What do current conflicts tell us about the world today and our prospects for peace?

What do current conflicts tell us about the world today and our prospects for peace?

Author: Department of War Studies February 24, 2024 Duration: 44:09
**We're bringing you a special episode of the World: we got this podcast** As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, there is also ongoing fighting in Gaza, attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and subsequent US and UK air strikes. This has prompted some to warn we are moving from a post-war to a pre-war world. In this latest episode, Dr Marina Miron, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of War Studies, explores whether we are in a time of increased conflicts, what lies behind the current wars, NATO’s role and what we need to do differently if we want a more peaceful future. *Note this episode was recorded prior to the appointment of General O. Syrkyi.

Drawn from the work of the School of Security Studies at King's College London, War Studies offers a direct line to one of the world's largest and most dedicated academic communities focused on security, defence, and international relations. This isn't about surface-level headlines; each episode digs into the intricate realities of conflict, diplomacy, and global power. You'll hear scholars and researchers unpack the underlying forces that shape world affairs, moving beyond theory to examine the tangible challenges faced by those navigating these complex spaces. The Department of War Studies produces this podcast to share its world-leading research, treating each conversation as an opportunity to question assumptions and deepen understanding. Tuning in means engaging with rigorous analysis that connects academic insight to the pressing security issues of our time. The consistent thread is a belief that examining the nature of war is essential for comprehending the broader landscape of human conflict and cooperation. Expect thoughtful, evidence-driven discussions that refuse to simplify the difficult questions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

War Studies
Podcast Episodes
The Divided Brain with Dr Iain McGilchrist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:59
In this episode of the Breaking Cycles of Conflict mini-series, XCEPT's Dr Nafees Hamid talks to Dr Iain McGilchrist – psychiatrist, philosopher, neuroscientist and author of The Master and His Emissary and The Matter wi…
The Helsinki Brief, Episode 3: Finland's Comprehensive Security Model [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:04
In this third episode of The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security, Dr Paul McGarr (King’s College London) is joined again by Hannamiina Tanninen of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO)…
Afghanistan: 25 Years After 9/11. On the Brink of Another Crisis? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:48
In this episode, Colin Smith, co-ordinator of the UN Security Council’s 1267/1988 Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, joins Tim Willasey-Wilsey, King’s Visiting Professor, Graham Aikin, PhD researcher at Ki…
Nostalgia - Shared Histories, Divided Futures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:05
In this episode, Dr Nafees Hamid speaks with Dr Craig Larkin (Research Lead on Memory and Conflict for the XCEPT research programme), Dr Clara Voyvodic (Lecturer in Peace Studies at the University of Bradford), and Maria…
Drawing Ukraine: A discussion with Ella Baron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
In May 2025 Ella Baron, a political cartoonist at The Guardian, travelled to Ukraine to record and reflect on the human impact of war. In collaboration with NGO Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Ella met patients in a reha…