Redefining security and peacebuilding in the age of illicit flows: A spotlight interview with Dr. Annette Idler

Since 2015, the partnership between UNSSC and Oxford University has evolved into a dynamic collaboration, resulting in the development of training modules designed to assist UN personnel in effectively engaging with armed militias and non-state actors. 

In this edition of the UNSSC spotlight interview with UNSSC’s Francesco Gheradi, we delve into the insights of Dr. Annette Idler, whose research is driven by a commitment to understanding human resilience in regions where state authority is limited or fragmented, particularly in borderlands. These areas often elude the traditional security frameworks that prioritize state-centric and military-focused approaches.  

Dr. Idler discusses critical themes and the implications for peacebuilding and security in complex environments. 

Francesco Gherardi: UNSSC is sincerely proud to be working with Oxford University Global Security Programme at Pembroke College. Can you begin by telling us a bit about the collaboration between UNSSC and Oxford University in promoting knowledge, research, and quality training for UN staff (and beyond)? 

Dr. Annette Idler: Our collaboration began in 2015 and has grown into a truly dynamic partnership. Over the past decade, we’ve co-developed training modules to help United Nations(UN) staff engage with armed non-state actors — from rebels and paramilitaries to transnational criminal groups. We built these modules on years of grounded field research that I conducted in conflict-affected and often inaccessible regions, such as Colombia, Venezuela, Myanmar, and Iraq. 

One of our flagship initiatives was the Conflict Platform, which introduced a novel conflict analysis tool developed at Oxford. This tool helps UN practitioners anticipate shifts in conflict dynamics and make more informed decisions in fast-changing environments. We complemented it with field-based feedback from UN staff to ensure the research stays policy-relevant and responsive to real-world needs. 

We also co-developed the Network for Change, a platform connecting practitioners and civil society actors in Myanmar and the Horn of Africa. Together, we created a Synthesis of Good Practices — practical guidance for navigating uncertainty in fragile contexts, informed by those working on the front lines. 

Most recently, we’ve taken this work forward by tackling the illicit economy — a major, yet under-addressed, obstacle to peace and development. Our latest tools help visualize how conflict dynamics intersect with illicit flows of drugs, weapons, and people. The collaboration stands out because it bridges the worlds of research and practice, producing not only new knowledge, but also tools and insights that UN staff can directly use in their work. 

Francesco Gherardi: Your research focuses on global security in the contemporary world, examining complex dynamics such as armed conflict, the global illicit economy, transitions from war to peace, and the role of violent non-state groups. Could you share what inspired you to dive into these challenging areas, and how your extensive fieldwork in regions like Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Myanmar, and Kenya has shaped your approach to studying security and conflict? 

Dr.Idler: My motivation came from a desire to understand how people live — and persist — in spaces where state authority is absent or fragmented, such as borderlands. These are often overlooked in mainstream security approaches, which tend to be state-centric and overly focused on the military dimension. There often is disconnect between high-level security policies and the realities on the ground. During fieldwork in places like Colombia, Myanmar, and Kenya, I engaged with ex-combatants, displaced people, women leaders, and communities navigating violence on a daily basis. 

These encounters made clear to me that the illicit economy is not just a side issue — it's central to the persistence of violence and instability. If we, as an international community, are serious about peace, we have to treat the illicit economy as a core component of conflict systems and design responses accordingly. 

Francesco Gherardi:  Working in such sensitive and complex areas of research must come with challenges. Could you share a memorable experience or lesson learned from your time in the field that continues to influence your work today? 

Dr. Idler: One encounter that left a deep impression on me was with a woman in Colombia who had been displaced by conflict. She lost her husband to the war, witnessed harrowing brutality, and was left as a single mother and the sole provider for her family. Despite everything, she founded an initiative to support other women in similar circumstances — creating spaces for healing, empowerment, and economic resilience. What struck me was her unwavering optimism and dignity in the face of unimaginable hardship. Her story is a powerful reminder for policymakers: behind every statistic is a person, often someone showing extraordinary resilience in the absence of state protection. These are the people our policies need to serve. And unless we address the structural drivers of violence — including the illicit economy — we will continue to miss the mark on building lasting peace. 

Francesco Gherardi: Could you provide an overview of the Contested Cross-border Spaces, Illicit Flows, and Order in the Contemporary World Research Project and its core objectives? What is unique about its approach to studying transnational security challenges? 

Dr Idler: This project explores how global security threats are shaped by illicit flows — like drugs, weapons, or trafficked people — that move through contested cross-border regions. These flows can turn local violence into global problems by strengthening armed groups, empowering states with hostile agendas, and undermining stability far beyond national borders. What’s often overlooked in policy is that these areas, where state and non-state actors compete to control territory and people, are central to today’s security landscape. 

What makes our approach unique is that we combine social science with complexity science, and we study these issues across scales and by drawing on many different data sources. For example, we conduct interviews in remote border regions of South America, the Middle East, and South Asia but we also use quantitative data that is available at the global level to better understand the networks of illicit supply chains that span the globe. And we then trace the impact of these networks on global security. So we connect local realities with global patterns.  

We also ensure our work has practical impact. Working with UNSSC and other partners, we turn research into decision-support tools that help identify where and how to intervene to reduce violence and build resilience. 

Francesco Gherardi: Your research highlights critical issues such as borderland mobility, security, and migration, and the intersection of illicit economies with weak governance. How do these dynamics shape both local and transnational conflicts? And what are the project's most significant findings so far, and why are they crucial for peace and security in today's world? 

Dr. Idler: We’ve found that illicit hubs — where multiple flows converge — are critical nodes in the global illicit economy. Armed groups and sometimes even state actors collaborate across borders to profit from these flows. These alliances strengthen conflict actors, erode state legitimacy, and fuel both local violence and regional instability. 

One key insight is that these hubs are often in peripheral border regions — neglected by the state and under-prioritized by international policy. Our findings highlight the need to break the cycle of state neglect, illicit income generation, and violence. Doing so is essential for creating sustainable peace — and this is where we believe targeted interventions, backed by data, can make a real difference. 

Francesco Gherardi: How do you see the findings of the research project contributing to and supporting the work of the UN across peace, development, and humanitarian efforts?  

Dr. Idler: Our visualizations and analytics provide actionable insights for UN staff working across silos: 

• For peace and security, we highlight where conflict risks intersect with illicit economies, helping identify priority areas for de-escalation and preventive diplomacy. 

• For development, our tools identify regions where targeted livelihood support could reduce reliance on illicit income. 

• For humanitarian work, we show how violence linked to trafficking and profit-seeking affects civilian populations — not just politically-motivated violence. 

By better understanding the interplay of illicit flows and weak governance, we can anticipate risks earlier, design more effective responses, and protect those most affected. 

Francesco Gherardi: The research project touches on critical areas of global security. What are some potential research topics or questions you believe will be vital to further explore in the coming years? 

Dr.Idler: We see several pressing questions: 

• How can AI and emerging technologies be used to map and disrupt illicit supply chains more effectively — while maintaining ethical safeguards? 

• How are violent actors themselves using technology — from crypto transactions to encrypted communications — to evade detection and expand their operations? 

• What are the hidden gendered dynamics of the illicit economy, and how do women navigate or resist it in conflict zones? 

• And crucially, how can we embed conflict-sensitive, context-specific knowledge into multilateral policymaking — so that high-level strategies truly reflect realities on the ground? 

We believe that by continuing to work at the intersection of field research, data science, and policy engagement, we can help shape more adaptive, inclusive, and forward-looking approaches to global security. 

You are warmly invited to join us for an engaging and insightful discussion scheduled for May 29, 2025, from 15:00 to 16:00 (CET). Your participation would be greatly valued.  You can register here