Small arms and light weapons (SALW) | defense industry | corruption
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 Transparency International – Defence & Security, the Small Arms Survey, and GunPolicy.org at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. That 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 Transparency International – Defence & Security, the Small Arms Survey, and GunPolicy.org at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. That 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:
- "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