Press releases

With sanctions becoming an increasingly important tool in ostracising autocratic regimes from western markets, the need for effective enforcement of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policies is increasing. The global AML regime will be the backbone in detecting evasion of sanctions. This regime has, however, been widely criticised as ineffective. In this brief, Giancarlo Spagnolo and Theo Nyreröd discusses issues with the current AML regime and propose a reward scheme for whistleblowers to enable asset seizures. A powerful feature of their proposal is that it does not rely on the effectiveness of the AML regime.

Ukraine is currently receiving substantial inflows of foreign aid from western donors to help the country withstand the Russian aggression. The foreign aid flows partly reflect altruistic motives from the donor side, but also donor’s domestic strategic foreign policy objectives as the war is seen as part of a battle over the future world order. In this brief, Anders Olofsgård, discuss the academic literature that has analysed the existence and consequences of strategic motivations behind aid flows more generally, and draw some preliminary insights for the case of Ukraine.

It is not the older generation but young men who have the most difficulty in accepting advances in women’s rights. This has been shown by a large study from the University of Gothenburg on gender equality and sexism in Europe. In recent decades, Western democracies have become increasingly gender-equal. Girls and women tend to avail […]

Comfort women is the term used for the systematic sexual exploitation of women and girls that took place under the Japanese Empire 1932–1945. It has been estimated that the system comprised anything from 20 000 to 400 000 women at some 2 000 different “comfort stations” and this is described today as either slavery or prostitution. 80 years […]

Shouldn’t common provisions for procurement within the EU lead to increased central control and better coordination? Yes, but the guidelines introduced during the Covid-19 crisis were at the same time so flexible that they can also result in increased corruption and reduced legitimacy. This is shown by Brigitte Pircher, associate professor of political science, in […]

Citizens sometimes just have to live with political decisions they dislike or think are unfair. But if their preferred party leaders communicate that the decisions have been made properly, the feeling of unfairness can diminish according to research from the University of Gothenburg. Accepting political losses is crucial for democracy. But it’s also challenging to […]

Those who actively choose to save for retirement via so-called sustainable funds are not only driven by values of equality, justice and the environment. They also have a tendency to prioritise authority, and attach less importance to wealth. This is shown by a new study from the University of Gothenburg. Individuals who work and pay […]

Analysing the Haitian Revolution offers new perspectives on our times. Research from the University of Gothenburg shows that it was during this revolution that the relationship between political rights and inequality first came to a head, as reflected in contemporary global developments.  The origins of human rights and democracy have previously been traced back to […]

During pregnancy and their children’s infancy, women’s political participation and political information-seeking decreases significantly more than that of their male partners. This often leads to lasting gender differences in political engagement. This can be seen in research from the University of Gothenburg.

Menstruating can be more emotionally taxing and difficult than it needs to be. This according to new research from the University of Gothenburg, showing that many carry a double burden when menstruating. In her doctoral thesis, Josefin Persdotter explores everyday routines associated with menstruation, focusing especially on notions of cleanliness and “dirtiness”. “I have looked […]