Difference between revisions of "Institute for Statecraft"

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|facebook=https://www.facebook.com/InstituteforStatecraft
 
|facebook=https://www.facebook.com/InstituteforStatecraft
 
|opencorporates=https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/SC312442
 
|opencorporates=https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/SC312442
|constitutes=deep state milieu
+
|on_constitutes=Think Tank
 +
|constitutes=deep state faction, third rail topic
 
|interests=statecraft, Russian Propaganda
 
|interests=statecraft, Russian Propaganda
|description=The UK MoD/FCO funded group that ran the ironically named [[Integrity Initiative]], exposed in 2018 by [['Anonymous']].
+
|description=The UK MoD/FCO funded group that ran the ironically named [[Integrity Initiative]], exposed in 2018 by [['Anonymous']] as an organ of the [[UK/Deep state]]
 
|website=https://www.statecraft.org.uk/
 
|website=https://www.statecraft.org.uk/
 
|logo=Institute for Statecraft logo.png
 
|logo=Institute for Statecraft logo.png
|logo_width=166px
+
|logo_width=210px
 
|subgroups=Integrity Initiative
 
|subgroups=Integrity Initiative
 
|leaders=Christopher Nigel Donnelly
 
|leaders=Christopher Nigel Donnelly
 
|image=Institute for Statecraft HQ 2.jpg
 
|image=Institute for Statecraft HQ 2.jpg
|image_caption=The registered HQ of the group, a semi-derilict abandoned mill in Fife, Scotland.
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|image_caption=The registered HQ of the group, an abandoned mill in Fife, Scotland.
 
|image_credit=UK Column
 
|image_credit=UK Column
 +
|image_width=380px
 
|twitter=https://twitter.com/IStatecraft
 
|twitter=https://twitter.com/IStatecraft
 
|start=23 November 2006
 
|start=23 November 2006
 +
|end=15 August 2023
 
|founders=Christopher Nigel Donnelly, Daniel Lafayeedney, Lesley Simm
 
|founders=Christopher Nigel Donnelly, Daniel Lafayeedney, Lesley Simm
 
|headquarters=Gateside Mills, Fife, Scotland, London
 
|headquarters=Gateside Mills, Fife, Scotland, London
|members=Kevin Abraham, Eduard Abrahamyan, Jack Agazarian, Kamal Alam, Diane Allen, Jamal Al-Tahat, David Allfrey, Jamal Al Tahat, Josh Arnold-Foster, Barrie Axford, Anne Bader, Qique Badia-Masoni, Elaine Birch Ruffell, William Bortrick, Simon Bracey-Lane, Robin Brims, Ken Brower, Audrius Butkevičius, Samantha de Bendern, Jonathan Chetwynd, David Clark, Sean Cronin, Constance Cunningham, Oleksandr Danylyuk, Maria de Goeij, Nicolas de Pedro, Yusuf Desai,  Kingsley Donaldson, Rob Dover, Martin Dubbey, Martin Edmonds, Stewart Eldon, Harold Elletson, Dair Farrar-Hockley, Perry Fawcett, Maria Luisa Fichera, Alex Finnen, Anthony Fitzherbert, Mark Galeotti, Babak Ganji, Francis Ghiles, David Gilbertson, Keir Giles, Roger Golland, David Gordon-Macleod, Euan Grant, Glen Grant, Jim Greene, Rafael Gude, Tom Hardie-Forsyth, Amalyah Hart, Charles Hart, Harry Hart, Charlie Hatton, Jon Hazel, Chris Hernon, Henry Hogger, Henry Hornyold-Strickland, Howard Inman, Graham Jeal, Steve Johnson, Phil Jolley, Stephen Jolly, Ren Kapur, Dan Kaszeta, Shima Keene, Dmytro Kolomoiets, Karel Kullamaa, Daniel Lafayeedney, Hector Lafayeedney, Jean-Louis Lafayeedney, Fatima Lahnait, Julian Lindley-French, Tom Lloyd, Birgy Lorenz, John Lough, Jeff McCausland, Rob McCusker, Victor Madeira, Jahan Mahmood, Peter Mason, Phil Matthews, Mungo Melvin, Johanna Moehring, Piroska Nagy-Mohacsi, Chris Nel, Malik Niazi, Ben Nimmo, Mike Packer, Chris Prebensen, Mark Pyman, Hanif Qadir, Tim Reilly, Alan Riley, Ben Robinson, Murray Robinson, Greg Rowett, Malcolm Russell, Enrique Sacau, Keith Sargent, Jon Searle, Andy Settle, Sebastian Seymour, Raheem Shapi, Jonathan Shaw, James Sherr, Louise Sherwood, Andrew Shortland, Lesley Simm, Luis Simon, Guy Spindler, Lucy Stafford, Ignas Stankovicius, Henry Strickland, Celia Szusterman, Yusuf Tai, Tomas Tauginas, Oliver McTernan, Richard Titley, Martin Tomaszewski, Alan Waldron, Joseph Walker-Cousins, Dan Ward, Angela White, James Wilson, Mark Winlow, Jason Wiseman, Andrew Wood
+
|members=Kevin Abraham, Eduard Abrahamyan, Jack Agazarian, Kamal Alam, Diane Allen, David Allfrey, Jamal Al-Tahat, Josh Arnold-Foster, James Austin, Barrie Axford, Anne Bader, Qique Badia-Masoni, Helena Bennett, Elaine Birch Ruffell, William Bortrick, Simon Bracey-Lane, Robin Brims, Ken Brower, Audrius Butkevičius, Samantha de Bendern, Nicholas Chance, Jonathan Chetwynd, David Clark, Sean Cronin, Constance Cunningham, Oleksandr Danylyuk, Maria de Goeij, Nicolas de Pedro, Yusuf Desai,  Kingsley Donaldson, Rob Dover, Martin Dubbey, Martin Edmonds, Stewart Eldon, Harold Elletson, Dair Farrar-Hockley, Perry Fawcett, Maria Luisa Fichera, Alex Finnen, Anthony Fitzherbert, Mark Galeotti, Babak Ganji, Francis Ghiles, David Gilbertson, Keir Giles, Roger Golland, David Gordon-Macleod, Euan Grant, Glen Grant, Jim Greene, Rafael Gude, Tom Hardie-Forsyth, Amalyah Hart, Charles Hart, Harry Hart, Charlie Hatton, Jon Hazel, Chris Hernon, Henry Hogger, Henry Hornyold-Strickland, Howard Inman, Graham Jeal, Harry Lawson Johnston, Steve Johnson, Phil Jolley, Stephen Jolly, Ren Kapur, Dan Kaszeta, Shima Keene, Dmytro Kolomoiets, Karel Kullamaa, Daniel Lafayeedney, Hector Lafayeedney, Jean-Louis Lafayeedney, Fatima Lahnait, Julian Lindley-French, Tom Lloyd, Birgy Lorenz, John Lough, Jeff McCausland, Rob McCusker, Victor Madeira, Jahan Mahmood, Irene Martínez Fernández, Peter Mason, Phil Matthews, Mungo Melvin, Johanna Möhring, Robert Murphy (IfS), Piroska Nagy-Mohacsi, Chris Nel, Malik Niazi, Ben Nimmo, David McOwat, Mike Packer, Chris Prebensen, Gwythian Prins, Mark Pyman, Hanif Qadir, Tim Reilly, Alan Riley, Ben Robinson, Murray Robinson, Greg Rowett, Malcolm Russell, Enrique Sacau, Keith Sargent, Chris Scheurweghs, Jon Searle, Andy Settle, Sebastian Seymour, Raheem Shapi, Jonathan Shaw, James Sherr, Louise Sherwood, Andrew Shortland, Lesley Simm, Luis Simon, Guy Spindler, Lucy Stafford, Ignas Stankovicius, Hew Strachan, Henry Strickland, Celia Szusterman, Yusuf Tai, Tomas Tauginas, Oliver McTernan, Richard Titley, Martin Tomaszewski, Liz Wahl, Alan Waldron, Joseph Walker-Cousins, Dan Ward, William Wells, Angela White, James Wilson, Mark Winlow, Jason Wiseman, Andrew Wood
}}
+
}}The '''Institute for Statecraft''' ('''IfS'''), formerly the '''Institute for Statecraft and Governance'''<ref>https://www.companieslist.co.uk/prev/SC312442-the-institute-for-statecraft-and-governance</ref>, is/was a [[UK deep state]] [[DSF|faction]] founded in [[2006]] as a limited company<ref>http://anoniem.org/?https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC312442/filing-history</ref>. After receiving [[UK charitable]] status in [[2009]], it has received millions of pounds from the [[UK FCO]] and commercial organisations, although its website stated that {{SMWQ
The '''Institute for Statecraft''' (previously named the '''Institute for Statecraft and Governance''')<ref>https://www.companieslist.co.uk/prev/SC312442-the-institute-for-statecraft-and-governance</ref> is a UK limited company founded in 2006<ref>http://anoniem.org/?https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC312442/filing-history</ref>.  
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|text=We are totally independent and impartial, not dependent on funding from political or government agencies, industrial interests, or any other source which might call our impartiality into question.
The 2018 [[Integrity Initiative leak]] exposed a child group, the ironically named [[Integrity Initiative]] not as the apolitical [[charity]] it purported to be, but as a multi-million pound [[UK/FCO]] funded a [[UK deep state]] [[propaganda]] outfit. [[David Miller]] stated that it "appears to be a military-directed push;"<ref>https://www.mintpressnews.com/the-integrity-initiative-and-the-uks-scandalous-information-war/253014/</ref>, noting that operational WQ was a London basement both close to and paid for<ref>https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/british-security-service-infiltration-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-institute-for-statecraft/</ref> by the [[UK MoD]].<ref>https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-look-deep-state</ref> It has been involved in disinformation operations, subversion of the democratic process<ref>See, for example, [[Pedro Banos]]</ref> and promoting [[Russophobia]] and the idea of a [[new cold war]].
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|source_URL=http://archive.today/2018.12.27-160140/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/ethical-charter
 +
|date=28 December 2018
 +
|format=inline
 +
|subjects=Institute for Statecraft/Funding
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}} It was [[Institute for Statecraft/Exposure|exposed]] in November 2018 by the [[Integrity Initiative leak]] as a [[UK deep faction]] obsessed by [[permanent war mentality]] promoting a [[new cold war]] against [[Russia]]. It was staffed largely, perhaps even exclusively, by [[spooks]] and/or [[deep state operatives]]. Nominally the [[Integrity Initiative]] (II) is a separate group, started by the IfS, but the group's own publications have used the two names interchangably<ref>http://archive.today/2020.01.26-153746/https://medium.com/@instituteforstatecraft/russian-media-in-germany-independent-journalism-or-political-instrument-bafe4f6f6c6b</ref> and one member bemoaned a "Lack of clear messaging, are we IFS or are we II."<ref>[[Integrity Initiative/Leak/4]]</ref> Although many members denied the company to have even existed<ref>[[Jacopo Iacoboni]] refused to acknowledge and reacted to Wikispooks the company was a "hoax" and "[[Russian propaganda]]" https://twitter.com/jacopo_iacoboni/status/1248173398213132288</ref>, even after [[The Times]] reported the censure and cutting of funding to the Ifs, on 20 March, 2023, the institute was declared an undesirable organisation in [[Russia]].<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-institute-statecraft-undesirable-organizations/32326596.html</ref> It was officially wound up around 5 months later.
  
==Official Narrative==
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==Own words==
The group's about page stated in January 2019 that "The Institute for Statecraft is an independent body dedicated to refreshing the practice of statecraft, to improving governance and to enhancing [[national security]]."<ref>https://anoniem.org?https://www.statecraft.org.uk/about-us</ref> Its registration at the Scottish Charity Register stated that its objects were: "(1) To advance education in the fields of governance and statecraft, and in particular focussing on the leadership, direction, management and administration of public and private institutions, major organisations and other bodies (whether incorporated or otherwise), and the skills needed by those in authority within such institutions, organisations or bodies to enable them to deal effectively with current and future challenges particularly in respect of security (2) To advance human rights, conflict resolution and/or reconciliation and religious/racial/ethnic harmony, to promote equality and diversity, citizenship and community development, and to advance national and international security; and in particular through assisting governments (including emerging democracies and countries in transition) and other institutions, organisations or bodies (whether in the UK or abroad) to respond to the challenges posed by new developments in the world (whether social, political, economic or technological) and to develop and embed structures and institutions that reflect principles of best practice in governance and statecraft."<ref>https://www.oscr.org.uk/search/charity-details?number=SC040870</ref>
+
{{QB|We never [[lobby]], but we do not shirk from advocating specific policy choices, spreading good practice and promoting reform in the face of complacency or vested interest.<ref>http://archive.today/2018.12.27-160140/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/ethical-charter</ref>}}
 +
 
 +
{{SMWQ
 +
|text=We engage only very discreetly with governments, based entirely on trusted personal contacts, specifically to ensure that they do not come to see our work as a problem, and to try to influence them gently, as befits an independent [[NGO]] operation like ours
 +
|source_name=Document:Top 3 deliverables/achievements of phase 1
 +
|authors=Institute for Statecraft
 +
|date=2 November 2018
 +
|constitutes=Integrity Initiative/Secrecy
 +
}}
 +
The group's website's about page stated in January 2019 (just before it was taken down) that the IfS was "an independent body dedicated to refreshing the practice of [[statecraft]], to improving governance and to enhancing [[national security]]."<ref>https://anoniem.org?https://www.statecraft.org.uk/about-us</ref> Its registration at the Scottish Charity Register stated that its objects were:<br/>
 +
"(1) To advance education in the fields of governance and statecraft, and in particular focussing on the leadership, direction, management and administration of public and private institutions, major organisations and other bodies (whether incorporated or otherwise), and the skills needed by those in authority within such institutions, organisations or bodies to enable them to deal effectively with current and future challenges particularly in respect of security<br/> (2) To advance [[human rights]], conflict resolution and/or reconciliation and religious/racial/ethnic harmony, to promote equality and diversity, citizenship and community development, and to advance national and international security; and in particular through assisting governments (including emerging [[democracies]] and countries in transition) and other institutions, organisations or bodies (whether in the UK or abroad) to respond to the challenges posed by new developments in the world (whether social, political, economic or technological) and to develop and embed structures and institutions that reflect principles of best practice in governance and [[statecraft]]."<ref>https://www.oscr.org.uk/search/charity-details?number=SC040870</ref>
  
 
===Headquarters===
 
===Headquarters===
 
[[image:Institute for Statecraft HQ.jpg|left|230px|thumbnail|The registered HQ, a mill in Scotland]]
 
[[image:Institute for Statecraft HQ.jpg|left|230px|thumbnail|The registered HQ, a mill in Scotland]]
 
[[image:Institute for Statecraft de facto HQ.jpg|left|230px|thumbnail|The operational HQ, "possibly the most expensive basement in London."<ref name=cm/>]]
 
[[image:Institute for Statecraft de facto HQ.jpg|left|230px|thumbnail|The operational HQ, "possibly the most expensive basement in London."<ref name=cm/>]]
[[Craig Murray]] notes that it didn't take much detective work to locate the operational HQ. This seems to be the basement of the rather more stately 2 Temple Place, the former [[London]] mansion of [[William Waldorf Astor]]. Murray reports that "the rent is paid by the [[UK/Ministry of Defence|Ministry of Defence]]".<ref name=cm>https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/british-security-service-infiltration-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-institute-for-statecraft/</ref>  
+
The leaked documents reveal the group's ''de facto'' HQ as the basement of 2 Temple Place, the former [[London]] mansion of [[William Waldorf Astor]]. [[Craig Murray]] reports that "the rent is paid by the [[UK/Ministry of Defence|Ministry of Defence]]".<ref name=cm>https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/british-security-service-infiltration-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-institute-for-statecraft/</ref>
  
 
==Staff==
 
==Staff==
 
[[image:Chris Donnelly deep state operative.jpg|left|300px]]
 
[[image:Chris Donnelly deep state operative.jpg|left|300px]]
The II was founded in November 2006 as the ''Institute for Statecraft and Governance''.<ref name=cc>http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/company/SC312442/THE-INSTITUTE-FOR-STATECRAFT</ref> It had 3 directors:  
+
When founded in November 2006 the ''Institute for Statecraft and Governance''<ref name=cc>http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/company/SC312442/THE-INSTITUTE-FOR-STATECRAFT</ref> had 3 directors:  
* [[Chris Donnelly]], who appears to be the leading light. A former adviser to figures including [[Margaret Thatcher]] and four [[secretaries general of NATO]], he also appears to be a [[UK deep state]] [[deep state operative|operative]].<ref>https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-look-deep-state</ref>  
+
* [[Chris Donnelly]], a former adviser to figures including [[Margaret Thatcher]] and four [[secretaries general of NATO]], he also appears to who appears to run the group for the [[UK deep state]].<ref>https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-look-deep-state</ref>  
* [[Daniel Lafayeedney]] (resigned 2011-11-08)<ref name=cc/>
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* [[Daniel Lafayeedney]] (who resigned as a director on 2011-11-08, but who continued working with the group)<ref name=cc/>
* [[Lesley Simm]] (resigned 2012-08-08)<ref name=cc/>
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* [[Lesley Simm]] (who resigned 2012-08-08)<ref name=cc/>
The IfS staff list can be gleaned from combining the leaked documents with archived copies of the list of IfS fellows from their own website.
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[[Tom Lloyd]] was head of security from 2007-2010. The incomplete IfS staff list (right) has mostly been derived from combining the leaked documents with archived copies of the list of IfS fellows from their own website.<ref>http://archive.today/2019.01.08-010239/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/governance</ref><ref>http://archive.today/2019.01.10-215210/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/fellows</ref>
  
The older members in particular have various connections to [[NATO]], the [[Atlantic Council]] and to multiple [[deep state milieux]]<ref>[[Keir Giles]] is a member of [[Chatham House]] and the [[Brookings Institute]]</ref> or have held senior positions in the UK government,<ref>[[David Clark]] was [[Minister for the Cabinet Office]] and [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]</ref>, [[UK Army]]<ref>[[Major General Jonathan Shaw]]</ref>, [[NATO]]<ref>[[Ben Nimmo]] was [[NATO Press officer]]</ref> and the [[Atlantic Council]]<ref>[[Stewart Eldon]] was the [[UK Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council]] and [[UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN]]</ref>. At least one has been convicted of [[fraud]].<ref>[[Audrius Butkevičius]]</ref> Foreign [[spooks]] include [[Dmytro Kolomoiets]].
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Many of the older members in particular have connections to [[NATO]], the [[Atlantic Council]], the [[UK Army]] and to multiple [[deep state milieux]]<ref>[[Keir Giles]] is a member of [[Chatham House]] and the [[Brookings Institute]]</ref> or have held senior positions in the UK government,<ref>[[David Clark]] was [[Minister for the Cabinet Office]] and [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]</ref>, [[UK Army]]<ref>[[Major General Jonathan Shaw]]</ref>, [[NATO]]<ref>[[Ben Nimmo]] was [[NATO Press officer]]</ref>, the [[Atlantic Council]]<ref>[[Stewart Eldon]] was the [[UK Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council]] and [[UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN]]</ref> or [[NGO]]s.<ref>Tom Lloyd chaired [[WhistleblowersUK]].</ref> At least one, [[Audrius Butkevičius]], has been convicted of [[fraud]]. The group includes previously known members of intelligence agencies (such as [[Guy Spindler]] and [[Harold Elletson]]), some from [[SGMI]] and many more with spooky profiles. Foreign [[spooks]] include [[Dmytro Kolomoiets]].
 +
 
 +
Some are [[entrepreneurs]] working in the areas with special relevance to [[The Deep State]], such as "[[anti-terrorism]]" or "[[anti-corruption]]". [[Martin Dubbey]] set up [[Harod Associates]], which carried out [[Project Iris]], an analysis of how [[social media]] influenced European public perceptions about the [[Skripal Affair]], for which the company was paid £12,000 by the II. Others have had, or continue to have, senior responsibilities in the UK [[establishment]].<ref>[[Elaine Birch Ruffell]] "Led assessment & disruption of narcotic trafficking from [[Afghanistan]] to [[Europe]]"</ref>
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 +
===Projection===
 +
[[image:Integrity Initiative Projection.png|left|300px]]
 +
{{FA|Institute for Statecraft/Projection}}
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The leaked documents suggest that the group is imbued by what might be called the "[[permanent war mentality]]" of [[Chris "we are at war" Donnelly]]<ref>[[Document:Establishing a modern perspective - Nation-State vs Network State]]</ref>. As such, it consists not only of profiteers but also of "true believers", keenly "''Defending [[Democracy]]" Against [[Russian disinformation|[Russian] Disinformation]]''" by any and all available means.
  
 
==Activities==
 
==Activities==
Some of the IfS directors set up a UK company named the "[[UK/Council on Foreign Relations|Council on Foreign Relations]]".
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{{FA|Institute for Statecraft/Activities}}
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[[image:Maria de Goeij at Strengthening Europe's 'soft' and 'hard' defence.jpg|left|300px|thumbnail|''[[Strengthening Europe's 'soft' and 'hard' defence]]'', a [[Chatham House rule]] meeting held at the [[Clingendael Institute]], attended by at least 4 Institute for Statecraft members.<ref>[[Chris Donnelly]], [[Maria de Goeij]], [[Johanna Moehring]], [[Alan Riley]]</ref>]]
 +
The group operates mostly in Europe, although it has a lot of connections to other [[deep state operatives]] and is represented in [[deep state milieux]] worldwide.<ref>For example, the [[Integrity Initiative]] had [[Clusters]] in [[Australian Cluster|Australia]], the [[US Custer|US]] and [[Jordanian Cluster|Jordan]]</ref> A study of the [[Integrity Initiative/Leak|leaked documents]] underlines not only the [[permanent war mentality]] which pervades the group, but also the (generally only implicit) assumption that it is willing and able to exert covert influence over both governments and citizens, an observation strengthened by the number of group members who are either memebrs of [[intelligence agencies]] or have backgrounds in [[psychological warfare]].
  
The group manages the [[Integrity Initiative]], which director [[Dan Kaszeta]] described in his "Notes for Israel" as {{SMWQ
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===Private meetings===
 +
Several of the leaked documents are "trip reports", detailing progress at fairly tightly scheduled unofficial meetings of which no public records exist. One step up from these totally private meetings are [[Chatham House rule]] (i.e. off-the-record) meetings with other groups, which have continued after the [[II leak]].
 +
 
 +
===Public conferences===
 +
[[image:Cold War Then and Now.jpg|310px|left]]
 +
The II has organised both public conferences and taken part at other events. These not only provide a chance to boost "awareness" about the putative threat posed by [[Russia]], but also to sound out people in the unofficial edge of conferences. Some contact reports have been leaked. [[MI6]] member [[Harold Elletson]] chaired a series of conferences on "[[terrorism]]", sometimes with other known or suspected deep state operatives ([[Security and Defence Learning/2010]], for example, included by [[Chris Donnelly]] and [[Jeff McCausland]], both fellow IfS members).
 +
 
 +
===Integrity Initiative===
 +
{{FA|Integrity Initiative}}
 +
[[image:Ii logo strap 200.png|left|310px]]
 +
Quite a lot of the IfS' activity was carried out under the "[[Integrity Initiative]]" label, which carried the stated desire to fight "[[Russian Propaganda]]". The director [[Dan Kaszeta]] described the group in his "[[Document:Speaking notes for meetings in Israel|Notes for Israel]]" as {{SMWQ
 
|format=inline
 
|format=inline
 
|text=Not just a “[[think tank]]” offering yet another discussion forum but also a “do tank”.
 
|text=Not just a “[[think tank]]” offering yet another discussion forum but also a “do tank”.
|source_details=Dan%27s%20notes%20for%20Israel%20(003).pdf
 
 
|authors=Dan Kaszeta
 
|authors=Dan Kaszeta
|source_name=Integrity Initiative/Leak/5
+
|source_name=Document:Speaking notes for meetings in Israel
}} He added that "We have good contacts in government in UK and other governments ([[Argentina]], Baltic States, [[Lithuania]], etc.")<ref name=dnfi>[[Integrity initiative/Leak/5#Dan's notes for Israel]]</ref>
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}} He added that "We have good contacts in government in UK and other governments ([[Argentina]], Baltic States, [[Lithuania]], etc.")<ref name=dnfi>[[Document:Speaking notes for meetings in Israel]]</ref>
 +
 
 +
The II organised secret "[[clusters]]" of like minded people who would follow instructions from [[London]] to promote a particular message (the [[first Integrity Initiative Leak]] includes a timeline of the groups efforts to interfere in the Spanish government's appointment of ). As with the IfS in general, a [[Russophobic]] [[perpetual war mentality]] appears to beset the II. One of the main criteria for inclusion in a "[[cluster]]" seems to be "awareness" of the "Russian threat". At least one of the documents makes explicit mention of the need to increase military spending. The leaked documents and the II/IfS publications make almost no mention of "[[peace]]".
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===Private businesses===
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At least {{#ask: [[Has companieshouse::+]][[-Has member::Institute for Statecraft]]|format=count}} members have been business directors<ref>{{#ask: [[Has companieshouse::+]][[-Has member::Institute for Statecraft]]}}</ref> and three pairs of IfS members have set up private businesses together<ref>[[Temple Strategic Advisory Ltd]] ([[Samantha de Bendern]] and [[Alan Riley]]), [[Astutus Intelligence]] ([[Philip Matthews]] and [[Martin Dubbey]]), [[Borley Investments]] ([[Harry Hart]] and, briefly, [[Jack Agazarian]])</ref>. Others have shared directorships on long established groups such as the [[Russo-British Chamber of Commerce]]. Some of the [[IfS director]]s set up a UK company named the "[[UK/Council on Foreign Relations|Council on Foreign Relations]]".
 +
 
 +
==Influence==
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The group's influence appears to have been extensive.
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===Active Change Foundation===
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{{FA|Active Change Foundation}}
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In 2003 [[Hanif Qadir]], "former [[extremist]]"<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29872054</ref> and IfS senior associate fellow, founded the [[Active Change Foundation]], which worked closely with the IfS on "[[de-radicalisation]]". At least 3 other [[Active Change Foundation directors]] were also members of the IfS: [[David Gilbertson]], [[Daniel Lafayeedney]] and [[Chris Donnelly]].
  
Members of the IfS have set up private businesses together, including [[Samantha de Bendern]] and [[Alan Riley]] who co-directed [[Temple Strategic Advisory Ltd]].
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==="War on Terror"===
 +
{{FA|War on Terror}}
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Qadir is one of many IfS members with a financial stake in the "[[War on Terror]]". Some are professional "[[terror experts]]"<ref>[[Dan Kaszeta]], [[Shima Keene]], [[Fatima Lahnait]], [[Hanif Qadir]], [[Lesley Simm]], [[Richard Titley]], [[Jason Wiseman]]</ref> others have written about "[[terrorism]]" for decades<ref>[[Francis Ghilès‎‎]]</ref>.  
  
In 2018 the IfS had a "programme to develop discernment education for children of 9 and upwards, to keep them safe on-line and to protect them from [[disinformation]] and [[radicalisation]]".<ref name=dnfi/>
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[[Harold Elletson]] chaired, [[Security and Defence Learning‎‎]], a series of annual "[[counter-terrorism]]" conferences, some of which involved other IfS members<ref>[[Security and Defence Learning/2010]]</ref> and one of which involved an attendee of [[Le Cercle]]. Some have set up companies in this area. Others are [[academics]] or [[journalists]] who address this area. In 2018 the IfS had a "programme to develop discernment education for children of 9 and upwards, to keep them safe on-line and to protect them from [[disinformation]] and [[radicalisation]]".<ref name=dnfi/>
  
===Influence over Corporate Media===
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===Corporate Media===
 
{{FA|Corporate Media/Deep state control}}
 
{{FA|Corporate Media/Deep state control}}
The [[UK Deep state]] has a variety of means of control over the output of corporate media. One of the most exposed is the [[Integrity Initiative]]. According to documents [[IIL|leaked]] by [['Anonymous']], [[Euan Grant]] wrote that the IfS has “particular links with the Times, Telegraph, Guardian and BBC TV and radio” but says that it needs to “strengthen” its relationship with the Mail.
+
Several IfS members have been published in the [[BBC]],<ref>[[Jamal Al-Tahat]], [[Chris Donnelly]], [[Keir Giles]], [[Francis Ghilès]], [[Dan Kaszeta]], [[Louise Sherwood]], [[Hew Strachan]]</ref> while others have worked for the BBC<ref>[[Stephen Dalziel]], [[Chris Hernon]]</ref> and [[Document:Nationbuilder People|a leaked document|]] lists several BBC employees, [[Document:CND Gen list 2|another]] lists [[Helen Boaden]], a former Director of BBC news. Another leaked document by [[Euan Grant]] wrote that the IfS has “particular links with the [[Times]], [[Telegraph]], [[Guardian]] and [[BBC]] TV and radio” but says that it needs to “strengthen” its relationship with the [[Daily Mail|Mail]].
 +
 
 +
===EPIC (Ex Police in Industry and Commerce)===
 +
{{FA|EPIC}}
 +
EPIC (Ex Police in Industry and Commerce) is a "business networking organisation", founded in 2011. As of 2020, all the original directors had resigned, leaving at least 2/4 remaining directors as IfS members. IfS members include senior policemen.<ref>[[Perry Fawcett]], [[David Gilbertson]], [[Tom Lloyd]]</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Campaign for the North===
 +
{{FA|Campaign for the North}}
 +
The "[[Campaign for the North]]" was chaired by [[Harold Elletson]], and its contributors and advisors included at least three other members of the Ifs ([[Chris Donnelly]], [[David Gilbertson]] and [[Angela White]]).
 +
 
 +
==="Anti corruption"===
 +
[[Keith Sargent]] led of the IfS' "Governance and Integrity Group" and was "a regular chairperson and speaker on an [[Anti-Corruption]] seminar programme at the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies."<ref>https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/criminology/documents/building-security-and-justice-in-post-conflict-environments-a-reader</ref> [[Stewart Eldon]] worked as a Senior Adviser on Defence and Security Issues to [[Transparency International]]. A November 2018 IfS budget allocates over £12,000 for a plan "Through links with UK law enforcement and revenue organisations, anti corruption and development NGO's and journalistic organisations, [to] gain access to their European counterparts".<ref>[[Document:Integrity_Initiative_Budget_for_the_12_months_ending_31_March_2019]]</ref>
 +
Senior associate fellows [[Mark Pyman]] and [[Philip Matthews]] also reported an interest in the areas of "anti-corruption".<ref>http://archive.today/2018.03.03-165732/http://www.statecraft.org.uk/fellows</ref>
  
 
==Exposure==
 
==Exposure==
The Institute for Statecraft attracted a lot of interest in late 2018 after documents from the [[Integrity Initiative‎‎]] were leaked online by [['Anonymous']].<ref>http://themillenniumreport.com/2018/12/britains-institute-for-statecraft-finally-exposed-top-secret-integrity-initiative-blown-wide-open/</ref> The first set of documents was published on 5 November 2018.<ref name=spm>http://syriapropagandamedia.org/working-papers/briefing-note-on-the-integrity-initiative#third-tranche-released-13-december-2018</ref> It was subsequently the subjects of questions in the [[UK parliament]] and widely reported by independent media.
+
{{FA|Institute for Statecraft/Exposure}}
 +
The Institute for Statecraft attracted a lot of interest in late 2018 after the first [[Integrity Initiative/Leak]], which contained documents from an (apparent)<ref>The distinction between the two groups seems in practice to be rather moot</ref> child group, the "[[Integrity Initiative]]". This was revealed not as the apolitical a multi-million pound [[charity]] it purported to be, but what [[David Miller]] termed "a military-directed push"<ref>https://www.mintpressnews.com/the-integrity-initiative-and-the-uks-scandalous-information-war/253014/</ref> towards a [[New Cold War]] with [[Russia]]. He noted that operational HQ was a London basement both close to and paid for<ref>https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/british-security-service-infiltration-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-institute-for-statecraft/</ref> by the [[UK MoD]].<ref>https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-look-deep-state</ref>
  
===Inquiry===
+
==Cover up==
The [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator]] opened an inquiry on the 13 December 2018, which after 10 months found that the charity’s purposes were “not entirely charitable”, that "one of its most significant activities, a project known as the [[Integrity Initiative]] did not provide public benefit in furtherance of the charity's purposes" and that "private benenefit to the charity's trustees was not incidental to the charity's activities".<ref>https://www.oscr.org.uk/media/3771/2019-10-31-statecraft-s33-report-pdf.pdf</ref>
+
{{FA|Institute for Statecraft/Cover up}}
 +
[[image:Chris Williamson Institute for Statecraft door slam.jpg|right|thumbnail|440px|[[Chris Williamson]] MP on 19 December 2018, after [[Daniel Lafayeedney]] slammed the door in his face.]]
 +
After the [[first Integrity Initiative leak]] sparked interest by independent media, labour MP [[Chris Williamson]] went to investigate at their operational HQ in Temple. The image shown (right) is taken from a story by ''[[The Canary]]''. Some names of IfS members were removed from their website after the leak.<ref>https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2018/12/11/by-posting-anti-corbyn-tweets-this-black-ops-organisation-has-just-shot-itself-in-the-foot/</ref>
  
==Cover up==
 
 
On 22 January 2019, the Integrity Initiative "temporarily" deleted the entire contents of their website.<ref>https://www.rt.com/news/449451-integrity-initiative-deletes-content/</ref> The Institute for Statecraft followed suit shortly afterwards. By 5 February 2019, the site content had been replaced by a coverpage which stated that "The website will be relaunched shortly. In the meantime, we expect to be able to publish an analysis of the hack and its significance in the near future." It also opened up the way to [[plausible deniability]] by claiming that some (unspecified) parts of the leaked data had been falsified.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20190205061422/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/</ref>
 
On 22 January 2019, the Integrity Initiative "temporarily" deleted the entire contents of their website.<ref>https://www.rt.com/news/449451-integrity-initiative-deletes-content/</ref> The Institute for Statecraft followed suit shortly afterwards. By 5 February 2019, the site content had been replaced by a coverpage which stated that "The website will be relaunched shortly. In the meantime, we expect to be able to publish an analysis of the hack and its significance in the near future." It also opened up the way to [[plausible deniability]] by claiming that some (unspecified) parts of the leaked data had been falsified.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20190205061422/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/</ref>
  
 
===Media reporting===
 
===Media reporting===
In March 2019 [[Sky News]] carried a brief article headlined ''What is the Institute for Statecraft thought to have been hacked by Russia? '' reported that "[t]he organisation, which describes itself as a think-tank and a do-tank, employs a small staff of about a dozen people. It also has about 90 Fellows, including a handful of individuals who have a background in British intelligence or the military so are experts in security and defence." It made no mention of the [[Integrity Initiative]]'s member [[Simon Bracey-Lane]] working for the [[Bernie Sanders]] campaign or the smears against [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. It MENTIONED THAT THE ii "established a network in countries across Europe" but did not mention how it used that network to mount of a secretly coordinated [[social media]] campaign to prevent the appointment of [[Pedro Baños]] as [[Director of the Spanish Department of Homeland Security]].<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-the-institute-for-statecraft-thought-to-have-been-hacked-by-russia-11657071</ref>
+
In March 2019 [[Sky News]] carried a brief article headlined ''What is the Institute for Statecraft thought to have been hacked by Russia? '' reported that "[t]he organisation, which describes itself as a think-tank and a do-tank, employs a small staff of about a dozen people. It also has about 90 Fellows, including a handful of individuals who have a background in British intelligence or the military so are experts in security and defence." It made no mention of the [[Integrity Initiative]]'s member [[Simon Bracey-Lane]] working for the [[Bernie Sanders]] campaign or the smears against [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. It mentioned that the II "established a network in countries across Europe" but did not mention how it used that network to mount of a secretly coordinated [[social media]] campaign to prevent the appointment of [[Pedro Baños]] as [[Director of the Spanish Department of Homeland Security]].<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-the-institute-for-statecraft-thought-to-have-been-hacked-by-russia-11657071</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== Closure ===
 +
The group was officially closed on 15 August 2023.
 +
 
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 +
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 16:22, 10 September 2024

Group.png Institute for Statecraft  
(Deep state faction, Third rail topicCompanies House Endole Facebook OpenCorporates Powerbase Twitter WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png 5
Institute for Statecraft HQ 2.jpg
The registered HQ of the group, an abandoned mill in Fife, Scotland.
UK Column
Institute for Statecraft logo.png
Formation23 November 2006
Founder• Chris Donnelly.jpg Christopher Nigel Donnelly
• Daniel Lafayeedney.jpg Daniel Lafayeedney
•  Lesley Simm
Extinction15 August 2023
HeadquartersGateside Mills, Fife, Scotland, London
LeaderChristopher Nigel Donnelly
Subgroups Integrity Initiative
Interestsstatecraft, “Russian Propaganda”
Interest ofKit Klarenberg, Rogue Media Labs, Chris Williamson, Working Group on Syria Propaganda and Media
Founder ofIntegrity Initiative
Sponsored byAnswering Russia's Strategic Narratives, WhistleblowersUK
SubpageInstitute for Statecraft/Activities
Institute for Statecraft/Control
Institute for Statecraft/Cover up
Institute for Statecraft/Director
Institute for Statecraft/Exposure
Institute for Statecraft/Projection
Institute for Statecraft/Purposes
Institute for Statecraft/Secrecy
Institute for Statecraft/Tor team
Membership• Kevin Abraham.jpg Kevin Abraham
• Eduard Abrahamyan.jpg Eduard Abrahamyan
•  Jack Agazarian
• Kamal Alam.jpg Kamal Alam
• Diane Allen2.jpg Diane Allen
• David Allfrey tattoo.jpg David Allfrey
• No image available (photo).jpg Jamal Al-Tahat
• Josh Arnold-Foster.jpg Josh Arnold-Foster
• James Austin.jpg James Austin
• Barrie Axford.jpg Barrie Axford
• Anne Bader.jpg Anne Bader
• Quique Badia-Masoni.jpg Qique Badia-Masoni
•  Helena Bennett
• No image available (photo).jpg Elaine Birch Ruffell
• William Bortrick.jpg William Bortrick
• Simon Bracey-Lane.jpg Simon Bracey-Lane
• Robin Brims.jpg Robin Brims
•  Ken Brower
• Audrius Butkevicius.jpg Audrius Butkevičius
• Samantha de Bendern.jpg Samantha de Bendern
• Nicholas Chance.jpg Nicholas Chance
•  Jonathan Chetwynd
• David Clark.jpg David Clark
• No image available (photo).jpg Sean Cronin
• Constance Cunningham.jpg Constance Cunningham
• Oleksandr Danylyuk.jpg Oleksandr Danylyuk
• Maria D.jpg Maria de Goeij
•  Nicolas de Pedro
• Yusuf Desai.jpg Yusuf Desai
• Kingsley Donaldson.jpg Kingsley Donaldson
• Robert Dover.jpg Rob Dover
• Martin Dubbey.jpg Martin Dubbey
• 40px Martin Edmonds
• Stewart Eldon.jpg Stewart Eldon
• Harold Elletson.jpg Harold Elletson
• No image available (photo).jpg Dair Farrar-Hockley
• Perry Fawcett.jpg Perry Fawcett
•  Maria Luisa Fichera
• Alexander Finnen.jpg Alex Finnen
• Anthony Fitzherbert.jpg Anthony Fitzherbert
• Mark galeotti.jpeg Mark Galeotti
•  Babak Ganji
• Francis Ghilès.jpg Francis Ghiles
•  David Gilbertson
• Keir Giles.jpg Keir Giles
• Roger Golland.png Roger Golland
•  David Gordon-Macleod
• Euan Grant.jpg Euan Grant
• Glen Grant.png Glen Grant
•  Jim Greene
•  Rafael Gude
•  Tom Hardie-Forsyth
• Amalyah Hart.png Amalyah Hart
•  Charles Hart
•  Harry Hart
•  Charlie Hatton
• No image available (photo).jpg Jon Hazel
• Chris Hernon.jpg Chris Hernon
• Henry Hogger.jpg Henry Hogger
• Henry Hornyold-Strickland.jpg Henry Hornyold-Strickland
•  Howard Inman
• Graham Jeal.png Graham Jeal
• Harry Lawson Johnston.jpg Harry Lawson Johnston
•  Steve Johnson
• Phil Jolley.jpg Phil Jolley
• Stephen Jolly.jpg Stephen Jolly
• Ren Kapur.png Ren Kapur
• Dan Kaszeta.jpg Dan Kaszeta
•  Shima Keene
• Dmytro Kolomoiets.jpg Dmytro Kolomoiets
• Karel Kullamaa.jpg Karel Kullamaa
• Daniel Lafayeedney.jpg Daniel Lafayeedney
• Hector Lafayeedney.jpg Hector Lafayeedney
• Jean-Louis Lafayeedney.jpg Jean-Louis Lafayeedney
• Fatima Lahnait.jpg Fatima Lahnait
• Julian Lindley-French.png Julian Lindley-French
• Tom Lloyd.jpg Tom Lloyd
• Birgy Lorenz.jpg Birgy Lorenz
• John Lough.png John Lough
• Jeff McCausland.jpg Jeff McCausland
• Rob McCusker.jpg Rob McCusker
• Victor Madeira.png Victor Madeira
• Jahan Mahmood.jpg Jahan Mahmood
• Irene Martínez Fernández.jpg Irene Martínez Fernández
•  Peter Mason
•  Phil Matthews
• Mungo Melvin.jpg Mungo Melvin
• Johanna Moehring.jpg Johanna Möhring
•  Robert Murphy (IfS)
• Piroska Nagy-Mohacsi.jpg Piroska Nagy-Mohacsi
• Chris Nel.jpg Chris Nel
• Malik Niazi.jpg Malik Niazi
• Ben Nimmo.jpg Ben Nimmo
•  David McOwat
•  Mike Packer
•  Chris Prebensen
• Gwythian Prins.jpg Gwythian Prins
• Mark Pyman.jpg Mark Pyman
• Hanif Qadir.jpg Hanif Qadir
• Tim Reilly.jpg Tim Reilly
• Alan Riley.jpg Alan Riley
•  Ben Robinson
•  Murray Robinson
• Greg Rowett.jpg Greg Rowett
•  Malcolm Russell
• Enrique Sacau.jpg Enrique Sacau
• Keith Sargent.jpg Keith Sargent
• Chris Scheurweghs.jpg Chris Scheurweghs
•  Jon Searle
•  Andy Settle
•  Sebastian Seymour
• No image available (photo).jpg Raheem Shapi
•  Jonathan Shaw
• James Sherr.jpg James Sherr
•  Louise Sherwood
•  Andrew Shortland
•  Lesley Simm
• Picture-150.png Luis Simon
• Guy Spindler.jpg Guy Spindler
•  Lucy Stafford
• Ignas Stankovičius.jpg Ignas Stankovicius
• Hew Strachan.jpg Hew Strachan
• Henry Hornyold-Strickland.jpg Henry Strickland
• Celia Szusterman.jpg Celia Szusterman
•  Yusuf Tai
• Tomas Tauginas.jpg Tomas Tauginas
• Oliver McTernan.jpg Oliver McTernan
• No image available (photo).jpg Richard Titley
• Martin Tomaszewski.jpg Martin Tomaszewski
• Liz Wahl.png Liz Wahl
• 6243658668 097073038a c.jpg Alan Waldron
•  Joseph Walker-Cousins
• Dan Ward.jpg Dan Ward
•  William Wells
•  Angela White
•  James Wilson
•  Mark Winlow
• Jason wiseman.jpg Jason Wiseman
• Andy Wood.jpg Andrew Wood
The UK MoD/FCO funded group that ran the ironically named Integrity Initiative, exposed in 2018 by 'Anonymous' as an organ of the UK/Deep state

The Institute for Statecraft (IfS), formerly the Institute for Statecraft and Governance[1], is/was a UK deep state faction founded in 2006 as a limited company[2]. After receiving UK charitable status in 2009, it has received millions of pounds from the UK FCO and commercial organisations, although its website stated that “We are totally independent and impartial, not dependent on funding from political or government agencies, industrial interests, or any other source which might call our impartiality into question.” [3] It was exposed in November 2018 by the Integrity Initiative leak as a UK deep faction obsessed by permanent war mentality promoting a new cold war against Russia. It was staffed largely, perhaps even exclusively, by spooks and/or deep state operatives. Nominally the Integrity Initiative (II) is a separate group, started by the IfS, but the group's own publications have used the two names interchangably[4] and one member bemoaned a "Lack of clear messaging, are we IFS or are we II."[5] Although many members denied the company to have even existed[6], even after The Times reported the censure and cutting of funding to the Ifs, on 20 March, 2023, the institute was declared an undesirable organisation in Russia.[7] It was officially wound up around 5 months later.

Own words

We never lobby, but we do not shirk from advocating specific policy choices, spreading good practice and promoting reform in the face of complacency or vested interest.[8]

“We engage only very discreetly with governments, based entirely on trusted personal contacts, specifically to ensure that they do not come to see our work as a problem, and to try to influence them gently, as befits an independent NGO operation like ours”
Institute for Statecraft (2 November 2018)  [9]

The group's website's about page stated in January 2019 (just before it was taken down) that the IfS was "an independent body dedicated to refreshing the practice of statecraft, to improving governance and to enhancing national security."[10] Its registration at the Scottish Charity Register stated that its objects were:
"(1) To advance education in the fields of governance and statecraft, and in particular focussing on the leadership, direction, management and administration of public and private institutions, major organisations and other bodies (whether incorporated or otherwise), and the skills needed by those in authority within such institutions, organisations or bodies to enable them to deal effectively with current and future challenges particularly in respect of security
(2) To advance human rights, conflict resolution and/or reconciliation and religious/racial/ethnic harmony, to promote equality and diversity, citizenship and community development, and to advance national and international security; and in particular through assisting governments (including emerging democracies and countries in transition) and other institutions, organisations or bodies (whether in the UK or abroad) to respond to the challenges posed by new developments in the world (whether social, political, economic or technological) and to develop and embed structures and institutions that reflect principles of best practice in governance and statecraft."[11]

Headquarters

The registered HQ, a mill in Scotland
The operational HQ, "possibly the most expensive basement in London."[12]

The leaked documents reveal the group's de facto HQ as the basement of 2 Temple Place, the former London mansion of William Waldorf Astor. Craig Murray reports that "the rent is paid by the Ministry of Defence".[12]

Staff

Chris Donnelly deep state operative.jpg

When founded in November 2006 the Institute for Statecraft and Governance[13] had 3 directors:

Tom Lloyd was head of security from 2007-2010. The incomplete IfS staff list (right) has mostly been derived from combining the leaked documents with archived copies of the list of IfS fellows from their own website.[15][16]

Many of the older members in particular have connections to NATO, the Atlantic Council, the UK Army and to multiple deep state milieux[17] or have held senior positions in the UK government,[18], UK Army[19], NATO[20], the Atlantic Council[21] or NGOs.[22] At least one, Audrius Butkevičius, has been convicted of fraud. The group includes previously known members of intelligence agencies (such as Guy Spindler and Harold Elletson), some from SGMI and many more with spooky profiles. Foreign spooks include Dmytro Kolomoiets.

Some are entrepreneurs working in the areas with special relevance to The Deep State, such as "anti-terrorism" or "anti-corruption". Martin Dubbey set up Harod Associates, which carried out Project Iris, an analysis of how social media influenced European public perceptions about the Skripal Affair, for which the company was paid £12,000 by the II. Others have had, or continue to have, senior responsibilities in the UK establishment.[23]

Projection

Integrity Initiative Projection.png
Full article: Institute for Statecraft/Projection

The leaked documents suggest that the group is imbued by what might be called the "permanent war mentality" of Chris "we are at war" Donnelly[24]. As such, it consists not only of profiteers but also of "true believers", keenly "Defending Democracy" Against [Russian] Disinformation" by any and all available means.

Activities

Full article: Stub class article Institute for Statecraft/Activities
Strengthening Europe's 'soft' and 'hard' defence, a Chatham House rule meeting held at the Clingendael Institute, attended by at least 4 Institute for Statecraft members.[25]

The group operates mostly in Europe, although it has a lot of connections to other deep state operatives and is represented in deep state milieux worldwide.[26] A study of the leaked documents underlines not only the permanent war mentality which pervades the group, but also the (generally only implicit) assumption that it is willing and able to exert covert influence over both governments and citizens, an observation strengthened by the number of group members who are either memebrs of intelligence agencies or have backgrounds in psychological warfare.

Private meetings

Several of the leaked documents are "trip reports", detailing progress at fairly tightly scheduled unofficial meetings of which no public records exist. One step up from these totally private meetings are Chatham House rule (i.e. off-the-record) meetings with other groups, which have continued after the II leak.

Public conferences

Cold War Then and Now.jpg

The II has organised both public conferences and taken part at other events. These not only provide a chance to boost "awareness" about the putative threat posed by Russia, but also to sound out people in the unofficial edge of conferences. Some contact reports have been leaked. MI6 member Harold Elletson chaired a series of conferences on "terrorism", sometimes with other known or suspected deep state operatives (Security and Defence Learning/2010, for example, included by Chris Donnelly and Jeff McCausland, both fellow IfS members).

Integrity Initiative

Full article: Integrity Initiative
Ii logo strap 200.png

Quite a lot of the IfS' activity was carried out under the "Integrity Initiative" label, which carried the stated desire to fight "Russian Propaganda". The director Dan Kaszeta described the group in his "Notes for Israel" as “Not just a “think tank” offering yet another discussion forum but also a “do tank”.” [27] He added that "We have good contacts in government in UK and other governments (Argentina, Baltic States, Lithuania, etc.")[28]

The II organised secret "clusters" of like minded people who would follow instructions from London to promote a particular message (the first Integrity Initiative Leak includes a timeline of the groups efforts to interfere in the Spanish government's appointment of ). As with the IfS in general, a Russophobic perpetual war mentality appears to beset the II. One of the main criteria for inclusion in a "cluster" seems to be "awareness" of the "Russian threat". At least one of the documents makes explicit mention of the need to increase military spending. The leaked documents and the II/IfS publications make almost no mention of "peace".

Private businesses

At least 50 members have been business directors[29] and three pairs of IfS members have set up private businesses together[30]. Others have shared directorships on long established groups such as the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce. Some of the IfS directors set up a UK company named the "Council on Foreign Relations".

Influence

The group's influence appears to have been extensive.

Active Change Foundation

Full article: Active Change Foundation

In 2003 Hanif Qadir, "former extremist"[31] and IfS senior associate fellow, founded the Active Change Foundation, which worked closely with the IfS on "de-radicalisation". At least 3 other Active Change Foundation directors were also members of the IfS: David Gilbertson, Daniel Lafayeedney and Chris Donnelly.

"War on Terror"

Full article: Rated 4/5 “War on Terror”

Qadir is one of many IfS members with a financial stake in the "War on Terror". Some are professional "terror experts"[32] others have written about "terrorism" for decades[33].

Harold Elletson chaired, Security and Defence Learning‎‎, a series of annual "counter-terrorism" conferences, some of which involved other IfS members[34] and one of which involved an attendee of Le Cercle. Some have set up companies in this area. Others are academics or journalists who address this area. In 2018 the IfS had a "programme to develop discernment education for children of 9 and upwards, to keep them safe on-line and to protect them from disinformation and radicalisation".[28]

Corporate Media

Full article: Corporate Media/Deep state control

Several IfS members have been published in the BBC,[35] while others have worked for the BBC[36] and a leaked document| lists several BBC employees, another lists Helen Boaden, a former Director of BBC news. Another leaked document by Euan Grant wrote that the IfS has “particular links with the Times, Telegraph, Guardian and BBC TV and radio” but says that it needs to “strengthen” its relationship with the Mail.

EPIC (Ex Police in Industry and Commerce)

Full article: EPIC

EPIC (Ex Police in Industry and Commerce) is a "business networking organisation", founded in 2011. As of 2020, all the original directors had resigned, leaving at least 2/4 remaining directors as IfS members. IfS members include senior policemen.[37]

Campaign for the North

Full article: Campaign for the North

The "Campaign for the North" was chaired by Harold Elletson, and its contributors and advisors included at least three other members of the Ifs (Chris Donnelly, David Gilbertson and Angela White).

"Anti corruption"

Keith Sargent led of the IfS' "Governance and Integrity Group" and was "a regular chairperson and speaker on an Anti-Corruption seminar programme at the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies."[38] Stewart Eldon worked as a Senior Adviser on Defence and Security Issues to Transparency International. A November 2018 IfS budget allocates over £12,000 for a plan "Through links with UK law enforcement and revenue organisations, anti corruption and development NGO's and journalistic organisations, [to] gain access to their European counterparts".[39] Senior associate fellows Mark Pyman and Philip Matthews also reported an interest in the areas of "anti-corruption".[40]

Exposure

Full article: Stub class article Institute for Statecraft/Exposure

The Institute for Statecraft attracted a lot of interest in late 2018 after the first Integrity Initiative/Leak, which contained documents from an (apparent)[41] child group, the "Integrity Initiative". This was revealed not as the apolitical a multi-million pound charity it purported to be, but what David Miller termed "a military-directed push"[42] towards a New Cold War with Russia. He noted that operational HQ was a London basement both close to and paid for[43] by the UK MoD.[44]

Cover up

Full article: Institute for Statecraft/Cover up
Chris Williamson MP on 19 December 2018, after Daniel Lafayeedney slammed the door in his face.

After the first Integrity Initiative leak sparked interest by independent media, labour MP Chris Williamson went to investigate at their operational HQ in Temple. The image shown (right) is taken from a story by The Canary. Some names of IfS members were removed from their website after the leak.[45]

On 22 January 2019, the Integrity Initiative "temporarily" deleted the entire contents of their website.[46] The Institute for Statecraft followed suit shortly afterwards. By 5 February 2019, the site content had been replaced by a coverpage which stated that "The website will be relaunched shortly. In the meantime, we expect to be able to publish an analysis of the hack and its significance in the near future." It also opened up the way to plausible deniability by claiming that some (unspecified) parts of the leaked data had been falsified.[47]

Media reporting

In March 2019 Sky News carried a brief article headlined What is the Institute for Statecraft thought to have been hacked by Russia? reported that "[t]he organisation, which describes itself as a think-tank and a do-tank, employs a small staff of about a dozen people. It also has about 90 Fellows, including a handful of individuals who have a background in British intelligence or the military so are experts in security and defence." It made no mention of the Integrity Initiative's member Simon Bracey-Lane working for the Bernie Sanders campaign or the smears against Jeremy Corbyn. It mentioned that the II "established a network in countries across Europe" but did not mention how it used that network to mount of a secretly coordinated social media campaign to prevent the appointment of Pedro Baños as Director of the Spanish Department of Homeland Security.[48]

Closure

The group was officially closed on 15 August 2023.


 

Related Quotations

PageQuoteAuthorDate
Integrity Initiative“We've temporarily removed all content from our website, pending an investigation into the theft of data from the Institute for Statecraft and the Integrity Initiative. The website will be relaunched shortly. https://bit.ly/2sES9wM”22 January 2019
Greg Rowett“spoke well and hit all the IfS points: peacetime mentality during war/Russian vocab all based on warfare/rate of change in society dramatic/need for universal glossary. Algorithms key – we need to start gaming these algorithms and put pressure onto the companies hosting these disinformation campaigns. Deliver message that we're willing and able to push back.”Simon Bracey-Lane
Greg Rowett
December 2017
University of Leicester““Following discussions in Leicester and London, the School of History, Politics and International Relations has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for Statecraft, an independent body dedicated to refreshing the practice of statecraft, improving governance and enhancing national security. Head of School, Dr George Lewis, said “This development is yet another example of the skill and standing of colleagues involved in our Distance Learning programmes, and is further recognition of the School's strengths in teaching, research and research-led teaching in the field of international politics and security.” In warmly welcoming the collaboration, Chris Donnelly and Dan Lafayeedney, the founding (sic)<a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a> co-Directors of the Institute for Statecraft, stated that “it recognises the significant standing in which the Institute is held internationally by policy makers and decision takers of governments, development and security agencies, and private sector clients, and it reflects the unique blend of practice and authoritative research that the Institute’s Fellows and Associates are able to contribute”. Building upon the University’s links with UNITAR and both party’s links with NATO, this Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates the potential for the University of Leicester and the Institute for Statecraft to collaborate, share experience and develop opportunities that will have a direct impact on national and international policy-making.”UnknownDecember 2018
Zinc Network“Bringing together organisations including Zinc Network, the Institute for Statecraft, Aktis Strategy, Bellingcat, DFR Lab, the Media Diversity Institute, Toro Risk Solutions and Ecorys, our Consortium combines recognised market leaders in understanding, monitoring, and countering Kremlin-backed disinformation... This ecosystem of credible voices will continue to grow, exposing the actors and networks behind Kremlin-backed disinformation, reducing unwitting multipliers of disinformation, and building resilience amongst key target audiences across Europe.

We will mobilise a Network Hub based in London, led by an experienced Project Director, consisting of an agile team with core competencies augmented by a wider pool of vetted experts. Our approach is highly localised, based around regional clusters of actors who can collaborate to effectively undermine the disinformation

ecosystem in their respective areas and engage audiences most vulnerable to disinformation... It is a highly complex project involving coordination of many independent actors, and thus risk must be carefully managed and risk profiles constantly adapted, serving as the basis for all activity. The approach we propose is based on the identification, monitoring and management of risks as they materialise, allowing members to continue taking smart risks as they increase the scale and impact of their activities.”

 

Group

GroupStartDescription
Integrity Initiative2015"Military-directed" "extremely shady covert disinformation and anti-democratic deep state outfit" that promotes Russophobic propaganda. Exposed by a set of 7 caches of documents, posted online. Later deleted its website.

 

Employees on Wikispooks

EmployeeJobAppointedEndDescription
Eduard AbrahamyanSenior Associate FellowApril 2019
James AustinResearch FellowMarch 2017November 2017
James AustinProject Support officerJuly 2018July 2019
Francis GhilèsAs of February 2020
Maria de GoeijAcademicApril 2018Deleted this piece of history from her LinkedIn. Now called "thinktank" and having no resignation date.
Tom LloydHead of Security20072010
John LoughSenior Research Fellow2008
Johanna MöhringAcademicNovember 2013Also programme director
Ben Nimmo2015
Chris ScheurweghsSenior fellowJanuary 2016

 

Known members

109 of the 137 of the members already have pages here:

MemberDescription
Kevin AbrahamInstitute for Statecraft businessman
Eduard AbrahamyanInstitute for Statecraft, whose PhD supervisor was also a Institute for Statecraft member.
Jack AgazarianInstitute for Statecraft businessman whose name was gone by 10 January 2019.
Jamal Al-TahatSenior fellow of the Institute for Statecraft who was paid £1000 for setting up Integrity Jordan.
Kamal AlamFellow of the Institute for Statecraft,
Diane AllenOne of the first women in the Sandhurst, an Institute for Statecraft senior spook with DV (developed vetting)
David AllfreyFormer head of the UK Army's head of recruitment strategy, Institute for Statecraft
Josh Arnold-FosterMember of the Institute for Statecraft. Posts include "special adviser" to the UK defence secretary.
Barrie AxfordUK Academic specialist "linking universities into the [Institute for Statecraft] network"
Anne BaderSenior Associate Fellow of the Institute for Statecraft
Quique Badia-MasoniSpanish journalist member of the Integrity Initiative and the Institute for Statecraft.
Samantha de BendernUK deep state-connected polyglot "international civil servant" with a masters degree in Wealth Management, fellow of the Institute for Statecraft, associate fellow of Chatham House
William BortrickInstitute for Statecraft senior fellow whose name was removed from their website before 10 January 2019. Drafted a letter which claimed that Charles Windsor was "100% behind" a cash for citizenship and CBE case.
Simon Bracey-LaneA "highly improbable left wing firebrand" who worked for the Institute for Statecraft and whom they denied was a spook.
Robin BrimsMajor General, fellow of the Institute for Statecraft
Audrius ButkevičiusLithuanian politician and fellow of the Institute for Statecraft
Nicholas ChanceOn the advisory Board of the Institute of Statecraft, an affiliation he continued to display in January 2020
David ClarkSenior fellow and project director at the Institute for Statecraft. UK MP.
Sean CroninA little known spook and member of the Institute for Statecraft
Constance CunninghamInstitute for Statecraft, Active Change Foundation
Oleksandr DanylyukUkrainian member of the Institute for Statecraft
Kingsley Donaldson"Senior Associate Fellow" of the Institute for Statecraft. His specialism was listed as "Security Sector Reform, Conflict Resolution".
Robert DoverUK academic with a special interest in UK/Western intelligence agencies. Institute for Statecraft, as is at least one of his graduate students. His name had been removed from the IfS website by 10 January 2019.
Martin DubbeyA member of the Institute for Statecraft with years of experience involving "corruption enquiries at the highest level".
Martin EdmondsSenior Associate Fellow of the Institute for Statecraft whose name was removed after the Integrity Initiative Leak
Stewart EldonUK DSO interested in "counter-corruption" and "National Security". Former UK/Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council, Institute for Statecraft
Harold ElletsonMI6, MP, Integrity Initiative, New Society Foundation
Dair Farrar-HockleyA retired Major General who joined the Institute for Statecraft.
Perry FawcettUK businessman, ex-policeman, and member of the Institute for Statecraft
Irene Martínez FernándezJoined the Institute for Statecraft as an associate researcher in July 2019
Maria Luisa FicheraFormer member of the Institute for Statecraft, worked at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Alexander FinnenSpooky UK deep state operative, Chris Donnelly's "right hand man"
Anthony FitzherbertInstitute for Statecraft member and former FAO Programme manager in Afghanistan who co-authored research on crop yields.
Mark GaleottiInstitute for Statecraft propagandist
Babak Ganji"Strategic analysis education, with the job description as "Russia-MENA influence and infowar strategy and tactics" at the Institute for Statecraft
Francis GhilèsTrilingual journalist who has been published since the 1990s on topics including "terrorism". He wrote in 2016 that "we are nowhere close to the end of the War on Terror". A member of the Institute for Statecraft.
David GilbertsonUK policeman who joined the Institute for Statecraft in his returement. Director of the Active Change Foundation from 2015-2017
Keir GilesRussophobic UK deep state operative, member of Integrity Initiative.
Maria de GoeijIntegrity Initiative/Institute for Statecraft polyglot
Roger GollandUK Diplomat and IfS member
David Gordon-MacleodUK deep state connected diplomat
Euan GrantSpooky journalist/propagandist who worked for the Integrity Initiative interested in financial fraud. "His main forte is thinking strategically and has experience working in many countries around the world."
Glen Grant37 year military career. Institute for Statecraft senior fellow. "His key work in the last twenty years has been delivering reform and change for defence and security organisations in Europe."
Rafael GudeLittle known member of the Institute for Statecraft.
Tom Hardie-ForsythA member of the Institute for Statecraft who worked through Chatham House as a senior advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government
Amalyah HartA fellow of the Institute for Statecraft whose speciality was listed as "Hybrid Warfare, Indo-Pacific Region" when the group took down their website
Harry HartInstitute for Statecraft director who resigned after the Integrity Initiative leak. Serial company director, son of a spooky adviser to Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
Charlie Hatton"Brand Development Consultant", was Senior Programme Manager of the Integrity Initiative
Jon HazelLittle known SGMI, Institute for Statecraft operative
Chris HernonIntegrity Initiative
... further results

 

Events Planned

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
Reframing Russia1 June 201731 May 2020University of ManchesterAn IfS/II discussed project about "The RT Challenge" which was publicly launched in 2019, not under the II/IfS name.
Russia’s Strategy on NATO'S Eastern and Southern Flanks27 January 2017 09:30:0027 January 2017 16:30:00Barcelona Centre for International AffairsA CIDOB/The Institute for Statecraft/NATO meeting
Strengthening Europe's 'soft' and 'hard' defence25 March 2019 13:00:0025 March 2019 17:00:00Netherlands
The Hague
Clingendael Institute
Chatham House rule meeting with organised by the Institute for Statecraft and the Clingendael Institute.

 

Sponsors

EventDescription
Answering Russia's Strategic NarrativesInvitation only one day event organised by The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, sponsored by The Institute for Statecraft, about "Russian propaganda"
WhistleblowersUKUK group chaired since November 2015 by the former Institute for Statecraft head of security, Tom Lloyd.

 

Related Documents

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:Britain didn’t vote Labour just to get a new iron chancellorArticle4 August 2024William KeeganThe economic damage wrought by Brexit continues. Our investment and growth prospects would benefit enormously if Starmer and Reeves abandoned this policy of “no return to the customs union, single market or freedom of movement”. I repeat what I have said before: the Labour manifesto commits it to removing unnecessary barriers to trade. But Brexit is the most formidable barrier of all!
Document:Speaking notes for meetings in Israelspeaking notesJune 2018Dan KaszetaInstitute for Statecraft wants to build a relationship with the Israeli government
Document:The Institute for Statecraft Expert Team v 3name list13 December 2018Chris Donnellybiographies of core team members with lots of obscure but interesting former and present employers


Rating

5star.png 20 April 2019 Robin  An overview of this organ of the UK Deep state
A good start for understanding this group which appears to be a UK Deep state effort to promote Russophobia and attempting to kick of a New Cold War.
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.



References

  1. https://www.companieslist.co.uk/prev/SC312442-the-institute-for-statecraft-and-governance
  2. http://anoniem.org/?https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC312442/filing-history
  3. http://archive.today/2018.12.27-160140/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/ethical-charter , 28 December 2018
  4. http://archive.today/2020.01.26-153746/https://medium.com/@instituteforstatecraft/russian-media-in-germany-independent-journalism-or-political-instrument-bafe4f6f6c6b
  5. Integrity Initiative/Leak/4
  6. Jacopo Iacoboni refused to acknowledge and reacted to Wikispooks the company was a "hoax" and "Russian propaganda" https://twitter.com/jacopo_iacoboni/status/1248173398213132288
  7. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-institute-statecraft-undesirable-organizations/32326596.html
  8. http://archive.today/2018.12.27-160140/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/ethical-charter
  9. Document:Top 3 deliverables/achievements of phase 1
  10. https://anoniem.org?https://www.statecraft.org.uk/about-us
  11. https://www.oscr.org.uk/search/charity-details?number=SC040870
  12. a b https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/british-security-service-infiltration-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-institute-for-statecraft/
  13. a b c http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/company/SC312442/THE-INSTITUTE-FOR-STATECRAFT
  14. https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-look-deep-state
  15. http://archive.today/2019.01.08-010239/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/governance
  16. http://archive.today/2019.01.10-215210/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/fellows
  17. Keir Giles is a member of Chatham House and the Brookings Institute
  18. David Clark was Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
  19. Major General Jonathan Shaw
  20. Ben Nimmo was NATO Press officer
  21. Stewart Eldon was the UK Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council and UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN
  22. Tom Lloyd chaired WhistleblowersUK.
  23. Elaine Birch Ruffell "Led assessment & disruption of narcotic trafficking from Afghanistan to Europe"
  24. Document:Establishing a modern perspective - Nation-State vs Network State
  25. Chris Donnelly, Maria de Goeij, Johanna Moehring, Alan Riley
  26. For example, the Integrity Initiative had Clusters in Australia, the US and Jordan
  27. Document:Speaking notes for meetings in Israel
  28. a b Document:Speaking notes for meetings in Israel
  29. Kevin Abraham, Jack Agazarian, David Allfrey, Samantha de Bendern, William Bortrick, Nicholas Chance, Oleksandr Danylyuk, Kingsley Donaldson, Robert Dover, Martin Dubbey, Stewart Eldon, Harold Elletson, Dair Farrar-Hockley, Perry Fawcett, Alexander Finnen, Anthony Fitzherbert, Mark Galeotti, Francis Ghilès, David Gilbertson, Roger Golland, David Gordon-Macleod, Harry Hart, Henry Hogger, Graham Jeal, Harry Lawson Johnston, Stephen Jolly, Ren Kapur, Dan Kaszeta, Shima Keene, Daniel Lafayeedney, Jean-Louis Lafayeedney, Tom Lloyd, John Lough, Jahan Mahmood, Philip Matthews, Oliver McTernan, Piroska Nagy-Mohacsi, Chris Nel, Hanif Qadir, Alan Riley, Elaine Birch Ruffell, Raheem Shapi, Andrew Shortland, Lesley Simm, Guy Spindler, Celia Szusterman, Yusuf Tai, Richard Titley, Joseph Walker-Cousins, Andy Wood
  30. Temple Strategic Advisory Ltd (Samantha de Bendern and Alan Riley), Astutus Intelligence (Philip Matthews and Martin Dubbey), Borley Investments (Harry Hart and, briefly, Jack Agazarian)
  31. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29872054
  32. Dan Kaszeta, Shima Keene, Fatima Lahnait, Hanif Qadir, Lesley Simm, Richard Titley, Jason Wiseman
  33. Francis Ghilès‎‎
  34. Security and Defence Learning/2010
  35. Jamal Al-Tahat, Chris Donnelly, Keir Giles, Francis Ghilès, Dan Kaszeta, Louise Sherwood, Hew Strachan
  36. Stephen Dalziel, Chris Hernon
  37. Perry Fawcett, David Gilbertson, Tom Lloyd
  38. https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/criminology/documents/building-security-and-justice-in-post-conflict-environments-a-reader
  39. Document:Integrity_Initiative_Budget_for_the_12_months_ending_31_March_2019
  40. http://archive.today/2018.03.03-165732/http://www.statecraft.org.uk/fellows
  41. The distinction between the two groups seems in practice to be rather moot
  42. https://www.mintpressnews.com/the-integrity-initiative-and-the-uks-scandalous-information-war/253014/
  43. https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/british-security-service-infiltration-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-institute-for-statecraft/
  44. https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-look-deep-state
  45. https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2018/12/11/by-posting-anti-corbyn-tweets-this-black-ops-organisation-has-just-shot-itself-in-the-foot/
  46. https://www.rt.com/news/449451-integrity-initiative-deletes-content/
  47. http://web.archive.org/web/20190205061422/https://www.statecraft.org.uk/
  48. https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-the-institute-for-statecraft-thought-to-have-been-hacked-by-russia-11657071