Dr. Aaron Winter

Aaron Winter

Dr. Aaron Winter (BA Hons. York; MA Warwick, DPhil Sussex) is Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Race and Anti-Racism), Deputy Doctoral Director and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI) at Lancaster University. He previously taught at the Universities of Brighton, Sussex, Abertay and East London. His research is on the…

online, extremism, apps, instagram, Facebook, google, linkedin, x, twitter

Mainstreaming Hate: How Right-Wing Extremism Became a Digital and Political Force

Written by Elisa Garbil – 22.05.2025 In recent years, right-wing extremism has evolved from fringe ideology into a persistent force that influences public discourse, political behaviour, and even policy. The transition from the margins to the mainstream hasn’t happened by accident. It’s the result of a complex interplay between online radicalisation, conspiracy thinking, and the…

Episode 233: What Can Sociology Say about Right-Wing Extremism and the Mainstreaming of Racism and the Far-Right with Aaron Winter

Today we are cutting through the noise to tackle one of the most urgent and uncomfortable realities of our time: how hate has gone mainstream. From anonymous forums to prime-time politics, far-right extremism is no longer a fringe threat — it’s a digital, cultural, and political force shaping our democracies. Dominic and Aaron discuss:  Dr. Aaron…

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…

The International Risk Podcast Mexico and the USMCA

Mexico’s Risks: Internal Challenges and External Pressures in International Trade

Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt Last week with Joshua Meltzer, we discussed the intricate dynamics of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in our podcast, exploring the relevance for the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, and the importance of a unified, aligned trade approach toward China. While the USMCA fosters a shared framework for trade, each country faces…

Episode 203: Mexico’s USMCA Challenges: Governance, Trade Risks, and Economic Pressures with Juan Carlos Machorro

This midweek, Dominic Bowen welcomes Juan Carlos Machorro to The International Risk Podcast to dive into the complexities of the USMCA. Together, they discuss the origins of the agreement, the critical elements of the 2026 Joint Review, the implications of Mexico’s judicial reforms, Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, and the urgent need to strengthen Mexico-Canada trade…

Juan Carlos Machorro

Juan Carlos Machorro

Juan Carlos is the leader of Santamarina y Steta’s transactional and financial practice area, with 30 years of experience advising various national and international organizations on the development and implementation of investment and financing projects in Mexico. His areas of expertise include Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Finance and Infrastructure. His talent, practical and business acumen, and…

man looking at phone

Misinformation and Misogyny: How two seemingly different areas are interlinked

Written by Elisa Garbil – 04.11.2024 With the US elections around the corner, and the September decision by the British government to make extreme misogyny a crime, we dive into misinformation and its implications with Professor Sander van der Linden in episode 182. Misinformation explained Misinformation is misleading or incorrect information, it can exist without…