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…
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.
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 an affiliate researcher of UK…
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…
Recently, an apparent warning was issued to Armenia via the Russian Ambassador. OC Media reported that at the “East-West Confrontation: Ukrainian Dimension. Scenarios for the Future” conference in Yerevan, Sergei Kopyrkin, in reference to Ukraine, advised Armenia that the current situation there: Clearly demonstrates what can happen if a state abandons its own national interests…
Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan is a leading scholar on the foreign and security policies of Turkey and the South Caucasus. He holds a PhD in History from the University of Bergen, with additional degrees from Lund University and the Institute of Oriental Studies in Armenia. A former Fulbright Scholar at UC Berkeley and Visiting Professor at Duke…
In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, we turn our focus to the South Caucasus, where Armenia stands at a critical geopolitical juncture. Our guest is Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the American University of Armenia and a leading voice on regional security and Armenian foreign policy….
Professor Ian Linden formerly taught at the School of Oriental & African Studies in London and is a visiting Professor at St Mary’s University, Strawberry Hill, London. He worked for the Swedish Government in the 1980s liaising with the African National Congress in apartheid South Africa. A past director of the Catholic Institute for International Relations where…
Today we discuss the New Scramble for Africa! Dominic and Ian Linden dive into the differences between the ‘new’ scramble for Africa and the ‘old’ scramble of Africa, how strong the US influence is and whether it is currently weakening – or not, the economic opportunities offered by foreign investments, and much more! Professor Ian Linden formerly taught…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 05.05.2025 The New Scramble for Africa is a term that has gained significant traction in recent years to describe the growing competition among global powers over Africa’s vast resources, strategic locations, and emerging markets. Unlike the colonial-era scramble that saw European powers carving up the continent for territorial domination in…
