The International Risk Podcast

This episode with Hamid Khalafallah examines the current state of Sudan’s civil war beyond shifting battlefield developments. We explore how patterns of territorial control have altered the structure of authority across the country, why governance capacity remains limited even where military advances have occurred, and how elite bargaining and the “political marketplace” logic have become further...

This episode with Elizabeth Bullock examines the lived reality of Russia’s modern warfare, drawing on her three years working in frontline Ukraine. From evacuating civilians under fire to navigating the evolving threats of drones, hypersonic missiles, and weaponised infrastructure, Elizabeth provides an unflinching look at how war shapes both society and strategy and what it reveals about the futu...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Professor Tim Lang about food security as a systemic risk embedded within highly interdependent global supply, trade, and governance networks. The conversation explores how deeply integrated supply chains, energy dependency, trade regimes, and regulation shape national food resilience in an era of climate volatility and g...

This episode of the International Risk Podcast explores hypersonic missiles through the lens of global strategy, defense policy, and international security. Host Dominic Bowen interviews Dr. Jacob Parakilas from Rand Europe about what makes hypersonic weapons strategically significant beyond their speed. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practit...

This episode with Professor Djavad Salehi-Isfahani examines how prolonged sanctions, inflation, and structural economic stagnation have reshaped Iran’s political economy. We explore how comprehensive sanctions since 2011 constrained oil revenues and fiscal capacity, why inflation and currency depreciation have reinforced one another over time, and how these pressures have affected poverty, middle-...

In this episode host Dominic Bowen unpacks the growing influence, and mounting challenges, facing BRICS as the bloc expands and expectations rise with Mihaela Papa . From Brazil’s 2025 presidency and AI regulation to climate finance, payment systems, and the realities of de-dollarisation, the discussion cuts through the headlines to examine what BRICS+ is actually delivering, and where structural...

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Dr Ola Rifai about the evolution of Syrian identity and how competing narratives of nationalism, sectarianism, and statehood have shaped the country’s political trajectory before and after 2011. Find out more about how identity was managed under the Assad regime, how sectarianisation unfolded differently in cities such as...

There are some days in the calendar that people will never forget. 8 December 2024 is a day Syrians will certainlt remember: Liberation Day. Now a national holiday, it marks the fall of the Assad family regime—a dictatorship that had ruled Syria for half a century. Fourteen months on, where is Syria today? Internationally, the country has secured a number of diplomatic victories. At home, however,...

In this episode, we host Professor Simon Grima to explore why risk management is too often treated as paperwork and how it can become a genuine strategic superpower when anchored to clear objectives and stakeholder needs.  We unpack what “good” risk management looks like in practice: defining risk appetite, separating risk from uncertainty, avoiding box-ticking frameworks, and building indicators...

In this episode, we host Allizandra Herberhold. We explore how curiosity can become a pathway to radicalisation, and what families, educators, and communities can do before it’s too late. From recognising early warning signs such as isolation and behavioural changes, to unpacking the online pipelines that draw vulnerable young people towards nihilistic violent extremism, this conversation offers r...

Due to popular requests, we are re-releasing this episode, where Dominic Bowen and Dr. Moshe Lander discuss the recent spike in gold prices, the opportunities, and international risks.  Find out more about what pushes gold trends, from uncertain geopolitical trends to Trump’s threats on tariffs, and an overall mistrust in governments and institutions worldwide. The conversation also addresses the...

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Russ Mould discuss why gold has returned to the centre of global finance amid rising geopolitical risk, sanctions, and record government debt. Find out more about what is driving gold’s surge beyond $4,000 an ounce, from central bank buying and reserve diversification to inflation fears and market concentration in US equities. The conversation also addresses whet...

In this episode Dominic Bowen speaks with Simon Keslake , co-founder of Behavioural Risk Intelligence, about why organisational failure is so often driven by behaviour rather than systems or policies. They explore what behavioural risk really means, how it differs from traditional risk management, and why leadership signals, incentives, and team dynamics matter more than formal governance. Using r...

This episode with Dr   Daniel McDowell examines how digital currencies, financial sanctions, and geopolitical competition are shaping the future of the global monetary system. We explore why the US dollar continues to dominate global finance despite political pressure and technological change, how sanctions influence state behaviour, and why network effects make rapid currency shifts unlikely. The...

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Brian Fonseca discuss the capture of Nicolás Maduro and why this dramatic moment does not automatically mark the start of a democratic transition in Venezuela. Find out more about who truly holds power inside the country today, from the military leadership and intelligence services to competing political factions within the regime. The conversation also addresses...

In this episode, we hear from Scott Ernest about his journey into far-right extremism, exploring the factors that drew him in, including fear, wedge issues, and the influence of social media and conspiracy theories. He also reflects on how the far-right ecosystem has evolved and the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals within these movements. Scott shares his personal exit story and hig...

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Emily Winterbotham discuss how Afghanistan has evolved since the Taliban’s return to power, challenging simplified narratives around security, terrorism, and international disengagement. Drawing on extensive field experience and long-term research, they examine why Afghanistan remains a critical test case for counterterrorism, regional geopolitics, and global ris...

Greenland is not for sale. That was the message from Denmark and Greenland after the White House summit on the 14th January. Meanwhile, President Trump says the US needs to “own” Greenland for national security, to stop Russia and China in the Arctic. How did an island of 57,0000 people suddenly get flung into the spotlight of international relations, and how could it reshape how we think of the A...

This episode with Dr   Bobo Lo   explores the breakdown of the post-Cold War rules-based international order and what is emerging in its place. We examine why today’s global system is better understood as a condition of disorder rather than a coherent new order, shaped by diffuse power, weakening institutions, and growing mistrust of Western norms, and how the erosion of democratic practice within...

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Ángeles Jiménez discuss the geopolitical significance of Ceuta and Melilla as Europe’s only land borders with Africa, and why these two Spanish cities embody sovereignty disputes and migration pressure between Spain, Morocco, and the European Union. They unpack how these enclaves function as “grey zones” where coercion, leverage, and competition occur below the t...

This episode with Dr Tae Seok Moon explores how synthetic biology is rapidly transforming medicine, climate innovation, and industrial production, while introducing new layers of international risk, ethical tension, and governance challenges. We examine how engineered biology is already being used to fight disease, reduce emissions, and address pollution, alongside growing concerns about dual-use...

From Central Asia’s emerging transport corridors to Iran’s sanctions and water stress, this episode of the International Risk Podcast explores how political risk, geopolitics, and climate change are reshaping the global trade map - revealing why supply chain durability is no longer just an economic question, but a strategic one for governments and companies alike. Sophia Nina B-A has lived and wor...

This episode with Dr Paal Hilde explores how climate change, alliance dynamics, and geopolitical competition are reshaping the Arctic and the High North, and why this region is becoming increasingly significant in global risk calculations. We examine how melting sea ice is altering maritime access and infrastructure stress, while also challenging long-held assumptions about security, commercial op...

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Jonathan Sumption discuss the fragility of democratic institutions, the strain on the rule of law, and how electoral systems — particularly First-past-the-post — shape political incentives, polarisation, and ultimately public trust. They unpack why so many citizens feel increasingly disconnected from their leaders, and what this means for the future of liberal de...

Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has systemically targeted Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure–especially its energy systems–as a core part of Russia’s strategy. Since the start of the war, there has been over 2000 air, drone, and artillery attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Electricity grids, nuclear power plants, transmission lines, gas facilities, dams a...