Ross Downing is an affiliate researcher of UK non-profit organisation Inform, and a registered subject matter expert with the EU knowledge hub on prevention of radicalisation. Ross specialises in extremist ideologies. He is co-editor of the book Germanic & Slavic Paganisms: security threats and resiliency with Kaarina Aitamurto, published January 2025 on Bloomsbury Academic Press.
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Today we are discussing Pagan Extremism, and especially Norse Paganism. Dominic and Ross Downing dive into how Norse paganism is being hijacked by white separatists and radical influencers, how the pagan extremism evolves, and how communities fight back to reclaim meaning and identity from the clutches of hate. Ross Downing is…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 19.05.2025 In recent years, the revival of Norse and Germanic pagan traditions, often termed Heathenry or Ásatrú, has sparked global fascination. With roots in pre-Christian spirituality, this resurgence is more than a historical curiosity; it’s an evolving movement rich with myth, ritual, and cultural heritage. Yet, this revival faces a…
This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza to discuss Europe’s evolving security landscape and its quest for strategic autonomy in the face of rising geopolitical tensions. As Europe confronts the growing threat from Russia and the shifting priorities of the United States under Trump, the continent…
As Kyiv Stands Firm, The USA Wavers: Why Resilience in Ukraine Is a Blueprint, and Trump’s Concessions Are a Warning To Europe This week, our host Dominic Bowen recorded a video in Kyiv. Minutes before filming, two Russian missile were launched. The air raid sirens were hard to ignore, but life on the streets resumed…
The Ukrainians are acutely aware that the odds are stacked against them. And they also understand that Russia’s invasion and the international risks represent an existential threat to their nation, their people, and the rest of Europe. This helps to explain the remarkable resilience displayed by Ukraine’s army and Ukrainian society as a whole. Faced…
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Marion Messmer, a senior research fellow in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Dr. Messmer discusses the deterioration of Russia’s relationship with the West, the importance of protecting NATO member’s critical infrastructure, arms control, nuclear risk reduction, and the significance of continued international cooperation. Before joining…
Dr. Messmer discusses the deterioration of Russia’s relationship with the West, the importance of protecting NATO member’s critical infrastructure, arms control, nuclear risk reduction and the significance of continued international co-operation. Before joining Chatham House, Marion was the Co-Director of BASIC, where she led on the organisation’s nuclear risk reduction and disarmament work. She is…
Dr. Leila Alieva is an Associate of Russian and East European Studies (REES) at the Oxford University School for Global and Area Studies. She also teaches a course on the Political Economy of Energy Transition at Oxford’s Department of Continued Education and is currently working with Friends of Europe. Originally from Azerbaijan, Dr. Alieva founded…
We are all aware of the international risks associated with autocratic regimes and their implementation of hard power tactics to exert control. History is riddled with examples and unfortunately, we just have to turn on the news to witness it in present times; look at the Assad regime in Syria, Kim Jong Un’s totalitarian methods…
