Scott Ernest is a former white nationalist recruiter and activist, most notable for being a moderator on the white nationalist forum Stormfront, as well as a recruiter for the now-defunct organisation Pioneer Little Europe Kalispell. He was also a member of the Oath Keepers, Asatru Folk Assembly, and several other groups. He exited the white…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 26.01.2025 Right-wing extremism is a persistent and evolving threat that manifests across multiple social, institutional, and digital contexts. Unlike general criminal activity, right-wing extremism is ideologically driven, rooted in exclusionary nationalism, racial or ethnic supremacy, anti-immigration sentiment, and conspiratorial frameworks. Its influence extends beyond isolated acts of violence, affecting institutional integrity, societal…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In this episode, we hear from Scott Ernest about his journey into far-right extremism, exploring the factors that drew him in, including fear, wedge issues, and the influence of social media and conspiracy theories. He also reflects on how the far-right ecosystem has evolved and the unique challenges faced by…
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,…
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…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 10.11.2025 Across the dry savannahs that stretch from Mauritania to Chad, the Sahel stands as one of the world’s most fragile regions. A place where political instability, violent extremism, displacement, and climate stress are converging into a perfect storm. Once viewed mainly as a buffer between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil The Sahel stands at a crossroad, it is torn by crisis, instability, and shifting power. Join Dr. Jessica Moody and Dominic Bowen as they dive deep into the region’s unfolding humanitarian emergency. What does ECOWAS’s withdrawal mean for the people? How is Russian influence rewriting the rules? And why are jihadist groups gaining ground?…
Dr. Jessica Moody is a political risk, due diligence and peacebuilding consultant in West Africa. She conducts open source and on the ground research into political, economic and security developments in West Africa and provides timely forecasts as well as scenario planning to clients, enabling them to better plan their operations. She also provides detailed…
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,…
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…
