Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Today Dominic hosts Rik Peels on the podcast to discuss religious extremism. They dive into the background of radicalisation; the differences between extremism, fundamentalism, and conspiracy theories; what the global patterns are; what role belief systems play in radicalisation; why radicalisation has such an impact on crises; and more! Dr. Rik…
Dr. Rik Peels is a Professor in Philosophy and Theology of Radicalisation at the Faculty of Humanities at the Free University of Amsterdam. Rik specialises in the ethics and epistemology of belief, in particular extreme belief, and replication in the humanities. He has developed a theory of responsible belief, studied ignorance, criticised scientism and developed…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 10.07.2025 Religious extremism is often portrayed in stark and simplistic terms, dangerous, irrational, and rooted in blind faith. But research from philosophers, psychologists, and international organisations paints a more nuanced picture. It reveals that extremism isn’t solely about belief systems; it’s about identity, psychological vulnerabilities, and the socio-political environments in…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In today’s episode of The International Risk Podcast, we explore an overlooked yet vital aspects of national and international resilience and risk mitigation: youth work. With social unrest, economic inequality, and political extremism on the rise globally, the risks of neglecting young people are no longer abstract; they’re immediate, measurable, and…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 03.07.2025 Youth work stands as one of the most powerful yet underutilised tools we have to support young people in a rapidly changing world. At its core, youth work is an educational, relational, and voluntary practice that helps young people between the ages of 11 and 25 develop confidence, resilience,…
Abbee McLatchie is the Director of Youth Work and the Deputy CEO at National Youth Agency. As Director of Youth Work, Abbee McLatchie leads on the development of professional standards; training and development; the National Youth Work Curriculum; as well as quality and safeguarding frameworks. Abbee has worked with young people through youth work since…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 27.06.2025 What can I say? Another urgent and necessary read on the escalating risks of extremism, especially anti-feminist and right-wing radicalisation. Laura Bates’ Men Who Hate Women was one of the first books that opened my eyes to the growing threat landscape of misogynistic ideologies, particularly in digital spaces. Her new book is even…
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…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Dive into the current crisis in Iran with Joseph Daher! Dominic and Joseph discuss the US and Israel’s strategic operations, Iran’s response and regional implications these might have, the global consequences and international reactions, the potential for an outright regional war, the nuclear ambitions of Iran, regional security and the…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 27.06.2025 The ongoing Iran–Israel conflict serves as a potent case study of risk in modern geopolitics. The military confrontations between the two states have escalated into a volatile standoff that threatens to spiral into regional war, draw in global powers, and redefine the thresholds of nuclear engagement. Having the USA…
