Shows
Hunter's WarInsurgency and Civil War with Prof. David Betzthe In this episode of Hunter’s War, we sit down with Professor David Betz of King's College London for a challenging and potentially uncomfortable conversation about political legitimacy, insurgency, and the fragility of modern Western societies.After what I find to be an interesting overview of the basic concepts of insurgency and some of failures of modern counterinsurgency, we apply those lenses to the domestic unrest growing in Europe and the United States. Professor Betz argues that the indicators for civil war—polar factionalism, "downgrading," and a collapse of faith in the system—are already flashing red.The two es...
2025-12-181h 25Hunter's WarMichelle Haas on European Defense, Strategic Autonomy, and the Russian ThreatThis week, I’m joined by Michelle Haas, a PhD researcher at the University of Ghent focusing on NATO and European defense policy. She is also a fellow at the Egmont Institute, a board member of the Royal Higher Institute for Defense, and an active reservist in the Special Forces.For Dutch speakers, I highly recommend her podcast, de Paniekzaaiers: https://open.spotify.com/show/133zoy8FpiOehF5WA47KLy?si=80af5952da0e4addThe episodes with Jan Balliauw on Russia and, before that, discussing the US potential withdrawal from Europe are great. In this episode, we discuss the precarious st...
2025-10-1647 minHunter's WarFrom Jihad to Politics with Jerome DrevonIn this conversation, Hunter interviews Jerome Drevon, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, about his book 'From Jihad to Politics,' which explores the transformation of Syrian jihadi organizations into political entities. Drevon discusses the complexities of the Syrian Civil War, the evolution of groups like HTS and Ahrar Al-Sham, and the importance of understanding these organizations within their social and political contexts. He emphasizes the significance of field research and the need for a nuanced approach to studying insurgent groups, highlighting the challenges they face in balancing radical ideologies with the demands of governance and political...
2025-08-2247 minHunter's WarPoland: Leading Europe's Defence Against Russia with Mateusz MielczarekIs the center of gravity in Europe shifting east? As Russia's aggression continues, one nation is stepping up like no other. Poland is not just on the front lines; it's redefining European security for the 21st century.In this episode of Hunter's War, we're joined by Mateusz, Chief Strategy Officer at the Community of Democracies, to discuss Poland's military modernization and its emerging role as a leader in Europe. We examine how Poland's traumatic history has shaped its robust security posture, resulting in defense spending that surpasses that of many NATO allies. We discuss the multi-domain strategy...
2025-07-0528 minHunter's WarInès Abdel Razek, Co-Director Palestine Institute for Public DiplomacyIn this conversation, Ines and I discuss her work as a Palestinian advocate on the international stage and the challenges faced by Palestinians in their struggle for liberation. She highlights the role of alternative diplomacy, the fragmentation of Palestinian society, and the role of civil society in advocating for rights. Ines critiques the complicity of international actors, like the US and Europe, and the media in perpetuating the status quo, occupation and genocide, while also highlighting the importance of digital platforms in amplifying Palestinian voices. She calls for new models of leadership and questions the effectiveness of state recognition...
2025-06-2734 minHunter's WarDamon Golriz, Strategic Iran Analyst, on US Strikes on IranThis conversation was recorded on the afternoon of Sunday, June 22nd, with Damon Golriz, Strategic Iran Analyst at the Hague Institute for Geopolitics, to discuss the US strikes on Iran that occurred at dawn. We cover the current state of the Middle East, Iran's regime, the implications of US and Israeli actions, and the potential responses from Iran. Damon shares the historical context of the Iranian regime, the role of the Revolutionary Guard, and the regional consequences of ongoing conflict. Damon shares insights on the future of Iran and the importance of the Iranian...
2025-06-2236 minHunter's WarGrant Ennis on Dark PR and Corporate DisinformationShow NotesLinks to Grant’s Book:Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health and the Environmenthttps://www.amazon.com/DARK-PR-Corporate-Disinformation-Environment/dp/1990263488https://darajapress.com/publication/dark-pr-how-corporate-disinformation-harms-our-health-and-the-environment In this episode, I am joined by Grant Ennis, a scholar and author of the book Dark PR: How Corporate Misinformation Undermines Our Health and the Environment. Grant shares the playbook of "Dark PR" used by corporations to create and protect profitable "catastrophes by design," such as unhealthy food environments, rising road fatalities, and global warming.Grant breaks dow...
2025-06-0645 minHunter's WarRudi Vranckx on War, History and JournalismThis is an interview with Belgian war correspondent and documentary maker Rudi Vranckx. Together with Hunter, he discusses the intersection of war, history, and journalism.Show NotesThe Importance of Remembering HistoryAn historian by training, Vranckx asserts that history is the root of the present. He expresses concern that a new generation of politicians, lacking a living memory of major wars, is dangerously dismantling the post-WWII structures of international cooperation. This fear motivated his documentary work, particularly a series on Belgian involvement in past conflicts like the Korean War...
2025-06-0351 min