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Small arms and light weapons (SALW) | export control, transfer policy and laws | corruption | arms trafficking
Michael Picard is an independent researcher who focuses on the intersection of the arms trade, corruption, and conflict. He has conducted research for several organizations, including the HALO Trust, Transparency International – Defence & Security, the Small Arms Survey, and GunPolicy.org at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. He currently edits a weekly digest of SALW-related diversion incidents. His past work included an examination of private military and security companies and corruption in conflict-affected environments, field research in Southeast Asia into the regional small arms trade, and the management of a small team of researchers monitoring the impacts of national firearm legislation, country by country.
Picard is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he focused on conflict management and international economics. His thesis discussed the relationship between corruption and violence in post-conflict Colombia.
Michael Picard is an independent researcher who focuses on the intersection of the arms trade, corruption, and conflict. He has conducted research for several organizations, including the HALO Trust, Transparency International – Defence & Security, the Small Arms Survey, and GunPolicy.org at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. He currently edits a weekly digest of SALW-related diversion incidents. His past work included an examination of private military and security companies and corruption in conflict-affected environments, field research in Southeast Asia into the regional small arms trade, and the management of a small team of researchers monitoring the impacts of national firearm legislation, country by country.
Picard is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he focused on conflict management and international economics. His thesis discussed the relationship between corruption and violence in post-conflict Colombia.
Recent Publications:
- "An American Mercenary Resurfaces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Inkstick, February 29, 2024.
- "Thailand’s Mall Shooting Shows That Authorities Must Address Online Black Markets," The Diplomat, October 7, 2023.
- "Private Military and Security Companies Are A Homegrown Threat," Inkstick, April 25, 2023.
- "Hidden Costs: US Private Military and Security Companies and the Risks of Corruption and Conflict," Transparency International Defence & Security, July 2022.*
- “In Haiti, a glimpse of a mercenary industry enabled by weak regulation,” TI-DS Blog, July 23 2021.
- “The Global Small Arms Trade and Diversions at Transfer,” in "Gun Trafficking and Violence: From the Global Network to the Local Security Challenge," 2021.*
- “Small Arms Proliferation Challenges and Solutions in South and Southeast Asia,” in "Gun Trafficking and Violence: From the Global Network to the Local Security Challenge," 2021.
- “The troubling rends underlying Thailand’s mass shooting,” Channel News Asia, February 17 2020.
- “Trade Update 2019: Examining South-east Asia,” Small Arms Survey, November 2019.*
- “Weaponized AI in Southeast Asia: In Sight Yet out of Mind,” The Diplomat, July 6 2019.
- “New Zealand tragedy response is a gun control masterclass,” Policy Forum, March 29 2019.
- “Uncovering the dangerous subculture behind gun violence in Thailand,” Channel News Asia, March 12 2019.
* indicates there are additional co-authors