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Conflicts of Interest
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 ACLED founder and conflict expert Professor Clionadh Raleigh, and joined by a rotating cast of conflict specialists, regional analysts, and experts in news narratives, 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).
Episodes
22 episodes
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...
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IRAN WAR: 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 p...
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 Bro...
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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 developme...
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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
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 Clion...
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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 grow...
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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 Ne...
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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 battlefiel...
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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.
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 Relatio...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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 Co...
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 t...
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...
“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 ...
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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,...
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 n...
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 t...
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 ha...
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