The International Risk Podcast

In this week's midweek episode, we explore the institutional and socioeconomic risks and opportunities facing Syria in the aftermath of the Assad regime. Joined by Zaki Mehchy, we delve into the critical steps that both the international community and Syria's next government must prioritize in the coming years. From resilience-building and community engagement to targeted investments in non-rent-seeking industries, we discuss how Syria can lay the foundation for sustainable recovery and inclusive growth.Zaki Mehchy is a policy fellow at London School of Economics and Political Science Conflict and Civicness Research Group (CCRG), a researcher at the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep) and a co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research. Zaki has dedicated his career to advancing development policies and addressing the complex socio-economic challenges facing Syria. His extensive research spans topics such as the socio-economic impacts of the Syrian crisis, poverty and multidimensional deprivation, labor dynamics, local governance, and community empowerment. Zaki holds an MSc. in International Economics from the University of Essex, UK, bringing a robust academic foundation to his impactful work.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe’s leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world’s highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Joseph Daher and Dominic discuss the collapse of the Assad Regime and the risks and opportunities for Syria in a post-Assad world.Joseph Daher, is a Swiss-Syrian academic and activist. He currently teaches at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), and at the University of Ghent (Belgium) and has been an affiliated professor at the European University Institute(EUI). He has worked with the EUI on the conflict in Syria and the aftermath of the war. Herewith Joseph has published multiple papers, which aimed to produce quality, strategic and accurate reports and analysis of wartime perspectives, challenges, trends and policy options in anticipation of post-conflict stabilisation in Syria.Moreover, Joseph is an expert on Syria, Lebanon, and the Middle East, and has worked for various UN Agencies, NGO’s and research centers in consulting and expert mandates to conduct programs, trainings, and research for them. He is the author of three books: Hezbollah: The Political Economy of Lebanon’s Party of God, Syria After the Uprising: The Political Economy of State Resilience and Palestine and Marxism . Finally, he is the founder of the blog Syria Freedom Forever. He is also co-founder of the Alliance of Middle Eastern and North African Socialists.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. This weekly podcast dives deep into international relations, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, the podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies.Dominic's 20+ years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

In this  episode, we are joined by the insightful  Mr. Mikatekiso Kubayi, a distinguished voice from South Africa and a renowned thinker on global power dynamics. Mr. Kubayi wears many hats: researcher at the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) associated with UNISA, fellow at the Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), and a PhD candidate at UJ. His expertise spans the intricate web of power in the international system and the ever-evolving global political economy of finance.Together, we traverse the intricate world of Sino-African relations—exploring its history, its influence on infrastructure and investment, sovereignty, the BRICS, and more! The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

Tune in to hear Stefan Wolff discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Dominic and Stefan also discuss the Moldovan Elections, Mark Rutte becoming General-Secretary of NATO, and the influence of the US Elections on the war in Ukraine and find out what the thought outcome will be with Trump being re-elected for office. Stefan Wolff is Professor of International Security and Head of Department of the Political Science and International Studies, at the University of Birmingham. A political scientist by background, he specialises in the management of contemporary security challenges, especially in the prevention and settlement of ethnic conflicts, in post-conflict state-building in deeply divided and war-torn societies, and in contemporary geopolitics and great-power rivalry. Wolff has extensive expertise in the post-Soviet space and has also worked on a wide range of other conflicts elsewhere, including in the Middle East and North Africa, in Central Asia, and in sub-Saharan Africa. With almost three decades of experience in UK higher education, Wolff has a publication record that includes almost 100 journal articles and book chapters, as well as 20 books. He is the founding editor of Ethnopolitics, co-founder of Navigating the Vortex, and a regular international affairs contributor to The Conversation. Bridging the divide between academia and policymaking, Wolff regularly advises governments and international organisations and has been involved in various phases of conflict settlement processes, including in the disputed territories in Iraq, in Transnistria and Gagauzia (Moldova), in Ukraine, Syria, and Yemen. Wolff holds degrees from the University of Leipzig (Erstes Staatsexamen), the University of Cambridge (M.Phil.), and the LSE (Ph.D.).The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, we delve into the transformative impact of emerging technologies on modern warfare and international security with Alexandra Ba-Tin, a doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh specialising in hybrid warfare and AI ethics. Ba-Tin brings her unique expertise in defence, security, and data privacy to explore critical questions facing military leaders and policymakers today.From the Pentagon's generative AI initiatives to Russia's evolving military capabilities, we examine how artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, and cyber warfare are reshaping the battlefield. Ba-Tin offers valuable insights into the ethical implications of AI in military decision-making, the growing challenges of information warfare, and the complex interplay between data privacy and national security.Join us for an in-depth discussion on hybrid warfare tactics, the future of nuclear deterrence in the age of quantum computing, and how emerging technologies are influencing asymmetric warfare between state and non-state actors. This episode provides essential insights for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, international security, and the evolving nature of modern conflict.Alexandra Ba-Tin is a doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh, where she researches the intersection of hybrid threats and space-based assets in national security strategies. Her unique perspective combines academic expertise with hands-on experience in the defence and security sector, where she specialised in business analysis, data ethics, and privacy protection.As a War Studies Postgraduate Representative for the British International Studies Association (BISA), Alexandra actively contributes to advancing research and dialogue in the field of war studies. She also serves as Co-President of the University of Edinburgh's Accessible AI Society, working to democratise understanding of artificial intelligence across disciplines.Before pursuing her PhD, Alexandra made significant contributions to the UK's data protection landscape, including participating in the government's "Data: A New Direction" consultation in 2021. Her interdisciplinary background bridges the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical applications in modern warfare, emerging technologies, and international security.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast - Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

Dive into China's complex involvement in the Middle East with Barbara Kelemen and our host, Dominic Bowen. Covering vast topics from China's Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, how China is balancing its strategic partnership with Iran, and China's relationship with Afghanistan since the US withdrawal of troops. Barbara Kelemen studied in China (Peking University) and London (LSE), earning a double degree in International History. She has specialized in international security and relations, focusing primarily on China and its relations with the Middle East. After graduating, Barbara joined MERICS but then decided to join the private intelligence sector where she has now been for 5 years.  Barbara works for Dragonfly Intelligence (a UK-based geopolitical advisory) but moved to Singapore 1.5 year ago, where she is head of their Asia office. Dragonfly Intelligence advise clients how to anticipate and prepare for major geopolitical and security trends.Barbara’s research interests include China's security policy, China-Middle East relations, China-Afghanistan relations, Terrorism in Southeast Asia.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Julia Ebner, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford. As one of the foremost experts in extremism and radicalisation, Julia shares insights from her decade-long research, including her remarkable undercover investigations into various extremist groups.The conversation explores the alarming trend of extremist ideologies moving from the fringes into mainstream politics and culture, as detailed in Julia's 2023 book "Going Mainstream: How Extremists Are Taking Over." She discusses how the global polycrisis - from COVID-19 to economic uncertainties and ongoing conflicts - has created fertile ground for extremist recruitment and radicalisation.Julia provides fascinating insights into the psychology of extremism, particularly the concept of "identity fusion" and the symbiotic relationship between different extremist groups. She shares her unique perspective on researching male-dominated extremist spaces as a woman and discusses the challenges of countering online radicalisation in an era of increasing social media influence.Drawing from recent events, including the Austrian regional elections and the Capitol riots, the discussion examines how extremist ideas are increasingly penetrating mainstream political discourse and the implications this has for democratic societies. The episode concludes with a thoughtful analysis of emerging extremist risks and potential strategies for addressing them at policy, technological, and societal levels.Interested in exploring the topics discussed in this episode? Dive deeper into the topics explored with Julia Ebner's books referenced in the episode:Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists (2020) An immersive investigation into extremist groups, based on Ebner's experiences infiltrating various radical organizations online and offline.The Rage: The Vicious Circle of Islamist and Far-Right Extremism (2017) A groundbreaking analysis examining the symbiotic relationship between Islamist and far-right extremism, showing how these movements feed off each other's narratives.Going Mainstream: How extremists are taking over (2023) From radicalisation on gaming platforms to algorithmic extremism, this book reveals how fringe movements are strategically infiltrating public discourse and reshaping modern politics.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast - Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

Join us on our analysis of another Trump term. We discuss with Lara Kristjansdottir what the consequences are for US, Chinese and EU businesses for the threatened import tariffs. In addition, we discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and what we think will happen now that Trump is in power. Finally, will Trump fulfil his 100 day promise of cutting down electric prices and fuel? Will he indeed close the border between Mexico and will he start his mass-deportation plans? Tune in now to find out!Lara Kristjánsdóttir is an analyst at 2Secure, specialising in strategic advisory and international risk management. With a background in security studies and crisis management, Lara provides organisations with strategic guidance to develop and refine robust risk management structures. Through Lara’s expertise, she helps clients effectively identify, analyse, and mitigate risks, empowering them to pursue growth opportunities with confidence. Lara holds a master’s degree from the Swedish Defence University and she also has a background in public diplomacy and communication, having previously served with the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

This week we dive into the role of misinformation with Sander van der Linden. We discuss what effect the British government could have with their promise of a crackdown on extreme misogyny. Moreover, with Sander's background in Psychology, we dive into the question as to why people believe misinformation and what might be done to counteract the rise of misinformation. Finally, hand-in-hand with misogyny and misinformation, we discuss the US Elections and how misinformation has managed to worm its ways through the news and into the candidates. Today we are joined by Sander van der Linden, a Ph.D., is Professor of Social Psychology in Society and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. He has won numerous awards for his research on human judgment, communication, and decision-making, including the Rising Star Award from the Association for Psychological Science (APS). He co-developed the award-winning fake news game, Bad News and regularly advises governments, public health authorities, and social media companies on how to combat the spread of misinformation. He is ranked among the top 1% of highly cited social scientists worldwide and has published over 150 research papers. His research is regularly covered in outlets such as the New York Times, BBC, NPR, and Rolling Stone. His book Foolproof: Why We Fall for Misinformation and How to Build Immunity won the 2024 Harvard Goldsmith Prize, the best book prize from the British Psychological Society and was named a Financial Times, Waterstones, and Nature Book of the Year. Before joining Cambridge, he held academic positions at Princeton, Yale, and the LSE.Find his website here.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!

With the US election next week, we sit down with two of the world's foremost experts on terrorism: Bruce Hoffman, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and Georgetown University professor, and Jacob Ware, Research Fellow at CFR and specialist in far-right extremism. Together, they discuss their groundbreaking new book, God, Guns, and Sedition, which examines the evolving landscape of far-right terrorism in America.Our guests explore how traditional extremist movements have transformed in the digital age, becoming more sophisticated and internationally influential. Drawing on Hoffman's half-century of expertise and Ware's deep understanding of contemporary extremist tactics, the conversation delves into crucial topics including:The fusion of anti-government sentiment, religious extremism, and militant advocacyHow social media platforms have revolutionised extremist recruitmentThe global impact of U.S.-based extremist movementsThe emergence of "accelerationism" as a tactical frameworkLessons learned from the January 6th Capitol riotProtecting democratic institutions while maintaining their accessibilityThis essential discussion provides security professionals, risk analysts, and concerned citisens with vital insights into one of the most pressing challenges facing democratic institutions today.The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.The International Risk Podcast - Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn for all our great updates.Tell us what you liked!