The Why? Curve

Far away from the headlines, a war is raging in Africa that has taken at least 150,000 lives, has displaced 12 million people from their homes, and created what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Sudan is being fought over by two armies, with rape, bombardment of civilian areas and massacres a normal part of the conflict. There are no major peace initiatives and there is little aid getting in. The world has largely shrugged and turned its back. Justin Willis, Professor of Modern African History at Durham University tells Phil and Roger about the human cost and the prospects for an end to the Sudan civil war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did it all go so wrong for the Labour government? A massive majority of MPs, and a country yearning for change, but now, a year on: rock-bottom poll numbers and a seeming inability to get bills through parliament. Can Labour learn and improve? Can they roll back the growing disenchantment with both the main parties? Can they get some wins? Robert Ford, Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester, tells Phil and Roger they need to improve their messaging and make some courageous decisions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the rise of new weight-loss drugs become a game-changer for the obesity crisis?Can we all now inject ourselves thin? Will restaurants and gyms go out of business as we don’t want to eat, and don’t need to exercise? The drugs are becoming available on the NHS and will soon be in pill form - and they seem to be safe. But does the medical treatment ignore the complex social and economic background to obesity? Phil and Roger ask Dr Martin Whyte, associate professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it that we can't seem to run a railway project that's on time or affordable? Why do our trains also fail to turn up or charge reasonably? Is nationalisation going to make difference. Phil and Roger ask Paul Plummer, Professor in Rail Strategy, and Director of University of Birmingham Centre for Rail Research & Education,. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conflict between Israel and Iran shows no sign of easing and the threat of US involvement has heightened concerns about a war that is rapidly getting out of control. How does this end? Can Iran be forced away from building a nuclear bomb? Can Israel be reassured about its security? Is there a way to de-escalate when none of those involved seem to want that? Phil and Roger quiz Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics at the University of Lancaster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than a quarter of UK voters back a party that’s only got 5 MPs. Labour won a stonking majority in parliament last year with just over a third of the vote. What’s happening to our democracy? Does the system still work? Or is the social media-fuelled clamour for instant policy-fixes not suited to going to the ballot box once every five years? Is autocracy becoming more attractive to voters who want efficiency in government? Phil and Roger get the views of Scott Williamson, associate professor in Comparative Political Economy at Oxford University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the Wild West of digital currency now becoming a respectable place to put your money? President Trump likes it, and his vice president, JD Vance, backs a US government digital reserve. Does that mean the crazy volatility of Bitcoin and the rest will calm down? Or is the essential ungovernability of blockchain money going to remain? Phil and Roger ask Dr Larisa Yarovaya, associate professor of finance and director of the centre for digital finance at Southampton University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billions in new spending for the UK’s defence, but how to spend it? Does Britain need more soldiers? More shells for artillery? More tanks? Or are drones the future of warfare? What has Ukraine’s war against Russia told us about what weapons we need to stand up to Putin? Dr Bence Nemeth, co-founder of the Centre for Defence Economics and Management at Kings College London, tells Phil and Roger what’s needed, and what’s affordable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has launched his bid to claim back migration policy from the right - talking about the UK becoming an “island of strangers” unless the number of incomers is slashed. But is he correct that this is at the top of voters’ list of concerns? Is tackling this what will win back the Red Wall? Do most Britons really want big cuts in the number of immigrants? Claire Kumar, senior researcher at ODI Global, tells Phil and Roger about her findings suggesting attitudes towards migration across the UK very different from those in snap opinion polls and tabloid headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The confrontation between the two south Asian neighbours this month seems to have been resolved into a ceasefire. It is almost certainly only a pause of conflict, in a toxic relationship that has lasted since 1947. And the stakes have risen - both nations now have their finger on the nuclear trigger. That’s why the world shudders when New Delhi and Islamabad launch a new session of vituperation or actual violence. So can the nations find a way to live together harmoniously? Phil and Roger ask Kate Sullivan de Estrada, Associate Professor in the International Relations of South Asia at Oxford University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.