War Studies
Department of War Studies
Welcome to the War Studies podcast. We bring you world-leading research from the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, the largest community of scholars in the world dedicated to the study of all aspects of security, defence and international relations. We aim to explore the complex realm of conflict and uncover the challenges at the heart of navigating world affairs and diplomatic relations, because we believe the study of war is fundamental to understanding the world we live in and the world we want to live in.
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The School of Security Studies harnesses the depth and breadth of expertise across War Studies and Defence Studies to produce world-leading research and teaching on issues of global security that develops new empirical knowledge, employs innovative theory, and addresses vital policy issues.
Visit our website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/security-studies
Sign up to our mailing list: https://kcl.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cc0521a63c9b286223dea9d18&id=730233761d
DISCLAIMER: Any information, statements or opinions contained in these podcasts are those of the individual speakers. They do not represent the opinions of the Department of War Studies or King's College London.
If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, please rate and review us on your preferred podcast provider – it really helps us reach more listeners.
The School of Security Studies harnesses the depth and breadth of expertise across War Studies and Defence Studies to produce world-leading research and teaching on issues of global security that develops new empirical knowledge, employs innovative theory, and addresses vital policy issues.
Visit our website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/security-studies
Sign up to our mailing list: https://kcl.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cc0521a63c9b286223dea9d18&id=730233761d
DISCLAIMER: Any information, statements or opinions contained in these podcasts are those of the individual speakers. They do not represent the opinions of the Department of War Studies or King's College London.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 1, 2024 • 27min
Violent extremism and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Tens of thousands of children currently live in dire conditions in Al Hol camp in Syria – and there are concerns this makes them vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment. But what is the evidence behind this?
Caterina Ceccarelli examines what we know about the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and violent extremism, and explores the pathways by which experiencing tough and potentially traumatic events in childhood might turn someone to extremism later in life.
This research is being undertaken as part of a project called XCEPT, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.
Jan 25, 2024 • 27min
Translating the stories of conflict-affected populations
A translator’s job is to take something in one language and convert it to another – but when you’re translating the stories of people affected by conflict, how do you ensure your own feelings don’t get in the way?
In this episode, Mohamad El Kari, translator on the XCEPT project, speaks about the personal and professional challenges he faces in the course of his work. He explores the importance of understanding local culture, the need to remain sensitive to different interpretations of a word or phrase, and the ethical and moral difficulties that arise when working in the context of a conflict. Mohamad also turns to the issue of wellbeing, highlighting the emotional toll that a translator can face when working with stories of conflict trauma.
This research is being undertaken as part of the XCEPT research programme, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.
Jan 22, 2024 • 38min
Israel-Hamas war: The rules of armed conflict with Professor Emily Crawford
Israel’s military response to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas has been subject to much discussion. In a two-part series, we consider specific questions related to the use of force, jus ad bellum, and the laws governing the conduct of hostilities, means, and methods of warfare, referred to as jus in bello.
In this episode, Dr Maria Varaki, Lecturer in International Law at King’s College London talks to Dr Emily Crawford, Professor at the University of Sydney Law School, about the application of International Humanitarian Law in armed conflicts and the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in conflict zones.
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In response to the ongoing situation and humanitarian crisis, all those at King’s College London affected by the events in Israel and Gaza can access support here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/students/support-for-students-and-staff-affected-by-the-israel-and-gaza-conflict
Jan 18, 2024 • 55min
Addressing male conflict trauma
Content warning: This episode contains mentions of sexual violence, self-harm, and suicide.
Series: Breaking Cycles of Conflict
Dr Heidi Riley and Beth Heron discuss their research into conflict trauma in men and boys, exploring how stigmas and societal expectations can affect the way trauma is experienced, and the dangers to individuals, communities, and wider society if this trauma is left unaddressed.
Offering insights from their in-depth study of two psychosocial support (PSS) programmes delivered by Relief International in Syria and Catholic Relief Services in South Sudan, the pair share what they learned about the way PSS programmes should be designed and funded.
This research is being undertaken as part of a project called XCEPT, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.
Jan 11, 2024 • 37min
Growing up in violent extremist families
Series: Breaking Cycles of Conflict
"Imagine that dad is a neo-Nazi, mum has joined a jihadist group"
As governments across Europe face the challenge of reintegrating returnees from Iraq and Syria, Dr Joana Cook examines institutional and societal responses to children growing up in violent extremist affiliated families.
Dr Cook talks to Dr Fiona McEwen about the different ways a child’s life can be impacted when a family member is involved in violent extremism, why the narrative of ‘ticking time bombs’ is detrimental to healthy development, and why we need to change the way we engage with these families. Dr Cook’s research was conducted as part of the PREPARE project. To find out more about PREPARE, please visit: https://prepare-project.eu/
This research is being undertaken as part of a project called XCEPT, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.
Jan 4, 2024 • 56min
Reconciliation and reconstruction in post-conflict Iraq
Series: Breaking Cycles of Conflict
"Let’s imagine tomorrow Mosul is brick by brick exactly what it was like before ISIS took over – the city has still fundamentally changed."
In this episode, Dr Craig Larkin, Dr Inna Rudolf, and Dr Rajan Basra explore issues surrounding post-conflict reconstruction, reconciliation, and recovery in Iraq.
Sharing insights from their research trip to Iraq, the trio discuss the hurdles faced by local practitioners, disillusionment with the ‘industry of peacebuilding’, and the impact that legacies of conflict and violence have had on Iraq’s diverse communities.
This research is being undertaken as part of a project called XCEPT, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.
Dec 19, 2023 • 38min
Israel-Hamas war: International Law and the Use of Force with Professor Marko Milanovic
Israel’s military response to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas has been subject to much discussion. In a two-part series, we consider specific questions related to the use of force, jus ad bellum, and the laws governing the conduct of hostilities, means, and methods of warfare, referred to as jus in bello.
In this episode, Dr Maria Varaki, Lecturer in International Law at King’s College London, speaks to Marko Milanovic, Professor of Public international Law at the University of Reading and prolific author in Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian and Criminal Law.
They discuss Professor Milanovic’s blog post ‘Does Israel Have the Right to Defend Itself?’ in EJIL Talk, exploring his legal analysis of complex questions related to the right of self-defence under article 51 of the UN Charter and the concept of proportionality.
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In response to the ongoing situation and humanitarian crisis, all those at King’s College London affected by the events in Israel and Gaza can access support here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/students/support-for-students-and-staff-affected-by-the-israel-and-gaza-conflict
Dec 9, 2023 • 37min
COP28 and Climate Security with Dr Pauline Heinrichs
Can countries work together at COP28 to agree on effective global actions for addressing climate change?
In this episode we speak to Dr Pauline Heinrichs, Lecturer on climate and energy in the Department of War Studies, about the potential impact of COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. We explore the complexities surrounding international agreements to combat climate change and delve into the factors and agendas that impede governments from significantly reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.
Nov 13, 2023 • 46min
Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking
What are the dynamics of intelligence and foreign policy in Europe?
The editors of the book “Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking”, Professor Michael Goodman, Professor Christoph Meyer, Dr Nikki Ikani, Dr Eva Michaels and Dr Aviva Guttmann, evaluate the performance of the UK, the EU, and Germany during times of surprise, from the Arab uprisings to the rise of ISIS and the Russian annexation of Crimea.
Oct 19, 2023 • 38min
24 hours in Charlottesville with Nora Neus
“White supremacy, hate groups and the alt-right movement thrive in secrecy and in dark places. Being able to bring this topic out into the light and have deeper conversations about what these people really stand for, and what they're willing to do in terms of violence, is important to understand the full brunt of the threat”.
In this podcast episode, the Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and freelance journalist Nora Neus talks about her latest book ‘24 Hours in Charlottesville’, which delves into white nationalist riots based on the tumultuous events of August 2017, highlighting anti-racist activists' voices standing up against violence. She shares some of the main challenges for journalists and reporters currently covering war in conflict zones amid a media landscape increasingly dominated by sensationalism.
Learn more about '24 hours in Charlottesville' at https://noraneus.com/
