Root of Conflict
by UC3P
Why are some places affected by violence and disorder while others enjoy peace and stability? From the University of Chicago Public Policy Podcasts, “Root of Conflict” analyzes violent conflict around the world, and the people, societies, and policy issues it affects. We meet with leading experts to discuss what can be done to create more peaceful societies. We're produced and hosted by Sabrina Beaver.
Episodes
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Militarism in Africa | Samuel Fury Childs Daly
In the final episode of the season, we sat down with UChicago's Samuel Fury Childs Daily, who studies militarism and military rule in Africa. We discuss how conflict and military rule shaped post-colonial Nigeria, and the factors that have contributed to more recent coups in West Africa. Podcast...
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Migration Flows and US Policy Tools | Katie Tobin
In this episode, we speak with Katie Tobin, who worked in the NSC in the Biden Administration and the UNHCR before that on a range of migration, refugee and cross-border security issues. We discuss how conflict impacts migration flows to the US and the different tools the US has to address...
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Bringing Culture into Development and Security Work in Africa | Chidi Blyden
In this episode, we speak with Chidi Blyden, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs and former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation on security and development in Africa. We discuss the importance of understanding culture in…
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Event Recap: Iran and the Logic of Military Intervention: Jake Braun, Paul Poast, and Ryan Kellogg
In this episode, we share a recent panel at the Harris School of Public Policy on the U.S. intervention in Iran with former White house official and current Cyber Policy Initiative Executive Director, Jake Braun, and University of Chicago professors Ryan Kellogg and Paul Poast. This discussion...
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The New Nuclear Age | Kennette Benedict
In this episode, we speak with Kennette Benedict, a senior advisor to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy on nuclear policy and threats after the expiration of the New START Treaty in February. We explore what how changes in global politics…
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Thinking about Foreign Policy and Alliances | Emma Ashford
In this episode, we speak with activist and journalist Emma Ashford from the Stimson Center on international security and US foreign policy. We explore what a realist internationalist view of foreign policy might look like, and how Trump's foreign policy may be perceived by allies and…
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Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland | Emma DeSouza
In this episode, we speak with activist and journalist Emma DeSouza on peacebuilding in Northern Ireland 28 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. We explore what work remains to be done in implementing the agreement, and how to make the process an inclusive one that brings in the...
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Event Recap: What's Next for Venezuela? | Chris Blattman, Ryan Kellogg, and Paul Poast
In this episode, we share a recent panel at the Harris School of Public Policy on the what comes next for Venezuela with University of Chicago professors Chris Blattman, Ryan Kellogg, and Paul Poast. This discussion touches on plans for the transition in Venezuela, the impact energy markets, and...
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Brief: Protests in Iran | Pegah Banihashemi
In this brief, we speak with Pegah Banihashemi about recent protests in Iran. We discuss how this wave of protests differs from those of prior years and what conditions detainees likely face. Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver Editing: Sabrina Beaver Production: Sabrina…
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Reporting on Conflict | John Haltiwanger
In this episode, we speak with Foreign Policy staff writer John Haltiwanger about his experiences reporting on conflict and national security matters. We explore how current conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, may conclude, as well as the obstacles to peace. This conversation touches on...
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The Role of Schools in Diminishing Conflict | Anjali Adukia
In this episode, we speak with Professor Anjali Adukia from the University of Chicago about her research on restorative practices in schools and how they can reduce suspensions, arrests, and racial disparities without harming academic performance. We explore what restorative practices look like,...
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Criminal Governance in Brazil | Benjamin Lessing
In this episode, Professor Benjamin Lessing unpacks the dynamics of organized crime and informal governance in Brazil. He discusses how extra-legal organizations operate as alternative authority structures—stepping into the vacuum left by weak state presence. Traditional law enforcement often…
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Congo in Crisis: History, Minerals, and Power | Eduardo Montero
This episode explores the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the lens of historical legacies, regional dynamics, and international interests. Our guest, Professor Eduardo Montero, introduces the current crisis and its deep roots in colonial exploitation, institutional...
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What’s Next for Ukraine? | Roger Myerson
This episode features Professor Roger Myerson, Nobel Laureate (2007) and Professor at the University of Chicago. We discuss the war in Ukraine through his on-the-ground experience and academic expertise. Professor Myerson reflects on the political, social, and technological shifts he has…
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Behavioral Science to Conflict Mitigation | Rebecca Wolfe
This episode features Professor Rebecca J. Wolfe, senior lecturer and Executive Director of International Policy & Development at the Harris School of Public Policy. Drawing on her extensive experience designing conflict prevention and violence reduction programs worldwide, Dr. Wolfe explores how...
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Paths to Reconciliation | Sergio Jaramillo Caro
This episode explores strategies for finding consensus between the government and rebel insurgencies. We spoke with Sergio Jaramillo Caro, former High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia, who led the secret negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas, culminating in the...
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From Vision to Action | John Marks
How can social entrepreneurship help end violent conflict? In this episode, John Marks, founder of “Search for Common Ground”, an international NGO dedicated to resolving global conflicts, shares insights from over 40 years of experience in peacebuilding. Marks discusses key lessons from his...
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A Possible Path for Haiti | Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis
Karl Popper once said, “Open societies are their own worst enemies.” In this episode, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, former prime minister of Haiti and president of the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation, reflects on this idea. She shares her perspective on Haiti’s development challenges and paths…
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Does Counterterrorism work? | Richard English
Defining successful antiterrorism strategies is challenging. With groundbreaking research in the history of political violence, terrorism, and nationalism, Professor Richard English guides us through the main concepts and structures to understand valid approaches for countering terror. Richard...
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Wealth in People | James Robinson
How can the West learn from Africa? Professor James Robinson, director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, highlights the richness of development in the African region. Robinson has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,...
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Speaking Law to War | Kathleen Cavanaugh
What are the key legal principles that govern the conduct of war and protect human rights? In this episode, we speak with Professor Kathleen Cavanaugh, the Executive Director of the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights, and Senior Instructional Professor in the College at UChicago. Professor...
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Amnesties, Law, and Peace | Louise Mallinder
How is law understood and used by different actors during political transitions to achieve peace? In this episode, we speak with Professor Louise Mallinder, a Professor in the School of Law at Queen's University Belfast and Faculty Affiliate of the Pearson Institute. She has a longstanding and...
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Human Rights in North Korea | Ambassador Julie Turner
How does the United States coordinate with regional partners to promote human rights in North Korea? In this episode, we speak with Ambassador Julie Turner, the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights at the Department of State. Ambassador Turner is globally recognized as an expert in...
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A War Later | Juanita Velez
How do stories give new perspectives to conflict and peace? In this episode, we speak with Juanita Vélez, a journalist and political scientist. She was the editor of La Silla Sur, a regional subsidiary of Colombian news website La Silla Vacía, focused on covering the implementation of the 2016...
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Power & Development | Raul Sanchez de la Sierra
What is the role of narratives within the political economy of development? In this episode, we speak with Professor Raul Sanchez de la Sierra, an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Faculty Affiliate of the Pearson Institute. His research tackles...
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Polarization in a Region of Turmoil | Daniel Brumberg
What factors hindered Tunisia's democratic transition after the Arab Spring? In this episode, we speak with Professor Daniel Brumberg, a Professor in the Department of Government at Georgetown University and co-founder of its Democracy and Governance Master’s program. We discuss Tunisia’s…
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Colonizing Kashmir | Hafsa Kanjwal
What is the history of Kashmir’s path to self-determination? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Hafsa Kanjwal, an assistant professor of South Asian History at Lafayette College. We talk about Dr. Kanjwal’s new book Colonizing Kashmir: State-building Under Indian Occupation. The book interrogates...
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Philosophies of Research | Austin Wright
What kind of ethical concerns should researchers think about when deciding to take on a project? In this episode, we speak with Professor Austin Wright, an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at The University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and a faculty affiliate of the Pearson...
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Gendered Dimensions of Conflict | Maliha Chishti
How do war and conflict give rise to gender-based violence? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Maliha Chishti, an assistant instructional professor at the Divinity School and an associate of The Pearson Institute. Her core research interests are international peacebuilding, security, and...
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Mothers and Peacebuilding | Amal Hamada
What is the role of mothers in counterterrorism efforts? Within conflict, women have traditionally been viewed as victims that need protecting; however, their involvement is much more nuanced than that. In this episode, we speak with Professor Amal Hamada, a professor of political science and...
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After Authoritarianism | Monika Nalepa
How are authoritarian elites and their collaborators handled in the aftermath of democratic transitions? The modern discipline of documenting transitional justice began with the Nuremberg trials for Nazi perpetrators. The trials shifted the way the international community thinks about...
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Kurdish Women and Resistance | Rez Gardi
What role did Kurdish women play in Iran's protests last year? The death of Jina Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iranian authorities sparked mass demonstrations for women’s rights under the rallying cry of "Women, Life, Freedom." But the Kurdish minorities behind this resistance have largely been...
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Lives Amid Violence | Mareike Schomerus
What mental models underpin international development? And how do they hold back actors working in conflict-affected countries? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mareike Schomerus, author of Lives Amid Violence and Vice President of the Busara Center, one of the first behavioral science research...
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Sudan’s Political Transition | Ibrahim Elbadawi
What does an interrupted democratic transition look like? In this episode, we speak to Dr. Ibrahim Elbadawi, managing director of the Economic Research Forum and former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the Republic of Sudan. In May of 2023, Dr. Elbadawi joined us in Chicago at the…
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Precarious Protections | Chiara Galli
What is the human toll of the U.S. immigration bureaucracy? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Chiara Galli, a sociologist at the University of Chicago. Her latest book, “Precarious Protections,” chronicles the experiences and perspectives of Central American unaccompanied minors and their...
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Geography is Destiny | Ian Morris
How can geography explain Brexit and Britain’s changing relationship with the rest of the world? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ian Morris, a historian and archeologist at Stanford University. His latest book, “Geography is Destiny,” chronicles the ten-thousand-year history of Britain’s...
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Decolonizing Palestine | Somdeep Sen
How can we imagine liberation under colonial rule? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Somdeep Sen, a post-colonial studies professor at Roskilde University. His book, "Decolonizing Palestine," draws on his ethnographic research in the region to study how Israeli occupation shapes life and…
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The Troubles | Jon McCourt
When does the force of argument become stronger than the argument of force? In this episode, we speak with Jon McCourt, a community peace activist for over forty years in the City of Derry, North of Ireland. As a young man, he marched on the first civil rights demonstration in Derry in 1968....
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Everyday War | Greta Uehling
How do civilians cope while living in a country at war? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Greta Uehling, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Michigan. Her forthcoming book, “Everyday War,” draws on her ethnographic research in Ukraine after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea. She...
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Somaliland's Independence | Bashir Goth
The Republic of Somaliland is a de facto sovereign state in the Horn of Africa. Declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland is a self-governing country, with democratic elections and a distinct history, but it’s still considered part of Somalia by the international community. In this...
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Trust After Betrayal | Erin McFee
How do ex-combatants transition back into society after conflict? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Erin McFee, a political anthropologist and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the London School of Economics. Focusing on Colombia and the reintegration of the FARC, her team studies reconciliation in...
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Gender and Conflict | Lina Haddad Kreidie
How do war and displacement disproportionately impact women? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lina Haddad Kreidie, a political psychologist and Academic Director of Gender Studies at the Lebanese American University. Her research centers marginalized communities, mainly displaced and refugee...
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African Political Philosophy | Francis Njoku
How does African philosophy shape African political institutions? And how have they evolved separately from European models of statehood and development? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Francis Njoku, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a visiting scholar at the...
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The American War in Afghanistan | Carter Malkasian
What should we learn from the aftermath of the US War in Afghanistan? And what decisions could’ve brought a better outcome? The fall of Kabul to the Taliban last year marked the end of America’s longest war in history, with former Afghan government unable to retain control of the country. In this...
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Political Resistance in Myanmar | Jason Gelbort
How is the Myanmar military exacerbating human rights abuse in the country? In February 2021, the Myanmar military initiated a coup – throwing the country back into its long history of authoritarian rule. As the military has taken control, public resistance has become unprecedented. In this...
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African Solutions to African Challenges | Martin Kimani
What are African solutions to African challenges? And how can African agency act as a counterpoint to the divisions and legacy of colonialism? In this episode, we speak with Ambassador Martin Kimani, the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations, about his recent speech criticizing...
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Global Impact and Philanthropy | Liz Drew
How do non-profits navigate changes in humanitarian aid policy? And how is the philanthropic sector evolving? In this episode, we speak with Liz Drew, a Chicago-based strategist with nearly two decades of leadership in advancing human rights, gender equity, and social justice. From working as a...
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Why We Fight | Chris Blattman
What makes conflict win out over compromise? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Chris Blattman, an acclaimed expert on violence and conflict. His recent book, “Why We Fight,” draws on economics, political science, and psychology to examine the root causes of war and the paths to peace. In light…
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Disinformation and Democracy | Nina Jankowicz
How does disinformation fuel modern conflict? In this episode, we speak with Nina Jankowicz, an expert on disinformation and a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center. We talk about her debut book, "How to Lose the Information War," which takes the reader through several case studies of how Western...
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Quantifying Global Peace | Steve Killelea
How can we build more peaceful, resilient societies? In this episode, we speak with Steve Killelea, a global philanthropist focused on peace and sustainable development and author of “Peace in the Age of Chaos.” He is the founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace and the Global Peace…
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About this show
Why are some places affected by violence and disorder while others enjoy peace and stability? From the University of Chicago Public Policy Podcasts, “Root of Conflict” analyzes violent conflict around the world, and the people, societies, and policy issues it affects. We meet with leading experts to discuss what can be done to create more peaceful societies.
We're produced and hosted by Sabrina Beaver.
Hosted by
UC3P