Cormac Smith

Cormac Smith

Cormac Smith works at the intersection of authentic leadership & effective communication. He travelled to Ukraine in 2016 to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor’ to Pavlo Klimkin, the then Foreign Minister of Ukraine. Cormac was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign…

Episode 275: Hybrid Warfare: The New Normal with Cormac Smith

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Dive into the ongoing war with Cormac Smith today. Dominic and Cormac discuss Mariupol, whether the war can be considered genocide, the disinformation war, the reality of Russian aggression, war crimes, hybrid warfare, the need for unity, and more! Today we are joined by Cormac Smith. Cormac works at the intersection of…

Ukraine

Ukraine at a Strategic Inflection: Risk, Pressure, and Uncertainty

Written by Elisa Garbil – 16.10.2025 Late in the night of 4–5 October 2025, Russian forces launched one of the more intense combined missile-and-drone assaults of the war. According to Ukrainian officials, more than 50 ballistic and cruise missiles, along with nearly 500 drones, struck nine regions across the country, hitting energy infrastructure, civilian districts, and industrial…

Anti-Neloiberalism, Anti-Capitalism, Protest

Risk in the Age of Neoliberalism: Why the Future Is Fragile

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…

Episode 256: The Top 5 International Risks to Look Out For with Dominic Bowen and Elisa Garbil

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…

Episode 177: How Russia Capitalises on Crises, featuring Stepan Stepanenko

In this compelling episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Stepan Stepanenko, a leading expert on Eastern European affairs, international security, and disinformation strategies. Dr. Stepanenko serves as the Director of Forward Strategy Limited and Director of Research at the Forum for Foreign Relations, bringing invaluable…

The Weaponisation of Social Media by States: How Russia Exploits Digital Platforms to Fuel Social Unrest in the West

The Weaponisation of Social Media by States: How Russia Exploits Digital Platforms to Fuel Social Unrest in the West

In a recent episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dr. Stepan Stepanenko shed light on Russia’s sophisticated disinformation campaigns and their impact on social unrest in Western countries. This article delves deeper into one of the key topics discussed: the weaponization of social media by foreign actors, particularly Russia, to exploit and exacerbate social tensions….