Written by Elisa Garbil – 01.09.2025 Iran’s nuclear program has long been a topic of global debate, intertwined with issues of national security, regional power dynamics, and international diplomacy. As Iran edges closer to advancing its nuclear capabilities, the risks associated with this trajectory extend beyond the borders of the Islamic Republic itself. A careful examination of…
Dr. Katzman is a Senior Advisor at the Soufan Group and a Senior Fellow at the Soufan Center, positions he assumed after retiring in late 2022 from his longtime position as a Senior Middle East Analyst at the Congressional Research Service (CRS). He is also a Senior Research Advisor at the Global Insights Group’s Strategic Analysis and Situational Awareness Group. During his CRS career specialising on Iran, U.S. sanctions on Iran, the Arab Gulf states, Iraq, Afghanistan, and…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil A difficult topic, one that we keep seemingly talking about without our governments doing anything – The ongoing genocide in Gaza. Dominic and Assem Dandashly discuss the paradox of aid and conflict, the reality on the ground in Gaza, the Western (and international) hypocrisy and what the inevitable consequences are…
Assem Dandashly is an Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at Maastricht University. He is an expert on the EU-MENA relations. Prior to joining Maastricht University in September 2012, Assem was a Research Fellow at the Kolleg-Forschergruppe “The Transformative Power of Europe” Freie Universität Berlin. Assem holds a PhD in Political Science (2012)…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 14.08.2025 The war on Gaza has moved far beyond the realm of conventional military conflict. What is unfolding is a methodical, prolonged campaign against an entire civilian population. The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, the mass killing of noncombatants, and the deliberate targeting of essential services reflect a calculated strategy to dismantle not…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil A different episode today where Dominic hosts one of his colleagues Elisa Garbil on the Podcast! They dive into Elisa’s top 5 International Risks and debate why these are so important. Listen to the episode to find out which risks she finds important, what Dominic finds of them, and what their…
Elisa Garbil is the Podcast Producer and Investigative Research Lead at The International Risk Podcast, where she leads on strategic editorial direction, in-depth research, and high-level stakeholder engagement. This role has sharpened her ability to operate at the intersection of investigative inquiry, strategic communications, and global risk analysis – delivering content that is timely, credible,…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 11.08.2025 We live in a century overshadowed by risk. Not just the routine uncertainties of markets or weather, but layered, interconnected threats that ripple across borders and systems. From climate breakdown and cyber conflict to inequality and democratic erosion, the risks humanity faces today are no longer discrete, they are systemic. This…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Dominic Bowen hosts Stefan Wolff back on the podcast to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. They dive into the current state of the war, how Trump’s ultimatum affects diplomatic tensions and whether this will actually change anything. Moreover they discuss Russia’s hybrid warfare and the challenges these bring to peace talks….
Written by Elisa Garbil – 04.08.2025 Diplomacy Without Traction As the Russia–Ukraine war enters its fourth summer, the balance between diplomacy and devastation has become increasingly precarious. While representatives from both sides have returned to negotiation tables in Istanbul and Doha, the intensifying violence across Ukrainian cities and the internal strains within Ukraine’s own institutions suggest that…
