Iraq international risks political democratic protests

Democracy Under Siege: Lessons from Iraq and Global Electoral Integrity

ByGeorge Rock

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,…

Season 5 Premiere: Your Questions, Our Answers

ByRima Arrach

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…

Brett Edwards

Dr. Brett Edwards

ByElisa Garbil

Dr. Brett Edwards is currently a Senior Lecturer in Security and Public Policy at the University of Bath. He holds a wide range of interest from technology to governance and security. At the moment he is involved in a number of projects examining the security implications of cutting-edge biotechnology, the governance of biological and chemical…

Episode 193: Chemical and Biological Warfare with Dr. Brett Edwards

ByElisa Garbil

This week on The International Risk Podcast we discuss Chemical and Biological Warfare with Doctor Brett Edwards. We discuss the history of chemical and biological warfare, explaining that it has been around for longer than we thought, and what the international risks are. Then we move onto the current risks, the ongoing wars, and, discuss…

Destroyed Houses in Syria

The Ongoing Conflict in Syria: Israel’s Involvement, Assad’s Brutality, and the Rebellion’s Complexities

ByElisa Garbil

The Syrian civil war, now entering its 13th year, remains one of the most complex and devastating conflicts in modern history. With multiple actors involved and shifting alliances, Syria’s war has not only torn the country apart but also drawn in neighboring states, including Israel. Recent developments, including Israel’s aggressive military actions, the ongoing humanitarian…

Joseph Daher

Joseph Daher

ByElisa Garbil

Joseph Daher, is a Swiss-Syrian academic and activist. He currently teaches at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), and at the University of Ghent (Belgium) and has been an affiliated professor at the European University Institute (EUI). He has worked with the EUI on the conflict in Syria and the aftermath of the war. Herewith Joseph has…

Episode 173: The entanglement of Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Syria with Joseph Daher

ByElisa Garbil

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Joseph Daher and Dominic discuss Lebanese and Israeli relations, the case of Palestine, genocide in Gaza, recent Syrian history, and finally what a solution would be.  Joseph Daher, is a Swiss-Syrian academic and activist. He currently teaches at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), and at the University of Ghent (Belgium) and has been…