Conflicts of Interest

About 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).

Publisher

ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Nov 2025

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

52 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   Halloween Special: Ghost Armies and the art of deception

   They don't exist — but they get paid. And they leave real front lines empty. In this Halloween special, Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills breaks down the phenomenon of modern ghost armies: not spirits, but fraud. Commanders list soldiers who never served, pocket their salaries, and report full strength while military units are hollowed out. From Yemen and Iraq to Russia and China, how does military payroll fraud work, why does it persist, and what can ACLED data tell us about where these ...

2. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Conflicts Of Interest Trailer | ACLED

   What’s really driving the world’s conflicts? What are we missing? And what questions should we be asking? Every week, and sometimes in between, Conflicts of Interest goes beyond the headlines to challenge assumptions, unpack the data, and make sense of what’s happening around the world. Next week marks our 50th episode! From the biggest international crises to the stories that barely make the news, Conflicts of Interest brings together ACLED CEO Prof. Clionadh Raleigh, a world-lea...

3. 

   21 Oct 2026

   France riots explained: Is Europe reaching boiling point?

   France averages 20 protests a day. Right now it's 65 — and 1 in 4 is a riot. No spin. Just the data. Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills explain why French school funding protests turned into 43 days of national unrest across 800 locations, with mass arrests, shuttered schools, and Yellow Vests back on the streets. Why austerity, debt, and collapsing public services broke Macron's centrist bargain — and why Le Pen benefits without answers. Plus: Yemen’s renewed Houthi-Saudi fighting and $6B...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

4.1 / 5

17 ratings

Contact Conflicts of Interest

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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