investigating and prosecuting Russian organized crime

Members of the Spanish Guardia Civil during a raid targeting the Russian mafia in the southern resort of Marbella, September 26, 2017 (JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Judge José Grinda Gonzalez
Charles Davidson
Ben Judah
Sebastian Rotella
17
April 2018
Past Event
Countering Russian Kleptocracy
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Clay Fuller
Jeffrey Gedmin
Ben Judah
Nate Sibley
17
April 2018
Past Event
Countering Russian Kleptocracy

Kleptocratic regimes use corruption and as a means of control at home and a weapon of influence abroad. Russian oligarchs and other Kremlin agents hav

Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Clay Fuller
Jeffrey Gedmin
Ben Judah
Nate Sibley
01
December 2017
Past Event
Money Laundering for 21st Century Authoritarianism
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Ben Judah
Raymond Baker
Gary Kalman
Brady Jay Olson
(Credit: Bill Diodato, The Image Bank)
01
December 2017
Past Event
Money Laundering for 21st Century Authoritarianism

Ben Judah, Raymond Baker, and Charles Davidson on the new report, Money Laundering for 21st Century Authoritarianism

(Credit: Bill Diodato, The Image Bank)
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Ben Judah
Raymond Baker
Gary Kalman
Brady Jay Olson
30
November 2017
Past Event
The United States of Anonymity: How America Became a Financial Secrecy Haven
Featured Speakers:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Charles Davidson
Casey Michel
Jack Blum
Elise Bean
Mark Hays
Ben Judah
Parts of the Panama Papers displayed in Tokyo, April 26, 2016 (Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
30
November 2017
Past Event
The United States of Anonymity: How America Became a Financial Secrecy Haven

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse speaks at the release of a new report from Hudson's Kleptocracy Initiative, The United States of Anonymity

Parts of the Panama Papers displayed in Tokyo, April 26, 2016 (Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Charles Davidson
Casey Michel
Jack Blum
Elise Bean
Mark Hays
Ben Judah
15
November 2017
Past Event
Kleptocratic Regimes and National Security: A Pervasive Threat and How It Can be Neutralized
Featured Speakers:
Kate Bateman
Elise Bean
Brad Brooks-Rubin
Charles Davidson
Michael Dziedzic
Len Hawley
Len Hawley
Jason Ladnier
Michael Loughnane
Michael Miklaucic
Ted Moorman
Louise Shelley
Kelly Uribe
Jodi Vittori
David Williams
15
November 2017
Past Event
Kleptocratic Regimes and National Security: A Pervasive Threat and How It Can be Neutralized

A conference on threats caused by kleptocracies from terrorism and organized crime to state failure and genocide

Featured Speakers:
Kate Bateman
Elise Bean
Brad Brooks-Rubin
Charles Davidson
Michael Dziedzic
Len Hawley
Len Hawley
Jason Ladnier
Michael Loughnane
Michael Miklaucic
Ted Moorman
Louise Shelley
Kelly Uribe
Jodi Vittori
David Williams
11
October 2017
Past Event
How Non-State Actors Export Kleptocratic Norms to the West
Featured Speakers:
Ilya Zaslavskiy
Jeffrey Gedmin
David Kramer
Louise Shelley
Sarah Chayes
Ambassador Richard D. Kauzlarich
Paul Massaro
Charles Davidson
Photo by: Ivan Vdovin
11
October 2017
Past Event
How Non-State Actors Export Kleptocratic Norms to the West

Ilya Zaslavskiy, Jeffrey Gedmin, David Kramer, Louise Shelley, Sarah Chayes, Richard Kauzlarich, Charles Davidson, Paul Massaro on kleptocratic norms

Photo by: Ivan Vdovin
Featured Speakers:
Ilya Zaslavskiy
Jeffrey Gedmin
David Kramer
Louise Shelley
Sarah Chayes
Ambassador Richard D. Kauzlarich
Paul Massaro
Charles Davidson
18
July 2017
Past Event
Kleptocracy and Money Laundering: A Conversation with Kendall Day
Featured Speakers:
Kendall Day
Bill Corcoran
Charles Davidson
Karen Greenaway
Gary Kalman
Frank Vogl
Image Credit: Simone Golob
18
July 2017
Past Event
Kleptocracy and Money Laundering: A Conversation with Kendall Day

Kendall Day, Bill Corcoran, Charles Davidson, Karen Greenaway, Gary Kalman & Frank Vogl on US initiatives addressing kleptocracy and corruption

Image Credit: Simone Golob
Featured Speakers:
Kendall Day
Bill Corcoran
Charles Davidson
Karen Greenaway
Gary Kalman
Frank Vogl
14
June 2017
Past Event
Weaponizing Kleptocracy: Putin’s Hybrid Warfare
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Marius Laurinavicius
Jeffrey Gedmin
Hannah Thoburn
Michael Weiss
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on May 9, 2015 (RIA Novosti via Getty Images)
14
June 2017
Past Event
Weaponizing Kleptocracy: Putin’s Hybrid Warfare

Marius Laurinavicius, Jeffrey Gedmin, Hannah Thoburn and Charles Davidson on Weaponizing Kleptocracy: Putin’s Hybrid Warfare and Russian kleptocracy

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on May 9, 2015 (RIA Novosti via Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Marius Laurinavicius
Jeffrey Gedmin
Hannah Thoburn
Michael Weiss
25
April 2017
Past Event
Challenges and Opportunities for US-EU Cooperation in Europe's South and East
Featured Speakers:
Christian Danielsson
Charles Davidson
Benjamin Haddad
Craig Kennedy
Greece, Operation Poseidon Sea 2016 (European Border and Coast Guard Agency/Flickr)
25
April 2017
Past Event
Challenges and Opportunities for US-EU Cooperation in Europe's South and East

Christian Danielsson, Craig Kennedy, Charles Davidson and Benjamin Haddad discuss US-EU cooperation, migration, security, and economic development.

Greece, Operation Poseidon Sea 2016 (European Border and Coast Guard Agency/Flickr)
Featured Speakers:
Christian Danielsson
Charles Davidson
Benjamin Haddad
Craig Kennedy
19
April 2017
Past Event
Reforming Ukraine: A Conversation with Minister of Finance Oleksandr Danyliuk
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Oleksandr Danyliuk
Walter Russell Mead
(Julia Berezovska/ Press office NBU/Flickr)
19
April 2017
Past Event
Reforming Ukraine: A Conversation with Minister of Finance Oleksandr Danyliuk

Oleksandr Danyliuk, Minister of Finance of Ukraine, Charles Davidson, and Walter Russell Mead on financial corruption reform

(Julia Berezovska/ Press office NBU/Flickr)
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Oleksandr Danyliuk
Walter Russell Mead
14
December 2016
Past Event
China's Crony Capitalism: Kleptocracy with Chinese Characteristics
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Minxin Pei
Richard McGregor
Evan Osnos
Andrew Wedeman
(Doug Armand/Getty Images)
14
December 2016
Past Event
China's Crony Capitalism: Kleptocracy with Chinese Characteristics

Minxin Pei, Richard McGregor, Andrew Wedeman, Evan Osnos, and Charles Davidson discuss China’s Crony Capitalism and kleptocracy in China.

(Doug Armand/Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Minxin Pei
Richard McGregor
Evan Osnos
Andrew Wedeman
20
October 2016
Past Event
The Kleptocracy Curse
Featured Speakers:
Benjamin Haddad
Ben Judah
Charles Davidson
Karen Dawisha
Hannah Thoburn
Thomas Firestone
20
October 2016
Past Event
The Kleptocracy Curse

Discussion of The Kleptocracy Curse, a report on kleptocracy, with Charles Davidson, Benjamin Haddad, Ben Judah, Thomas Firestone and Karen Dawisha

Featured Speakers:
Benjamin Haddad
Ben Judah
Charles Davidson
Karen Dawisha
Hannah Thoburn
Thomas Firestone
19
October 2016
Past Event
The Threat of Kleptocracy: States Bordering the Russian Federation
Featured Speakers:
Ambassador Rolandas Kriščiūnas
Charles Davidson
Karen Dawisha
Daniel Karson
Marius Laurinavicius
Liudas Jurkonis
Jonas Grinevičius
Kurt Volker
David Kramer
Ben Judah
Aivaras Abromavičius
19
October 2016
Past Event
The Threat of Kleptocracy: States Bordering the Russian Federation

Hudson Institute’s Kleptocracy Initiative hosts a discussion of the threats posed by kleptocracy to states bordering the Russian Federation.

Featured Speakers:
Ambassador Rolandas Kriščiūnas
Charles Davidson
Karen Dawisha
Daniel Karson
Marius Laurinavicius
Liudas Jurkonis
Jonas Grinevičius
Kurt Volker
David Kramer
Ben Judah
Aivaras Abromavičius
21
July 2016
Past Event
Are Plutocrats Drowning Our Republic?
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Francis Fukuyama
Walter Russell Mead
Tyler Cowen
Adam Garfinkle
Nils Gilman
Kurt Volker
Jeffrey Winters
21
July 2016
Past Event
Are Plutocrats Drowning Our Republic?

Francis Fukuyama, Walter Russell Mead, Tyler Cowen, Adam Garfinkle, Nils Gilman, Kurt Volker, Jeffrey Winters & Charles Davidson on liberalism in 2016

Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Francis Fukuyama
Walter Russell Mead
Tyler Cowen
Adam Garfinkle
Nils Gilman
Kurt Volker
Jeffrey Winters
20
May 2016
Past Event
The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep: Russia's Road to Terror and Dictatorship under Yeltsin and Putin
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
David Satter
Kevin Klose
Carl Gershman
Robert Amsterdam
20
May 2016
Past Event
The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep: Russia's Road to Terror and Dictatorship under Yeltsin and Putin

David Satter, Kevin Klose, Carl Gershman, and Robert Amsterdam discuss Satter's book on Putin and the FSB's role in the 1999 apartment bombings.

Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
David Satter
Kevin Klose
Carl Gershman
Robert Amsterdam
13
October 2015
Past Event
Crime, Kleptocracy, and Politics: Developments in Modern Russia
Featured Speakers:
Mark Galeotti
Charles Davidson
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13
October 2015
Past Event
Crime, Kleptocracy, and Politics: Developments in Modern Russia

Mark Galeotti and Charles Davidson discuss corruption and organized crime in Russian domestic politics and its influence on U.S.-Russia relations

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Featured Speakers:
Mark Galeotti
Charles Davidson
29
April 2015
Past Event
The Global Magnitsky Act: Ending Impunity for Human Rights Abusers
Featured Speakers:
Bill Browder
Charles Davidson
Congressman James McGovern (D-MA)
Kyle Parker
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29
April 2015
Past Event
The Global Magnitsky Act: Ending Impunity for Human Rights Abusers

To address the current impetus for expanding the Magnitsky Act, Hudson Institute welcomes Bill Browder.

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Featured Speakers:
Bill Browder
Charles Davidson
Congressman James McGovern (D-MA)
Kyle Parker
23
April 2015
Past Event
Kleptocracy and U.S. National Security
Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Jeffrey Sallet
Debra LaPrevotte
Thomas Firestone
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23
April 2015
Past Event
Kleptocracy and U.S. National Security

Jeffrey Sallet, Debra LaPrevotte, and Thomas Firestone join Charles Davidson to address the national security implications of kleptocracy.

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Featured Speakers:
Charles Davidson
Jeffrey Sallet
Debra LaPrevotte
Thomas Firestone
10
December 2014
Past Event
Putin's Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?
Featured Speakers:
Karen Dawisha
Charles Davidson
10
December 2014
Past Event
Putin's Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?

Hudson Institute's Kleptocracy Initiative hosted a discussion with Karen Dawisha on the origins of Russia's kleptocracy.

Featured Speakers:
Karen Dawisha
Charles Davidson
21
November 2014
Past Event
Crony Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics
Featured Speakers:
Minxin Pei
Charles Davidson
21
November 2014
Past Event
Crony Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics

November 21: Hudson Institute’s Kleptocracy Initiative hosted Minxin Pei for a discussion on China’s kleptocratic corruption.

Featured Speakers:
Minxin Pei
Charles Davidson
Demonstrators hold pictures of Nasser Zafzafi, leader of the Rif region's protest movement, during a demonstration against corruption, repression and unemployment in the northern city of al-Hoceima, Morocco, May 29, 2017 (FADEL SENNA/Getty Images)
Caption
Demonstrators hold pictures of Nasser Zafzafi, leader of the Rif region's protest movement, during a demonstration against corruption, repression and unemployment in the northern city of al-Hoceima, Morocco, May 29, 2017 (FADEL SENNA/Getty Images)
Former Executive Director, Kleptocracy Initiative
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International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
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