Conflicts of Interest

ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY

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).

  1. IRAN WAR: One month. Global fallout. What comes next?

    2D AGO

    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 Lebanon and Iraq to the Gulf and beyond, the panel explores how the war is spreading through alliances, militias, political networks, and economic pressures, and where new risks could emerge if escalation continues. 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 on TikTok?

    46 min
  2. IRAN WAR: Is a ground invasion next?

    4D AGO

    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 Interest, Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills unpack the headlines dominating the media: Trump’s ultimatums over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating strikes on energy infrastructure, and rumours of a new phase of the war. Could a ground operation actually happen — and if so, what would it look like? Drawing on ACLED’s real-time conflict data, they explore:  why airstrikes alone may not achieve strategic objectives  what a limited ground operation in southern Iran or around key maritime chokepoints might involve  how control of global energy routes is shaping the war  and why the search for a “silver bullet” in modern conflicts almost always fails. They also examine the wider ripple effects already unfolding — from protests across the world to attacks and tensions emerging far beyond the Middle East. Because if this war has shown anything so far, it’s that escalation rarely follows the script — and there is no quick end in sight. 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 on TikTok?

    30 min
  3. IRAN WAR: Why Lebanon’s Hezbollah escalated while the Houthis held back

    MAR 18

    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? What role do these groups play in Iran’s regional strategy, and how might their decisions shape the next phase of the conflict? Drawing on ACLED data and regional expertise, the team explains how these militias operate, what they are watching for, and what their next moves could mean for the wider war.   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 on TikTok?

    33 min
  4. IRAN WAR: The regional war with global consequences

    MAR 16

    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 threats to shipping and oil supply are raising global economic concerns, as well as the continued strikes targeting military infrastructure inside Iran. The conversation explores: Why the conflict is widening rather than slowingHow disruptions to oil and shipping could affect the global economyWhy countries like the UK, Japan, Australia and the EU are hesitant to become involvedand what “success” actually looks like for the actors involved in the war.As the conflict spreads across the region and its consequences ripple outward, one thing is becoming clear: the impact of this war is being felt far beyond the Middle East. 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 on TikTok?

    21 min
  5. IRAN WAR: This is World War III

    MAR 9

    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 war reveal about strategy, escalation, and the risks ahead. They discuss why this conflict has spread across more countries faster than almost any modern war, how missile and drone attrition could shape the battlefield, and what Iran’s new leadership means for the direction of the conflict. The conversation also explores the role of the IRGC, the limits of air power, and why running out of weapons may matter less than running out of political will. Finally, they tackle the question many people around the world are asking: Are we witnessing the early stages of a world war? 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 on TikTok?

    22 min
  6. IRAN WAR: A case of who blinks first in the Middle East?

    MAR 4

    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 rippling into Iraq and Kurdish regions. As insurgent groups seize new opportunities and regional tensions deepen, Iran is also contending with a crisis within: economic hardship, political repression, and a frustrated public pushing from below. What role will militias play? How are global actors responding? And what does the next phase look like? Tune in to understand the forces behind one of the most consequential crises in the Middle East today. #Iran #MiddleEast #ConflictAnalysis #ACLED #ConflictsOfInterest For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch full episodes on YouTube. 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 on TikTok?

    23 min
  7. IRAN WAR: Is this the start of a war in the Middle East?

    MAR 1

    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, and rising tensions mean for the trajectory of conflict — and how far could the fallout spread? Tune in to today’s emergency episode to find out. #Iran #MiddleEast #IranCrisis #ConflictAnalysis #ACLED 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 on TikTok?

    19 min
  8. El Mencho: Mexico’s most wanted is dead — Now what?

    FEB 24 ·  BONUS

    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 next for cartel control, security forces, and Mexico’s wider conflict landscape? Watch tomorrow’s emergency episode to find out. #Mexico #CartelViolence #ElMencho #ConflictAnalysis #ACLED #ConflictsOfInterest 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 on TikTok?

    19 min
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About

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).

Information

  • Creator
    ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Conflicts of Interest
  • Show Website
    Conflicts of Interest

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