This week we are going to look at illicit finance through a unique lens regarding the global threat scape's confluence with specific learning environment. Recently the library gained the rights to a new database by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) called the Armed Conflict Database. This is a tremendous asset that you have available to you as you move through some of the intricacies of the global threat/illicit finance environment that we are encountering regarding dark networks. Take a moment to look it over.

For the Week 5 forum, answer the following questions:

• How is it (the Armed conflict Database) beneficial in studying illicit finance? Where is the IISS drawing their information from? How can it be a primary or secondary source that lends insight into global conflicts?
• Choose a particular conflict involving an asymmetric actor or set of actors. Detail how their operations are funded using illicit finance. Pay particular attention to scope, flow, and distribution. What insight does this database provide and how can it be used for further research in this context?

300-400 words and cite references used.