In the June 11, 2026 episode of KickBack podcast, host Rebecca Dobson-Phillips is joined by U4 Principal Adviser David Jackson to explore the changing landscape of anti-corruption and the key themes of the new book Anti-corruption in a discordant world.
Reflecting on three decades of progress in the anti-corruption field, the conversation examines how contemporary political turbulence is reshaping anti-corruption efforts through three lenses: contestation, abuse, and innovation.
Rebecca and David discuss how anti-corruption initiatives can be challenged, manipulated, or even weaponised, while also highlighting innovative responses that build resilience through civil society, new alliances, and emerging technologies.
The episode concludes with a discussion of anti-corruption’s broader role in democratic defence, emphasising the importance of accountability institutions, investigative journalism and social mobilisation in responding to today’s increasingly complex political environment.