Winner of the
Macarthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions
The Managing Across Boundaries Initiative Transnational challenges – from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and illicit trafficking, to terrorism, the spread of disease, counterfeit intellectual property and environmental crime – threaten geostrategic stability, people, and socio-economic development worldwide. The Managing Across Boundaries Initiative develops innovative government responses at the national, regional, and international levels, and identifies pragmatic public-private partnerships to mitigate these threats. Managing Across Boundaries Initiative Pragmatic Solutions to Transnational Challenges
Counterfeit Goods WMD Proliferation
Socio-Economic Underdevelopment
Government Terrorism Private Industry
Disease
Civil Society
Illicit Trafficking
Arms
Environmental Crime
What We Do Engaging the Developing World Pursuing security and development objectives in an integrated manner is a concept that has gained considerable attention among politicians and policymakers worldwide. Yet, there remains a deep divide between developing and developed countries. Wealthier countries focus the lion’s share of their attention and resources on “hard security” issues, including global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction proliferation. Poorer states are more concerned with economic development and “softer security” challenges that threaten prosperity, such as crime, illicit trafficking and disease. MAB identifies solutions in order to build capacity at the intersection of security and development and focuses on best practices emerging from South-South capacity building.
Brian Finlay Managing Director
Johan Bergenas Deputy Director
Working with Private Industry In a global economy, security and economic competitiveness are inextricably linked, but traditional government approaches will never move at the speed of modern commerce and communications. Leveraging industry capabilities and expertise is crucial to aligning security imperatives with market dynamics. Legitimate companies across international trade and production networks are well positioned to help prevent the security and economic damage wrought by illicit trafficking, and by other vulnerabilities in global value chains. MAB works with these private sector stakeholders, as well as government agencies, to meet mutual interests and identify market-based solutions that advance public policy objectives and industry profit goals. Conventional Arms The responsible transfer and use of conventional weapons is a complex global issue. From small arms to unmanned aerial vehicles, managing how conventional weapons are transferred or employed is vital in determining the course of global conflicts, civil wars, regional disputes, economic development and humanitarian and human rights challenges. Bringing together important stakeholders and constituents requires developing pragmatic frameworks and responsible, effective governance to mitigate the consequences of the unregulated arms trade while ensuring that legitimate trade is not impeded.
Weapons of Mass Destruction For decades, governments around the world have used the same WMD nonproliferation playbook designed to combat a state-centric proliferation challenge, largely from former Soviet states. Today in an era where sensitive technologies can be found in all corners of the world, and where not only states, but private companies, terrorist organizations and even individuals contribute to the proliferation supply chain, our efforts to curb this threat must go beyond conventional approaches. MAB works with developed and developing governments, international and sub-regional organizations, industry, and the NGO community to develop the next generation WMD nonproliferation programming.
Environmental Crime Environmental crimes today no longer pose only a conservation and biodiversity challenge. Poaching, wildlife trafficking and the illegal logging, fishing, charcoal, mining and waste trades are equal threats to international security and economic prosperity. Integrated and balanced
Rachel Stohl Senior Associate
Nate Olson approaches across the conservation, development and security communities must be designed and implemented in order to better manage the shadowy world of environmental crime. MAB produces holistic analysis and engages governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society organizations to develop sustainable solutions to environmental crime.
Illicit Trafficking & Counterfeit Goods Illicit trafficking and counterfeiting, in everything from cigarettes to animal parts, guns, drugs, pharmaceuticals, even nuclear and radiological materials, have become a cancer on the global economic system, one that equally damages both the public good and private profit. MAB researches and analyzes current and future illicit trafficking trends and in partnerships with governments and private sector actors design dynamic solutions to these problems.
Research Analyst
Debra Decker Senior Advisor
Johanna Mendelson Forman Senior Advisor
Border Insecurity Globalization has revolutionized the international system, with global trade, Foreign Direct Investment, and the freer flow of goods, services, information, and money yielding inexorable growth worldwide. While development specialists rightly celebrate these trends, security experts see the emergence of new threats—from the trafficking of arms, drugs, people and potentially even materials of mass destruction. Many governments lack the necessary controls over their borders to adequately combat these scourges. Stimson works with governments and with industry to identify gaps and to promote innovative solutions that both meet national security threats and enhance economic prosperity.
Gerson Sher Senior Advisor
Allen Moore Senior Advisor