Episode 146: The International Risks of the 2023 Serbian Election with Dr Alexander Mesarovich

Parliamentary elections were held in Serbia on 17 December 2023 to elect members of the National Assembly. While they were initially scheduled to be held by 30 April 2026, Aleksandar Vučić, the president of Serbia, called a snap election in November 2023, after previously announcing that snap elections could be either held in 2023 or…

The International Risks of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – Philanthropy or a Hidden Pathway to Crime?

In this week’s podcast, Nathan Paul Southern showed us a far more ominous side to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and its links to organised crime worldwide. Criminal involvement is a little-studied aspect of the BRI, both in policy and research. This is problematic: neglecting to recognise that growth and trade generate huge international risks…

International Risk and The Great Realignment

In several of our episodes discussing geopolitics, business, and international relations, guests on The International Risk Podcast explore the concept of The Great Realignment, a dynamic fraught with both international risks and opportunities. This concept not only reflects the current global landscape but also underscores the obligations facing companies striving for success in the upcoming…

Episode 145: The International Risks of Transnational Organised Crime in South East Asia with Nathan Paul Southern

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the criminal underpinnings of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as well as uncovering some of the lesser known transnational crimial activities taking place across South East Asia. We are thrilled to be joined by Nathan Paul Southern, an investigative journalist, a PhD Candidate at the University…

Episode 144: The International Risks of the Climate Crisis with Thammy Evans

Thammy Evans a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center, will help us explore this interesting area of international risk. Thammy’s career spans two decades, encompassing roles within government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Her expertise in security and justice sector reform is particularly relevant with the current global conflicts and climate-related…

Episode 143: A Reflection on the International Risks and Opportunities of the ESG discussions at COP28 with Valentina Lira

We are thrilled to be joined today by Valentin’s Lira. Valentina is an Industrial Engineer from the University of Chile, with a postgraduate degree in Environmental Economics from the University of California Berkeley. She worked as a Development Engineer at CMPC Holding and as Director of the Development and Conservation Program of Fundación Chile, achieving the…

Episode 142: The International risks associated with EU Enlargement in the Balkans with Dr Alexander Mesarovich

In today’s episode of The International Risk Podcast, we turn our attention to the intricate and dynamic process of EU enlargement in the Balkans. The region, known for its complex political and ethnic landscape, is at a pivotal moment in its integration into the European Union. We will explore the influence of the EU’s policies…

Nathan Paul Southern

Nathan Paul Southern is an investigative journalist, a PhD Candidate at the University of St. Andrews, and a senior investigator at TePonui, an independent research consultancy. As a non-traditional security specialist, he focuses on the links between organised crime, governance and armed groups. His work explores Chinese organised crime and the BRI, human trafficking, the…

Zion Lights

Zion Lights is a Science Communicator who is known for her environmental advocacy work. She is founder of the evidence-based climate activism group Emergency Reactor and author of The Ultimate Guide to Green Parenting. Zion has become a world-leading speaker on clean energy, specifically nuclear energy, and also lectures on effective science communication, tackling misinformation,…

Episode 141: The International Risks of the Fukishima Waste Water Release with Zion Lights

Today we are joined by Zion Lights, a passionate science advocate and writer who wants to change the world for the better. She is the author of the book The Ultimate Guide to Green Parenting, the nature poetry book Only a Moment, and was a former spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. She was the UK director…