Germany held its elections in late February, resulting in a victory for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its leader, Friedrich Merz, who is set to become the next chancellor. The CDU/CSU alliance secured 28.5% of the vote, reclaiming leadership. However, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains, securing 20.8%, more than doubling…
Paul Hockenos is a Berlin-based writer and political analyst who has been working in Germany and across Central and Eastern Europe since 1989. He is the prize-winning author of five books on European politics and culture, and was a fellow at the American Academy in Berlin. His work appears in The Nation, Foreign Policy, Foreign…
This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen welcomes Paul Hockenos to discuss the outcome of the latest German elections, analyzing the distribution of seats and the implications of the AfD’s growing presence as part of the political mainstream. Beyond domestic politics, we will examine Germany’s evolving role within Europe and on the global…
Germany’s recent federal election has ushered in a period of political upheaval, with significant implications for defense spending, fiscal policy, the risk environment, and international relations. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, secured a plurality with 28.5 percent of the vote, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic second…
As the Middle East navigates a year marked by upheaval—Syria’s post-Assad transition and Israel’s escalated conflict with Lebanon—another critical narrative unfolds with quieter urgency. Iraq, a nation of immense geopolitical importance, approaches its 2025 elections amid complex challenges that mirror broader global threats to democracy. Iraq’s precarious experiment with democracy, its lessons for post-conflict governance,…
Dr. Abdulhaleem Mohammed is a distinguished election and legal specialist with extensive experience in advancing democratic governance and electoral integrity. Currently serving with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Iraq, he provides technical and legal advice to the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on electoral systems, legal frameworks, and the development of…
This week’s mid-week episode is between Dominic and Dr Abdulhaleem. They discuss the intricacies and difficulties of the electoral system in Iraq, including the significant corruption and voter apathy that has been ever present in its post-2003 electoral system, the numerous reforms that have been introduced and an assessment of the international risks posed by…
Happy New Year from all of us at The International Risk Podcast! We’re excited to kick off 2025 with the launch of Season 5, and what better way to start than by answering your questions? Join Elisa, Rima, and Dominic as they dive into listener-submitted topics, tackling some of the most pressing international risks shaping our world. From…
Join us on our analysis of another Trump term. We discuss with Lara Kristjansdottir what the consequences are for US, Chinese and EU businesses for the threatened import tariffs. In addition, we discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and what we think will happen now that Trump is in power. Finally, will Trump fulfil his…
Lara Kristjánsdóttir is an analyst at 2Secure, specialising in strategic advisory and international risk management. With a background in security studies and crisis management, Lara provides organisations with strategic guidance to develop and refine robust risk management structures. Through Lara’s expertise, she helps clients effectively identify, analyse, and mitigate risks, empowering them to pursue growth…