Oleg Ignatov

As Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for Russia, Oleg Ignatov focuses on the country’s domestic affairs as well as Moscow’s role in conflicts around the world. Oleg has previously worked as a leading expert at the Center for Current Policy in Moscow, as a political consultant, and in various roles at the United Russia party. He…

Navigating Geopolitical Risks in 2024

As we progress through 2024, European business leaders face an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. The International Risk Podcast explores the current geopolitical risks, with a focus on tensions in key regions and the escalating power struggles between major global players. Understanding these risks is crucial for developing strategies to navigate them effectively. The Geopolitical Environment…

Episode 161: Examining Russia’s Evolving Global Position with Mathieu Boulegue

Over the last few months, we have spoken a great deal about Russia, both its current illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as the recent elections in Russia. For a huge part of modern history, Russia’s actions, both domestic and internationally, have had a huge ripple effect over the rest of the world, particularly within…

Mathieu Boulegue

Mathieu Boulegue is a freelance researcher and consultant in international conflict and security affairs, with a focus on the Former Soviet Union and on polar affairs. He is a Consulting Fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House – The Royal Institute of International Affairs as well as Non-resident Senior Fellow with the…

Episode 160: Misinformation, An Exploration of Its Tail Risks With Stephen Lewandowsky

The way in which we find information has changed over the last few decades, and with this change, we have foregone much of the reliability of the information we immerse ourselves in.   Misinformation, often referred to as false or inaccurate information, has become a prevalent issue in the digital age. With the rapid growth…

Stephan Lewandowsky

Professor Stephan Lewandowsky is a cognitive scientist at the University of Bristol whose main interest is in the pressure points between the architecture of online information technologies and human cognition, and the consequences for democracy that arise from those pressure points. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including a Discovery Outstanding Researcher…

The 2024 Russian Elections – What Are the Risks of Another Putin Presidency?

Following the Russian elections last weekend, Vladimir won his third  consecutive, and fifth overall presidential term, securing 88% of the vote on Sunday. Whilst many would assume that another term of Putin’s presidency is sure to be more of the same, our recent conversations with Ben Dubow and Ambassador John Herbst  indicated that, amidst a…

Ambassador John E. Herbst

Ambassador John E. Herbst is senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and served for thirty-one years as a foreign service officer in the US Department of State, retiring at the rank of career minister. He was US ambassador to Ukraine from 2003 to 2006, when he worked to enhance US-Ukrainian relations, help ensure the conduct of…

Episode 153: Putin’s Presidency, Russia’s Aggression on Ukraine, and the Prospect of a Drumpf Presidency -Is There a New Axis of Evil? with Ambassador John E. Herbst

Last week, we heard from Ben Dubow, who gave us some fascinating insights into how he sees Putin’s next presidential term playing out and the implications of who comes second in the Russian presidential elections.   This week, we thought it crucial to hear from someone who has real world experience in international diplomacy, Ambassador…

Episode 152: Putin’s Next Term as President – An Insight into the Risks Surrounding the 2024 Russian Elections with Ben Dubow

As we step into 2024, a critical year for democracy worldwide, the stage is set for 64 national elections, marking an unprecedented turnout at the polls. The backdrop is a canvas of escalating international tensions, the daunting specter of climate change, and stretched thin inter-governmental organizations like the UN and NATO. In a year of…