In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Shayan Talabany, Senior Analyst and Advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, about the profound shifts underway in the Middle East. From U.S. retrenchment and recalibrated alliances to the pressures of youth unemployment, nationalism, and the war in Gaza, Talabany…
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…
