The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is an Islamic separatist group composed mostly of Uighurs in Xinjiang, China who wish to create an Islamic state called East Turkestan that would include parts of Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Xinjiang. The ETIM was founded in 1997 by Hasan Mahsoum. The US, beginning in the Trump administration, asserts that TIP and ETIM are two separate entities and have removed what they consider to be ETIM from the Terrorist Exclusion List, citing a lack of activity despite the fact that Uighur fighters are present in Syria and Afghanistan. According to a State Department spokesperson, "ETIM was removed from the list because, for more than a decade, there has been no credible evidence that ETIM continues to exist as the same organization that was conducting terrorist attacks in Syria at the time of their designation." This stance has continued with the Biden administration.In this episode, our host Joey speaks to Jeff Hanrahan, one of our writers, about the group. We explore its history within the Xinjiang province, as well as controversy surround the group's existence, leadership, and activities.Our article on the ETIM → https://www.moderninsurgent.org/post/east-turkestan-islamic-movement-etim

As a wrap-up and bonus, we speak to our Chief Reporter, Michael Archer, to investigate the elusive role of BOAK in the Ukrainian War. Thanks to Michael's work on BOAK (including our documentary on the group), we use primary information to analyse their tactics, alliances, and their broader impact on regional stability and conflict dynamics.

Dive into the shadowy world of the Wagner PMC alongside Bianca Bridger, one of our Managing Editors, in order to explore their role, strategies, and the broader implications of employing mercenaries in modern warfare within the Ukrainian conflict.

Explore the emergence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics along with Liam Coyle, our Head of Photojournalism & one of our Contributing Writers. In this episode, we unravel their goals, governance, and complex relations with Russia and Ukraine amidst ongoing regional tensions.

In this episode, we speak to Michael Godwin (MikeReports) to trace the origins and pivotal moments of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, from Crimea's annexation to the ongoing conflict. An excellent analysis of key events and their impact on the regional and global stage.

In this outstanding third episode, we speak to Taras Kuzio, a Political Scientist at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, to examine the rise of Slavic nationalism in the wake of the Russian invasion. An incredible insight that helps understanding its cultural, historical, and geopolitical ramifications, including the controversial concept of "Russkiy Mir."

Join us in our second episode featuring Elliott Chapman, PhD student at Leeds Beckett University & Expert on Labour Relations in Post-Soviet Societies, as we delve into the economic and political aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here, we analyse the dramatic shifts under the shock doctrine and its profound impact on Ukraine’s society and governance.

In this first episode, our host Joe Collins speaks to Zbigniew Wojnowski, an Associate Professor at Oxford University, to uncover the deep historical roots between Ukraine and Russia. We explore the complex ties and conflicts that have shaped their turbulent relationship and set the stage for contemporary geopolitical struggles.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG) is one of Mexico's largest and most powerful cartels. It first appeared in 2009 as a splinter group of the Milenio Cartel. The CJNG is mostly recognised for its aggressive tactics and growing influence throughout Mexico. Kidnapping, drug and human trafficking, extortion, and other illicit operations are all methods employed by the group to maintain its effective control over the areas it occupies.In this episode, our host Joey speaks to Adrian Cornejo, one of our writers, about the group. We uncover its legacy within Mexico, internal feuds, and discuss the roots of its notoriety.Full episode only available at www.patreon.com/moderninsurgent.Our article on the CJNG → https://www.moderninsurgent.org/post/jalisco-new-generation-cartel-cjng

Listen to this preview of our Patreon-only podcast, where in this episode we talk to our head of Internal Relations and writer, Adrian Cornejo, about the Westboro Baptist Church. The WBC, established in 1955 by a pastor called Fred Phelps in Topeka, Kansas, is a church which has gained a reputation for its extreme and widely condemned rhetoric and actions. Labeled as a hate group, the WBC is recognised for its inflammatory protests targeting various communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ population, and its provocative slogans. Listen in full only at patreon.com/moderninsurgent. Follow our featured writer on Instagram: @acornjoe_