Barbara F. Walter

Barbara F. Walter, a UC San Diego professor and author of How Civil Wars Start, dives deep into America's escalating political violence. She discusses the implications of the Charlie Kirk assassination and critiques how leaders exploit crises for power. Walter highlights the troubling role of social media in radicalizing young men and examines factors fueling civil unrest. She advocates for strengthening democracy and tackling the roots of extremism to foster a healthier political climate.

Barbara Walter, a political scientist from UC San Diego and author of 'How Civil Wars Start,' shares insights on America's rising political violence. She highlights the dangers of partisan rhetoric and how domestic terror is largely driven by far-right actors. Walter discusses the modern patterns of insurgency and the growing public acceptance of political violence. She warns that the U.S. is in a precarious state for potential civil conflict, stressing the importance of grassroots efforts to uphold democratic norms.

Civil war might be the most likely escalation pathway towards disaster for our country. On the flip side, learning how to avoid civil conflict — and more ambitiously, repair our civic fabric — might have the greatest leverage for addressing the challenges we face.Our guest Barbara F. Walter is ​​one of the world's leading experts on civil wars, political violence, and terrorism. She’s the author of How Civil Wars Start: And How To Stop Them, which provides insight into the drivers of civil war, how social media fuels conflict, and how we might repair our broken democracies. Together, we explore what makes for a healthy liberal democracy, why democracies worldwide are in decline, and the role of resentment and hope. Join us in an exploration of the generator functions for civil war in the digital age, and how we might prevent them.RECOMMENDED MEDIAHow Civil Wars Start: And How To Stop ThemBarbara F. Walter’s latest book and the subject of our conversation, identifying the conditions that give rise to modern civil war in order to address themPolitical Violence At A GlanceAn award-winning online magazine about the causes and consequences of violence and protest, co-authored by Barbara and other expertsThe Center for Systemic PeacePublications, analysis, and other resources from the organizations that measures for democracies and anocracies on a 21-point scale RECOMMENDED YUA EPISODESA Conversation with Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen: https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/42-a-conversation-with-facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugenThe Courage to Connect. Guests: Ciaran O’Connor and John Wood, Jr.: https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/30-the-courage-to-connectMind the (Perception) Gap with Dan Vallone: https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/33-mind-the-perception-gapYour Undivided Attention is produced by the Center for Humane Technology. Follow us on Twitter: @HumaneTech_  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Barbara Walter, a political scientist at UC San Diego and author of "How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them," joins to discuss the potential for political violence in the U.S. amid recent No Kings protests against Trump. They explore how political identity—not ideology—shapes voter alignment and how democratic standards have declined. Walter highlights the troubling use of the National Guard and media manipulation to justify military presence in cities. Ultimately, they question whether Trump seeks civil war or simply thrives in chaos.

Neil Bisson, a retired CSIS agent and director of the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network, teams up with Barbara F. Walter, an expert on civil wars and political conflict. They explore Canada's precarious position as American democracy falters. Bisson emphasizes the need for Canada to reassess its security relationships, while Walter discusses the risks of political instability spilling across borders. Together, they highlight Canada's vulnerabilities and the urgent necessity for a self-reliant national identity in the face of global uncertainties.