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At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Barker Keith - Between Idealism and Interests: Law, Risk, and the Real World
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In this episode, I sit down with Barker Keith, whose career spans military service, law, and sovereign risk management.
Barker reflects on growing up in Venezuela, and how his early, idealised view of the United States was challenged by friends who saw the world less through ideology and more through national interests.
He shares formative experiences from his time in the U.S. Army, his transition into law and political risk insurance, and the complexities of structuring protection for international investments. Drawing on decades of experience, Barker offers a behind-the-scenes view of how nationalism shapes outcomes, and what it takes to navigate risk in a world driven less by rules and more by interests.
Recorded on 8 April 2026.
Connect with Barker on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/barker-keith-329b1b8.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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