In this episode Dominic Bowen speaks with Shayan Talabany, Senior Analyst and Advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, about shifting U.S. strategies in the Middle East and what they mean for governance, security, and economic opportunity across the region. They explore how the U.S. retreat from interventionism is reshaping regional power balances,…
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…
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…
In this compelling episode of The International Risk Podcast, we are joined by Professor S. Michael Lynk, renowned legal scholar and former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory. Together, we dive deep into the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark ruling in the South Africa v. Israel case, which declared…
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…
Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt The fall of the Assad regime represents a pivotal moment in Syria’s history, marking the end of over five decades of authoritarian rule and raising significant questions about international governance, geopolitical risks, and the broader stability of the Middle East.This transformative event comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension, with…
In this week’s midweek episode, we explore the institutional and socioeconomic risks and opportunities facing Syria in the aftermath of the Assad regime. Joined by Zaki Mehchy, we delve into the critical steps that both the international community and Syria’s next government must prioritize in the coming years. From resilience-building and community engagement to targeted…
Zaki Mehchy is a policy fellow at London School of Economics and Political Science Conflict and Civicness Research Group (CCRG), a researcher at the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep) and a co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research. Zaki has dedicated his career to advancing development policies and addressing the complex socio-economic…
