.png)
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
44 episodes
Yemen: Who are the Houthis and what do they want?
Who are the Houthis and what do they want? As the Houthis advance in Yemen and Saudi Arabia takes missile and drone hits, the forces meant to stop them are collapsing — with some units reportedly made up of nearly 80% ghost soldiers who exist o...
The world’s most shocking violence — and why you’re ignoring it
In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills go beyond the headlines to break down extreme violence worldwide. From cartel massacres in Mexico to gang killings in Haiti's Kenshoff, Houthi atta...
.jpg)
Is the US running out of missiles?
The US is using missiles and air-defence interceptors across multiple fronts — from the war with Iran and protecting bases in the Middle East to years of support for Ukraine. But can American weapons production keep up with demand?In thi...
.png)
Who controls the Strait of Hormuz? Iran, Trump and the next global flashpoint
Donald Trump says the US has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is threatening ships, US interests and countries that support Washington. The Houthis are putting pressure on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping. And cyber attacks are br...
.png)
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 globa...
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.
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 conteste...
.png)
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...
.png)
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 R...
.png)
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...
.png)
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 ...
.png)
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 retaliate...
.png)
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...
.png)
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 ne...
.png)
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 br...
.png)
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, w...
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 o...
.png)
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 expos...
.png)
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 CE...
.png)
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 Wi...
.png)
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 elsew...
.png)
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, ...
.png)
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...
.png)
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...
.png)