Audio Subscribe to Stratfor Worldview In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast, Emily Donahue speaks with global security analyst Ben West about the impact of COVID-19 and the economic crisis on social protests about racial injustice. Protests were not prompted solely by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Factors intensifying the unrest in 2020 include years of building frustration over police violence against blacks, extremely graphic video of the initial incident and protests that beget a cycle of shared content that prompts further protests — plus pent-up frustration over the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing lockdowns and inconsistent messaging from leaders about efforts to manage the crisis, and all of which contributes to unrest. Subscribe to the Stratfor Podcast: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Soundcloud Spotify Suggested Reading from Stratfor and RANE Examining Whether the Terrorism Label Applies to Antifa Days of Rage With Author Bryan Burrough U.S.