Riot

Left-Wing Extremism in Germany: A Resurgent Threat

Written by Elisa Garbil – 10.12.2025 For decades, discussions of extremism in Germany have been dominated by the spectres of right-wing and Islamist violence. The nation’s historical trauma and recent experiences with far-right terror have understandably captured most of the security community’s attention. Yet beneath this focus, another movement has persisted, one that is quieter, more fragmented,…

Episode 296: Far-Left Extremism with Felix Neumann

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Our conversation today with Felix Neumann traces the shifting landscape of far-left extremism, beginning with the broader global pressures shaping today’s political climate. We unpack how certain ideological threads have evolved, splintered, and re-formed, creating a movement that is at once fragmented and unexpectedly resilient. Along the way, we examine the role…

Ukrainian Culture

Culture as a Battlefield: The Strategic Risks of Russia’s Cultural Offensive

Written by Elisa Garbil – 05.12.2025 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2014, has unfolded across multiple dimensions: military, economic, informational, and psychological. Yet one of its most significant and underexamined fronts is cultural. The Kremlin has reframed culture not as an organic expression of society but as a strategic tool where a weapon legitimises aggression,…

Episode 294: Russian Culture War with Olha Mukha

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In this episode, we journey into the heart of a cultural battleground shaped by war, identity, and resistance with Olha Mukha. Our conversation unpacks how Ukraine’s cultural resilience has become a force of national survival, even as attempts at cultural erasure intensify. We explore grassroots efforts to preserve language, art, and memory,…

Olha Mukha

Olha Mukha

Olha Mukha, PhD, is a cultural analyst and philosopher, cultural manager, curator and expert on international communication and human rights. Known for her extensive work in cultural diplomacy and human rights. She is Co-Founder and Programme Director of the Ukrainian Association of Cultural Studies – Lviv and Head of Educational and International Department of Memorial…

Resilience, Hybrid Warfare, and the Future of Security: Lessons from Ukraine

Resilience, Hybrid Warfare, and the Future of Security: Lessons from Ukraine

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen joins live from Kyiv in conversation with one of our international relations specialists to examine how hybrid warfare, authoritarian cooperation, and civilian resilience are reshaping Europe’s security landscape. Speaking from Ukraine as the country endures its most intense wave of drone and missile attacks…

Episode 282: Live from Ukraine with Dominic Bowen: The Frontlines of Resilience and the Future of Leadership

Today, our host Dominic Bowen joins live from Ukraine on The International Risk Podcast for a special episode examining resilience, leadership, and hybrid warfare in the heart of Europe’s most critical conflict. In conversation with one of our international relations specialist, Dominic reflects on daily life in Kyiv amid the largest drone and missile attacks since the full-scale invasion…

Episode 222: Rethinking Foreign Aid: Policy, Advocacy and Impact with Michael Sheldrick

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen is joined by Michael Sheldrick to unpack the far-reaching consequences of global aid cuts and the future of international development. Together, they explore the real-world impact of the proposed USAID reductions, including disruptions to programs like PEPFAR, and the ripple effects on health systems, livelihoods, and vulnerable…

Michael Sheldrick

Michael Sheldrick

Michael Sheldrick is a policy entrepreneur, author and a driving force behind the efforts of Global Citizen to end extreme poverty and build climate resilience. As a Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact, and Government Affairs Officer, he has mobilized over $43 billion in support for healthcare, education and climate from governments, businesses, and foundations. Michael is…

The International Risk Podcast- Global aid

When the Money Stops: Rethinking Development in a Shifting Global Landscape

Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt Foreign aid, long considered a cornerstone of international development and diplomacy, is now undergoing a seismic transformation. In recent months, the global aid landscape has been dramatically reshaped by sweeping budget cuts, the closure of USAID, and a reallocation of funds toward defense spending in major donor countries like the United…