On 27 April 2026, the DISACT project hosted a guest lecture by Professor Gerasimos Tsourapas at the Library of the University of Cyprus. Entitled The Long Arm of the State: Transnational Repression in Global Politics, the event brought together students and members of the academic community to discuss the changing dynamics of state repression beyond national borders.
Focusing on enforced disappearances as one of the most extreme forms of transnational control, Professor Tsourapas challenged the assumption that repression ends at the state border. He explored how authoritarian regimes target diaspora populations through surveillance, coercion-by-proxy, and other forms of extraterritorial violence.
Drawing on comparative examples, he examined how international law responds to such practices and highlighted key challenges in addressing forms of repression that are indirect, deniable, or mediated through transnational family and social networks. The discussion also situated enforced disappearances within a broader repertoire of transnational governance strategies and reflected on the implications of these practices for host states, institutions, and affected communities.
The event was followed by a lively discussion and Q&A session, during which participants engaged with questions relating to human rights, accountability, and the evolving reach of state power in an increasingly interconnected world.
The guest lecture formed part of DISACT’s ongoing efforts to promote academic exchange and foster dialogue on enforced disappearances, state violence, and their broader political and societal implications.