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The world is in turmoil — from wars in Europe and the Middle East, to political crises, violent protests, and rising global unrest.
Conflicts of Interest goes beyond the headlines to explain the forces shaping today’s conflicts. Hosted by conflict experts Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd, this fortnightly podcast unpacks wars, protests, political violence, and international power struggles with clarity and context.
No drama, no sensationalism — just what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the bigger picture. For listeners who want to understand war, politics, and global conflict without the noise, Conflicts of Interest makes sense of a world on edge.
Brought to you by ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)
15 Episodes
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As the war around Iran continues to widen, attention is turning to the network of militias linked to Tehran across the region. In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Prof. Clionadh Raleigh is joined by ACLED experts Dr Luca Nevola and Bassel Doueik to unpack what’s happening on two key fronts: Yemen and Lebanon. Why has Hezbollah escalated from Lebanon, while the Houthis appear to be holding back? What role do these groups play in Iran’s regional strategy, and how might their decisions sha...
The Iran war is more than a regional conflict. In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Bron Mills and ACLED CEO Clionadh Raleigh examine how the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding beyond the battlefield, affecting global energy markets, regional alliances, oil supply and the wider international system. They discuss the growing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, where threats to shipping and oil supply are raising global economic concerns, as well as the continue...
As strikes between Iran, Israel, and the United States continue, the conflict is entering a dangerous new phase. What began as an exchange of missile attacks is quickly evolving into a broader regional confrontation with global consequences. In this emergency episode of Conflict of Interest, ACLED CEO Clionadh Raleigh and media relations manager Bron Mills break down what the first ten days of the war reveal about strategy, escalation, and the risks ahead. They discuss why this conflict has s...
What happens when strikes, assassinations, and internal unrest collide inside one of the Middle East's most powerful states? In this emergency episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and ACLED Media Relations Manager Bron Mills break down the rapidly escalating crisis in Iran — from US and Israeli strikes on military infrastructure and senior leadership, to instability rippling into Iraq and Kurdish regions. As insurgent groups seize new opportunities and regional tensi...
What happens when the killing of Iran’s supreme leader sends shockwaves across an already volatile region? In this emergency episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh is joined by ACLED Media Relations Manager Bron Mills to unpack the explosive developments in Iran and the wider Middle East following this weekend’s strikes. What do leadership decapitation, regional retaliation, and rising tensions mean for the trajectory of conflict — and how far could the fallout spread? T...
What happens when the death of a cartel leader reshapes violence across an entire country? In this special episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd are joined by ACLED Senior analyst for Latin America, Sandra Pellegrini to unpack the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — “El Mencho” — and the power vacuum already fuelling violence in Mexico. What comes next for cartel control, security forces, and Mexico’s wider conflict landscape? Watch tomorrow’s ...
Ukraine: Frozen frontlines. Frozen homes. Four years into the war, territorial change is minimal, but renewed strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have left civilians freezing. Ranked the deadliest country in the world by ACLED’s Conflict Index, the conflict is increasingly shaped by drones and attacks far from the battlefield. Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd break down what people still don’t understand about Ukraine today. #UkraineWar #RussiaUkraineWar #Ukraine4YearsOn For more...
What happens when Gulf rivalries travel far beyond the Middle East — and into Africa’s most fragile regions? In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd unpack how Saudi Arabia and the UAE are shaping conflicts across the Horn of Africa, from Yemen to Sudan, often through non-state actors, proxy forces, and economic leverage. The conversation explores why Saudi Arabia is frequently framed as a stabilising power, how the UAE’s interventions have c...
Who decides war and peace in Gaza, and how much power does political leadership hold? In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd examine the rise of the Board of Peace and ask whether global decision-making over conflict is being centralised, with Donald Trump taking the lead. Using Gaza as a reference point, the conversation explores how current peace efforts are shaped by political leadership choices, imposed timelines, economic fixes, and eli...
President Trump said his New Years Resolution was "peace on earth" ... others suggest it's "world domination" The US president told the New York Times that there is only one thing that can limit his global power: his own morality, adding that he does not need international law. In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd unpack what it means when global power is framed as a personal choice rather than a political or legal constraint. They explore...
2025 marked a turning point in global conflict — not because violence suddenly appeared, but because it reached a scale, spread, and persistence that now feels like a new normal. In this year-end episode of Conflicts of Interest, Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd look back at what 2025 revealed about political violence around the world. Drawing on data and analysis from ACLED, they unpack where violence was most concentrated, how it evolved across regions, and why civilians f...
With help from President Trump and Nicki Minaj, recent headlines have raised alarm about the safety of Christian communities in Nigeria, with claims that Christians are being deliberately targeted amid worsening insecurity. These narratives have travelled quickly … shaping political debate, international responses, and public understanding. But do they reflect the full picture of violence in the country? In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Cai...
Comedian Simon Brodkin once asked, ‘If I had a phone, am I more or less likely to make a call than someone without one?’ In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd unpack the narratives around gun violence and political violence in the United States, and interrogate where they come from. Drawing on data and analysis from ACLED, the hosts explore the distinction between political violence and criminal gun violence, and why the two are so...
Across the world, Gen Z are showing up in the streets. From mass demonstrations to sudden protest waves, young people are repeatedly mobilizing against governments they see as unresponsive, corrupt, or simply irrelevant to their lives. But a harder question lingers beneath the headlines: do these protests actually achieve anything? In this episode, Prof. Caitriona Raleigh and Dr Caitriona Dowd discuss the political impact of contemporary Gen Z protest. Pushing back against both romanticized n...
Get a front-row seat as two friends attempt to put the world to rights — and just happen to be world-leading experts on political violence. Conflicts of Interest, the podcast by ACLED, is coming soon. Be sure to follow so you never miss an episode. For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube. Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest o...
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