Mitigating Risks in a Volatile World: A Conversation with Philip Zelikow

Ryan Evans of *War on the Rocks* interviews historian and Hoover senior fellow [Philip Zelikow](https://www.hoover.org/profiles/philip-zelikow) on his recent article for the *Texas National Security Review,* “[Confronting Another Axis? History, Humility, and Wishful Thinking](https://tnsr.org/2024/05/confronting-another-axis-history-humility-and-wishful-thinking/).” From our friends at *War on the Rocks*: “Their wide-ranging and insightful conversation covers everything from Zelikow’s career as a high-level foreign policy practitioner and as an historian, his experience directing the 9/11 Commission, his argument that we are in an exceptionally volatile time in global politics, and more.”

Professor Zelikow argues that there remains a serious possibility of worldwide conflict in the next few years, and grounds that statement in a discussion of risk assessment and forecasting. Zelikow, drawing from his government experience and his own historical research, also offers his appraisal of the relationship between the 9/11 plotters and various elements of the Saudi state.