Paul Hockenos

Paul Hockenos

Paul Hockenos is a Berlin-based writer and political analyst who has been working in Germany and across Central and Eastern Europe since 1989. He is the prize-winning author of five books on European politics and culture, and was a fellow at the American Academy in Berlin. His work appears in The Nation, Foreign Policy, Foreign…

Episode 215: Germany’s Election Aftermath: Security, Economy, and Political Shifts with Paul Hockenos

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen welcomes Paul Hockenos to discuss the outcome of the latest German elections, analyzing the distribution of seats and the implications of the AfD’s growing presence as part of the political mainstream. Beyond domestic politics, we will examine Germany’s evolving role within Europe and on the global…

The International Risk Podcast, German Elections

The CDU’s Return to Power: What’s Next for Germany and European Security?

Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt Germany held its elections in late February, resulting in a victory for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its leader, Friedrich Merz, who is set to become the next chancellor. The CDU/CSU alliance secured 28.5% of the vote, reclaiming leadership. However, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains, securing…

Perry Kyles

Perry Kyles

Dr. Perry Kyles is a seasoned expert in economic history and operations, and author of the eye-opening book Gold vs The Banking Cartel: How to Use Gold to Become Your Own Banker. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia and business, and the Operations Manager at The Gold Marketplace LLC, Dr. Kyles challenges conventional…

Episode 214: Perry Kyles on Exposing the Banking Cartels

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In this episode Dominic hosts Perry Kyles as they dive into banking cartels. They discuss what a banking cartel is, what it entails, and what could be a solution. Perry offers the alternative of gold and explains what the benefits are! Dr. Perry Kyles is a seasoned expert in economic…

Gold, Bank

The Risks of Banking Cartels

Written by Elisa Garbil – 10.03.2025 The concept of banking cartels refers to the idea that a group of powerful financial institutions – often both private and public – collaborate to exert control over the global financial system, including the money supply, credit, and interest rates. While the term “banking cartel” is not typically used in formal…

Joshua Z. Walker

Joshua Z. Walker

Joshua Z. Walker is the Director of Programs of the Congo Research Group at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC). He has been working in and researching the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2004. Before joining CIC, he was a research associate at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research in Johannesburg, South Africa. He…

Episode 213: The M23 Rebellion and the Future of Eastern Congo: Conflict and Power Struggles with Joshua Z. Walker

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Joshua Z. Walker to analyze the deepening crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) beyond the commonly discussed issue of resource extraction. With the resurgence of the M23 rebellion, the occupation of key territories, and growing concerns over Rwanda’s involvement, the region…

Artistic wooden map of Africa against dark corrugated background.

DRC Crisis: What to know

Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt In a world where tensions evolve across different regions, keeping up with global events can be overwhelming. At The International Risk Podcast, we believe it is crucial to bring attention to issues that may not always dominate news feeds or social media timelines. Explore our episodes on the situation in El…

Bram Verelst

Bram Verelst

Bram Verelst works at the Institute for Security Studies as Senior Researcher on Conflict Prevention, Management and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region. Before joining the ISS, Bram worked as a research fellow at the Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University, Belgium and as a political analyst for the Belgian Ministry of Defence,…