Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of Interest is a fortnightly podcast that examines global conflicts, from wars in Europe and the Middle East to political crises and protests. Hosted by ACLED founder and conflict expert Professor Clionadh Raleigh, the show features a rotating cast of specialists who provide clear analysis without sensationalism. It aims to help listeners understand the forces shaping today's conflicts and how they fit into the bigger picture.
Episodes
Trump, Putin, Kim: The global alliances YOU need to know about
Who can still rely on the United States — and which countries are building new alliances instead?From Donald Trump’s approach to Kim Jong Un and South Korea, to the growing partnership between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, the global alliance map is shifting.In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, prof Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills connect the dots between some of the biggest geopolitical
Did India’s ‘Cockroach’ protesters just crack the Modi government?
India’s ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ protest movement has claimed a major victory, forcing the resignation of the country’s education minister — the first cabinet minister to resign under public pressure in 12 years of Narendra Modi’s government.ACLED’s Pearl Pandya joins Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills to ask why this movement succeeded where others have failed, whether India’s young protesters
Who is really in charge in Venezuela?
Two years after Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election — and months after Nicolás Maduro was removed from power — who is really running the country?Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills are joined by ACLED’s Tiziano Breda to trace how the contested election helped pave the way for Maduro’s downfall and examine the uneasy system that has replaced him. Delcy Rodríguez remains in power, the opposition is still
Why is Ukraine targeting Iran? And can Europe stop lone-actor attacks?
What does Ukraine’s reported strike on an Iranian cargo ship tell us about the expanding war — and was it really a message to Donald Trump?Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills unpack why Ukraine may be taking the fight beyond Russia, what Iran’s threat of retaliation means, and where the Houthis fit into the conflict.Plus, after an attack at a Pride event in Berlin, they look at Europe’s chan
Far right, far left: The widening abyss between extremes
While political leaders frame left-wing extremism as the rising domestic terror threat, the actual data (who commits violence, against whom, and why) points in a more uncomfortable direction.This week on Conflicts of Interest, Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills break down what ACLED's data reveals about political violence in the United States and beyond:Is the far left genuinely becoming a great
Inside Myanmar's War: Drones, China & Why nobody's winning
This week on Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills are joined by ACLED's Myanmar expert, Su Mon, to examine why Myanmar's civil war won't end anytime soon despite sweeping early resistance gains.They break down the fractured battlefield of hundreds of armed groups, the military stalemate between the junta and opposition forces, and how drones, improvised a
The Sudan war explained: Siege, drones, and regional power struggles
This week on Conflict of Interests, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills are joined by ACLED's Sudan expert, Nohad Khaddaj, to examine why Sudan's war remains deadlocked despite mounting diplomatic pressure.They break down the siege of Al Obeid, the military stalemate between the SAF and RSF, and how drones, foreign backing, and regional rivalries are reshaping the battlefield. The
Iran attacked: What the weekend strikes reveal and Britain's anti-migration moment
The Islamabad Memorandum was signed barely two weeks ago. Sanctions relief and $24 billion in unfrozen funds have already reached Tehran. So when an Iranian drone struck a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz this weekend, the US retaliated within hours — and both sides immediately agreed to "stand down for now." Is the MoU already dead — or is Tehran simply testing how far it can p
Iran deal confusion, Starmer out, Colombia’s rightward shift, and UK anti-migration anger
The talks are “looking good”, according to Washington. Iran wants sanctions relief, Trump looks desperate to get out, and Israel is still not convinced. So is the Iran war actually ending — or is Tehran walking away with the money, the leverage, and most of the cards?This week, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron unpack the latest US-Iran talks in Switzerland, why the reopening of the Strait of Ho
Is this the end of the Iran war?
The US says a deal is close. Iran wants sanctions relief. Israel isn't convinced. So is the Iran war actually ending, or are we just entering a new phase?This week, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills unpack the latest ceasefire negotiations, why Pakistan has become a key diplomatic player, what reopening the Strait of Hormuz really means, and why peace agreements can be far more fragil
The Horn of Africa Crisis the West is getting completely wrong
The Horn of Africa is the most consequential and least understood region in the world right now and Western analysis is making it worse.In this episode, ACLED founder Professor Clionadh Raleigh is joined by ACLED's regional experts to break down dynamics in Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.Russia and China are watching. But it's the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are in the room, funding
Iran talks: The real stakes no one is talking about
The peace talks continue between Iran and the U.S, but who actually wants a deal, and what does "winning" even mean for each side? Professor Clionadh Raleigh chats with Bron Mills about the real strategic interests at play: what the US needs, what Iran's leadership can actually accept, and what the regional picture looks like if talks collapse or succeed.Then: what is the point from
Peace Talks & Trust Issues: Iran, Russia, and the Wars With No End in Sight
On this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills catch up on Day 88 of the Iran war — a moment defined more by paralysis than progress.They unpack Iran's internet blackout, finally ending after months of restrictions, what it reveals about Tehran's grip on internal dissent, and why the latest round of US-Iran peace talks remains trapped in a web of comp
Escalation, Ebola and Extremism: Can anyone keep up?
The world is moving so quickly it is becoming harder to know where to look first. Iran remains on edge around the Strait of Hormuz. Ebola is spreading through one of the DRC’s most militarized regions. And attacks on places of worship are exposing the messy overlap between extremism, antisemitism, misogyny, and political violence.In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh
The attention war: ceasefire one minute, missiles the next
As headlines swing wildly between ceasefire talks, missile strikes, diplomatic breakthroughs and fresh retaliation, this episode of Conflicts of Interest explores the growing sense of global confusion surrounding modern conflict.ACLED CEO Prof. Clionadh Raleigh is joined by Bron Mills to unpack the “attention war” shaping how conflicts are understood online, where algorithms, viral misinformation
Drone proliferation: The Ukraine effect
Ukraine has produced millions of drones and lost thousands more — and that hard-won expertise is now in high demand. In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, ACLED CEO Professor Clionadh Raleigh and ACLED Ukraine expert Witold Stupnicki unpack how Kyiv is exporting its drone warfare knowledge to Gulf states, why a $50 drone can outmanoeuvre a $3 million missile, and what that means for the future
Sudan’s next phase of war: fragmentation, spillover, and foreign patrons
As Sudan’s war enters its fourth year, the conflict is not fading — it is evolving, driven by shifting alliances, war economies, and regional opportunism that could reshape the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. While global attention is fixed elsewhere, the forces sustaining this war, from Gulf rivalries to cross-border militia networks, are evolving in ways that extend instability far beyond Sudan’s
The world Iran left overlooked: assassination attempts, suicide bombings, and shifting alliances
An assassination attempt on the US president.A surge of coordinated attacks in Mali.Rising violence in Chad.Continued fighting in Lebanon.As the Iran war reaches 60 days, what’s emerging isn’t a clear path forward, but a global landscape shaped by distraction, opportunism, and escalation. While attention remains fixed on Iran, violence elsewhere is accelerating — often with far less scrutiny.In th
Inside the world’s deadliest terror zone
JNIM. Islamic State Sahel Province. Boko Haram.These are the groups driving a surge in violence across the Sahel—now the world’s deadliest region for terrorism.Across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, attacks are escalating at a pace that outstrips every other region globally. Coups, foreign troop withdrawals, and weakening state control have created space for militant groups to expand, adapt, and en
No deal, no passage: Inside the blockade reshaping the Middle East
Six weeks into the Iran conflict, the tides are shifting rapidly—and the stakes could not be higher. As the U.S. and Israel escalate their military posture, threatening to impose a naval blockade on Iran, a new chapter in regional power plays is unfolding—one that could redefine control over the Strait of Hormuz and the entire Persian Gulf. In this episode of Conflict of Interest, ACLED CEO Profes
IRAN WAR: Iran Ceasefire Explained: How can everyone claim victory?
A ceasefire has been announced in the Iran war — but is this really de-escalation, or a strategic defeat for the United States and its allies?In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, ACLED CEO Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills break down the fragile Iran ceasefire, the unanswered questions around the deal, and why control of the Strait of Hormuz could leave Tehran in a stronger position t
IRAN WAR: Everyone loses if this ends now
President Trump said the Iran war objectives ‘near completion’ in a televised speech last night - But what does that actually mean?In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, ACLED CEO Clionadh Raleigh unpacks the latest developments in the Iran war with ACLED’s Media Manager, Bron Mills — from Iran’s leverage over key shipping routes to the limits of Israel’s decapitation strategy.They also explore
IRAN WAR: What will the Houthis do next?
The Iran war took another turn this weekend as Yemen’s Houthi movement officially entered the conflict, launching missile attacks against Israel and outlining new red lines that could pull more actors into the fight.In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, ACLED CEO Clionadh Raleigh is joined by ACLED's Yemen expert Dr Luca Nevola to unpack what the Houthis’ decision means for the region. Wh
IRAN WAR: One month. Global fallout. What comes next?
One month into the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the focus is often on the battlefield. But wars rarely stay confined to one region.In this special extended edition of Conflicts of Interest, ACLED founder and CEO Clionadh Raleigh brings together regional experts from across the organisation to examine how the conflict is already reshaping dynamics far beyond the Middle East.From
IRAN WAR: Is a ground invasion next?
As the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran approaches its first month, the question many analysts are now asking is whether the conflict could escalate beyond airstrikes. With thousands of U.S. troops moving into the region and growing speculation about operations around the Strait of Hormuz, talk of a possible ground invasion is no longer hypothetical. In this episode of Conflicts of
IRAN WAR: Why Lebanon’s Hezbollah escalated while the Houthis held back
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
IRAN WAR: The regional war with global consequences
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 t
IRAN WAR: This is World War III
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
IRAN WAR: A case of who blinks first in the Middle East?
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 rip
IRAN WAR: Is this the start of a war in the Middle East?
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, an
El Mencho: Mexico’s most wanted is dead — Now what?
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 nex
4 years later, Ukraine’s War looks nothing like you think
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 stil
This Saudi–UAE rift is bigger than it looks
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 w
Gaza, Power, and the Board of Peace
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
“Only my morality can stop me”: Trump, power, and the end of restraint
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
2025: when global violence hit the fan
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 unpac
What's happening to Christians in Nigeria?
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 c
Is the US really becoming more violent?
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
Gen Z protests: Political leverage or just loud feelings?
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 disc
Trailer
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
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