Dr. Olivia Mason

Dr. Olivia Mason

Dr Olivia Mason is a Lecturer in Political Geography at Newcastle University. Her research explores mobility politics and resource colonialism, with a focus on Jordan and the South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. She is particularly interested in how colonial legacies continue to shape environmental governance, nature, and cultural heritage. Olivia is committed to environmental and social justice and has worked extensively with…

climate change, environmentalism, green washing

Empire of Extraction: The Enduring Environmental Legacy of Colonialism

Written by Elisa Garbil – 12.06.2025 From Nauru to Nigeria, the scars of imperialism are written into the land, the waters, and the air. Understanding these histories is critical in order to address the environmental crises of today properly. The great empires of the colonial era didn’t just redraw the political map, they permanently altered…

Episode 239: Legacies of Colonialism with Dr. Olivia Mason

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Today Dominic Bowen hosts Dr. Olivia Mason. They dive into the intricacies of post-colonial states, environmental collapse and how the colonial era has influenced this collapse, post-colonial neglect, the re-shaping of colonial control in a post-colonial era through for example international conservation efforts, green colonialism as a form of resource…

BRICS Expansion – the risks and the beginnings of a new world order?

In early September, 2023, following the 15th annual BRICS summit, the BRICS nations announced its expansion, inviting Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. These states are set to become members of BRICS at the start of 2024. Whilst some see this expansion to have little effect on the international political…

Behnam Ben Taleblu

Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at FDD, where his primary focus revolves around issues pertaining to Iranian security and politics. He previously held the positions of research fellow and senior Iran analyst at FDD. Prior to his tenure at FDD, Behnam was engaged in non-proliferation matters at a Washington-based think-tank specializing in arms…

Saudi Arabia and Iran’s Peace Accords that Changed the Status Quo

Iran and Saudi Peace Accords On the 10th of March Saudi Arabia and Iran have decided to restore diplomatic ties which would end their long-term rivalry and elevate their liaison into a different parallel. This long term and complex relationship over the years have put geopolitical and regional risk on international politics. Both countries have suffered from…

Episode 118: The new world order and new risks: Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia with Ben Taleblu

The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with risk management specialists from around the world. Our host is Dominic Bowen, originally from Australia, is one of Europe’s leading international risk specialists. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and…