Currents - Conflict & Neuroscience: How The Brain Shapes War And How War Shapes The Brain, with Dr Nick Wright

Currents - Conflict & Neuroscience: How The Brain Shapes War And How War Shapes The Brain, with Dr Nick Wright

Author: Centre for Geopolitics May 29, 2026 Duration: 40:31

Professor John Nilsson-Wright talks to Dr Nick Wright, a neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon Joint Staff who researches the brain, technology and security at University College London, Georgetown University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the National Defence University in Washington, DC. They consider how fear, perception, misperception, and memory are tied to different physiological elements of the brain, and how they influence our predisposition to engage in conflict. While we may be conditioned to engage in conflict, we also have the capacity, unlike other species, to reflect on our own internal mental processes — a capacity that offers an optimistic basis for minimising the risk of conflict in the future.


Stepping beyond the headlines and soundbites, On Geopolitics offers a deeper, more considered look at the forces shaping our world. Produced by the Centre for Geopolitics, this podcast is now guided by two distinct academic voices. Professor John Nilsson-Wright leads "Currents," a series of timely conversations that bring together experts from government, business, science, and journalism to dissect the most pressing international events as they unfold. In parallel, Professor William Hurst curates "Explorations," dedicating extended episodes to foundational ideas and historical patterns that underpin global affairs, providing crucial context for today's complexities. Together, these formats create a rich dialogue that connects immediate crises to their deeper roots. Tuning into this podcast means moving past superficial analysis to engage with nuanced perspectives on power, history, and strategy, all grounded in rigorous thought and diverse expertise. It’s for anyone who feels that understanding the world requires more than a daily news update, seeking instead a sustained inquiry into how nations interact, compete, and coexist. Each episode, whether focused on a breaking development or a perennial theme, is built to inform and challenge, making sense of a disordered global landscape through thoughtful discussion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 90

On Geopolitics
Podcast Episodes
Explorations - War, Episode 13, with Tang Shiping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:09
Professor William Hurst is joined by Tang Shiping, Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Fudan University. They discuss the origins of war and the reasons why states fight. They also consider how war has…
Explorations on War - Episode 12, with Ron Hassner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:17
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ron Hassner, the Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. They discuss the importance of…
Explorations on War - Episode 11, with Rohan Mukherjee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:32
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Rohan Mukherjee, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Deputy Director of LSE IDEAS. They consider how some states…
Explorations on War - Episode 10, with Peter Trubowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:45
Professor William Hurst is joined by Peter Trubowtiz, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Phelan US Centre at the London School of Economics. They discuss liberal versus realist approaches to war. Th…
Explorations on War - Episode 9, with Caroline Baxter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
Professor William Hurst is joined by Caroline Baxter, Director of the Converging Risks Lab at the Council on Strategic Risks and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training within the Un…
Explorations on War - Episode 8, with Prof Ian Hurd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:13
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science and President of the Faculty Senate at Northwestern University. They discuss how norms, laws and expectations can prevent and impact wars. The…
Explorations on War - Episode 7, with Dr Lauren Sukin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:08
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Lauren Sukin, the John G. Winant Associate Professor in US Foreign Policy in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. They discuss the pr…
Explorations on War - Episode 6, with Prof Jack Snyder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:58
Professor William Hurst is joined by Jack Snyder, the Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Relations at Columbia University, to discuss confrontational diplomacy and its unintended consequences, particularl…
Explorations on War - Episode 5, with Dr Victoria Vdovychenko [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Victoria Vdovychenko, Joint Programme Leader at the Centre's Future of Ukraine Programme, to discuss how, whilst fighting for its sovereignty amidst Russia's full-scale invasion, U…