Welcome back to The Security Affair, the flagship podcast from the Centre for International Security and Economic Strategy (CISES), where we explore the ideas, events, and decisions shaping global security and diplomacy.

Hosted by Alexander Anderson, Director of Policy at CISES, this episode examines how information has become a central arena of international competition. Alexander is joined by Bandish Oza, Policy Analyst at CISES, whose research focuses on South Asia and the use of narratives in democracy and security as tools of influence.

Together, they discuss how states craft and contest narratives, why influence operations unfold long before crises begin, and how digital platforms, algorithms, and private companies shape the information environment. The conversation also explores the blurred line between strategic communication and coercive influence, the challenges democracies face in defending themselves without overreach, and the ways smaller states and non-state actors have gained new leverage in the information age.

Bandish reflects on key examples from around the world, explains why information matters much more in peacetime than in conflict, and offers insights on how democracies can fight disinformation without overreach and censorship.

Next Friday, we’ll turn to the evolving Russia–China partnership and what it means for global security and great-power politics.