Dr. Aaron Winter (BA Hons. York; MA Warwick, DPhil Sussex) is Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Race and Anti-Racism), Deputy Doctoral Director and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI) at Lancaster University. He previously taught at the Universities of Brighton, Sussex, Abertay and East London. His research is on the…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Today we are cutting through the noise to tackle one of the most urgent and uncomfortable realities of our time: how hate has gone mainstream. From anonymous forums to prime-time politics, far-right extremism is no longer a fringe threat — it’s a digital, cultural, and political force shaping our democracies. Dominic…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 19.05.2025 In recent years, the revival of Norse and Germanic pagan traditions, often termed Heathenry or Ásatrú, has sparked global fascination. With roots in pre-Christian spirituality, this resurgence is more than a historical curiosity; it’s an evolving movement rich with myth, ritual, and cultural heritage. Yet, this revival faces a…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Today we are discussing Pagan Extremism, and especially Norse Paganism. Dominic and Ross Downing dive into how Norse paganism is being hijacked by white separatists and radical influencers, how the pagan extremism evolves, and how communities fight back to reclaim meaning and identity from the clutches of hate. Ross Downing is…
Ross Downing is an affiliate researcher of UK non-profit organisation Inform, and a registered subject matter expert with the EU knowledge hub on prevention of radicalisation. Ross specialises in extremist ideologies. He is co-editor of the book Germanic & Slavic Paganisms: security threats and resiliency with Kaarina Aitamurto, published January 2025 on Bloomsbury Academic Press.
Written by Elisa Garbil – 04.04.2025 Our first Book review & a vital one for risk professionals and concerned citizens alike! If you know me, you know I love books, and not just for the pleasure of reading, but for their power to expose threats, shift perspectives, and sharpen our understanding of risk. While I believe…
In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Julia Ebner, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford. As one of the foremost experts in extremism and radicalisation, Julia shares insights from her decade-long research, including…
Julia Ebner is an Austrian researcher, author, and leading expert in extremism and radicalisation studies, based in London and Oxford. Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, she developed an early interest in extremism during her academic career. Her educational background is extensive and international, completing her undergraduate studies with both a BA in Philosophy and…
In a revealing discussion on The International Risk Podcast, terrorism experts Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware shed light on the transforming landscape of far-right extremism and its growing implications for global security. Their insights, drawn from their recent book God, Guns, and Sedition, present a concerning picture of how traditional extremist movements have evolved in…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 17.10.2024 With the US Elections coming up comes the discussion of the influence of the far-right. To be precise, the ALT-Right and the NRx. This rise leads to numerous risks, one of them being the denial of climate change and Environmental Social Governance (hereinafter ESG). Roger Burrows claims that the…
