War Studies
War Studies is a podcast from the Department of War Studies at King's College London. It brings world-leading research on security, defence, and international relations to a wider audience. Each episode explores the complex realm of conflict and the challenges of navigating world affairs and diplomatic relations. The show argues that the study of war is fundamental to understanding the world we live in. It also highlights the activities and expertise of the School of Security Studies.
Episodes
War Stories, Episode 7: A Navy Officer responding to humanitarian crises in the Mediterranean, 2014-2015.
In the seventh edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), we take to the seas with Andrew Young (BA War Studies 2004-2007, current War Studies PhD candidate).
Andrew was a young naval officer, deployed as a specialist educator, whose ships were re-routed to deal with humanitari
Biosecurity in an Age of Disinformation
What happens when public health, biology and conflict meet?
In this episode of the War Studies Podcast, Dr Julia Pearce is joined by Dr Filippa Lentzos and Dr Gemma Bowsher from King’s College London to explore the changing landscape of biosecurity, CBRN threats and health security in conflict.
The conversation examines how chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disinformation is being u
The Brazillian Marine Corps Today
In this episode of the War Studies Podcast, PhD student Charlotte Bascaule speaks with Admiral Carlos Chagas Viana Braga, Commandant of the Brazilian Marine Corps.
They discuss changes to the Brazilian Marine Corps, new technologies, maritime operations, peacekeeping and the challenges facing Brazil’s armed forces today.
War Stories, Episode 6: A British Infantry Commander in Urban Combat, Iraq, 2007
In the sixth edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), Nick hosts and Rupert takes to the guest seat to speak about his own experience of war. As a young officer with 4th Battalion The Rifles, Rupert deployed to Basra, Iraq, in 2007, where he commanded a platoon given the task o
The Divided Brain with Dr Iain McGilchrist
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 with Things – about how the brain's left and right hemispheres attend to the world in fundamentally different ways. They explore how shifts in hemispheric dominance have shaped trust
War Stories, Episode 5: An Indian Army officer in counter-insurgency operations, Assam, 2010-2012
In the fifth edition of the King's College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King's alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), Ru and Nick speak with Aravind Rajendran (MA Conflict, Security & Development, 2020–2021). A former commissioned officer in the Indian Army (2009 to 2020), Aravind served with the 3rd Battalion The Mahar Regiment, during cou
A Journalist on the frontline of the 'War on Terror', Iraq and Afghanistan, 2001-2010
In the fourth edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002-2005), Ru and Nick speak to Dr. Tiania Stevens (MA War Studies, 2007-2008), who was embedded as an Australian journalist with both US and British forces in Iraq, as well as US forces in Afghanistan through the 2000s, with various
War Stories, Episode 3: A Humanitarian in a conflict zone, Afghanistan and Ukraine, 2009-2021
In the third edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (War Studies, 2002-2005), Ru and Nick speak to Rory Moylan (War Studies, 2002-2005), who worked as a humanitarian in Afghanistan, in Mazar-i-Sharif, with first ACTED and then the International Committee of the Red Cross through 2009-2013, and Sloviansk
The Helsinki Brief, Episode 3: Finland's Comprehensive Security Model
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) to explore Finland’s 'comprehensive security' model — a point of reference in international debates on resilience.
They unpack what “comprehensive security” means in practice: an
Afghanistan: 25 Years After 9/11. On the Brink of Another Crisis?
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 King’s, and Dr Paul McGarr, Lecturer in Intelligence Studies, to examine Afghanistan nearly 25 years after 9/11 and assess whether it is again becoming a base for international terro
Nostalgia - Shared Histories, Divided Futures
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 El Sammak (XCEPT Research Assistant and King's College London MA student in the War Studies department) about the powerful and often divisive role of nostalgia in global politics.
War Stories, Episode 2: A British Armoured Commander in Afghanistan, 2011
In the second edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (War Studies, 2002-2005), Ru and Nick speak to Jamie Irwin (War Studies, 2000-2003), who served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Afghanistan on HERRICK 14, with the British Army, having previously served in Iraq on TELIC 12.
Ru and Nick take a
Drawing Ukraine: A discussion with Ella Baron
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 rehabilitation centre for war veterans in Cherkasy and a mental health clinic for internally displaced families in Vinnytsia. The Art & Conflict Hub is currently hosting an exhibition
War Stories, Episode 1: A British Infantry Officer in Afghanistan, 2007
In the inaugural edition of the War Studies War Stories podcast series, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (War Studies, 2002-2005), Ru and Nick briefly explain what they’re looking to achieve in this series, through the use of King’s own unique resource - its alumni and their experience of war (built on King’s War Studies ‘Experience of War’ module).
Ru and Nick then take a de
The Helsinki Brief, Episode 2: Intelligence Culture in Finland
In the second episode of The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security, the focus is on intelligence culture in Finland, explored within the wider context of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) and how it operates.
Dr Paul McGarr of King’s College London is joined by Hannamiina Tanninen, an analyst at the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, to discuss the ev
Leadership in a divided world
In this episode, Dr Nafees Hamid speaks with Michael Shipler, King’s College London War Studies alumnus and Vice President of Leadership Development & Partnerships at Search for Common Ground (SFCG), the world’s largest dedicated peacebuilding organisation.
With global cooperation declining and populism and authoritarianism on the rise, Nafees and Michael explore how those on opposite sides can b
Does the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank pose a threat to long-term peace for Palestine and Israel?
Dr Nils Mallock joins Dr Rajan Basra to discuss his research on the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the effect their presence has on political protest behaviour. These settlements are widely considered to be illegal under international law, but successive Israeli governments have allowed them to grow, and expansion has accelerated following Hamas' attack on 7th Octob
24 Hours at the Capitol: Nora Neus on January 6, the Far Right and American Nationalism
In this episode, Dr Pablo de Orellana, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, is joined by journalist and Emmy-nominated producer Nora Neus to discuss her book "24 Hours at the Capitol: An Oral History of the January 6th Insurrection".
Drawing on hundreds of interviews and primary sources, Neus reconstructs the “minute-by-minute” experience of 6 January 2021 – from elected officials to front
The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security
This episode introduces The Helsinki Brief, a podcast mini-series on Finnish intelligence and security. Hosted by Dr Paul McGarr of King’s College London, the discussion features Hannamiina Tanninen, an analyst at Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO), about the role and structure of civil intelligence in Finland.
The discussion covers SUPO’s legal mandate, core functions such as coun
Victim-centred peacemaking: How victim inclusion shaped Colombia’s Santos-FARC peace process
In this episode, Professor Roddy Brett, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Director of the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol, joins Dr Nafees Hamid, Co-PI of the XCEPT research programme, to discuss his new book, ‘Victim-Centred Peacemaking: Colombia's Santos-FARC-EP Peace Process’.
Professor Brett reveals how the victims’ delegations changed the dynamics of the Sa
A Risk Too Far: The Psychology Behind Operation Market Garden
In this episode, Dr Gary Buck, author of A Risk Too Far: A Psychological Autopsy of the Planning for Arnhem, joins Dr Huw Dylan to explore the human factors behind one of WWII’s most daring operations. Drawing on his expertise in operational psychology, Dr Buck reveals how stress, ambition and personality shaped the decisions of commanders like Montgomery, Browning and Urquhart during Operation Ma
Inside cyberwarfare: Navigating the digital battlefield
In this episode, Dr Tim Stevens, co-editor of the Research Handbook on Cyberwarfare, explores the evolving realities of cyber warfare and its growing impact on global security. He discusses the challenges of defining cyberwarfare, tracing its development from early military computing to today’s complex cyber operations across a distinct digital battlespace.
The conversation examines the key play
The untold story of Chinese naval officers in D-Day
In this episode, Professor Andrew Lambert FKC, Laughton Professor of Naval History, Geoff Browell, Head of Heritage Collections, and Angus Hui, curator of the D-Day Hong Kong, explore the untold story of 24 Chinese naval officers who trained with the Royal Navy during World War II and took part in the D-Day landings.
Angus discusses the fascinating discovery of a personal diary from one of these
The Spy and the Devil: The forgotten MI6 agent who changed British intelligence
In this episode, Professor Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Visiting Professor at the Department of War Studies, joins Dr Huw Dylan, Reader in Intelligence Studies and International Security, to delve into Tim’s new book, The Spy and the Devil: The Untold Story of the MI6 Agent Who Penetrated Hitler’s Inner Circle. They discuss the remarkable story of Baron William de Ropp—MI6’s key source inside Nazi Germany
Our Dear Friends in Moscow: Journalism, fear, and betrayal in the age of Putin
In this episode, investigative journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan—both Visiting Fellows at the Department of War Studies—join Dr Daniela Richterová, Senior Lecturer in Intelligence Studies, to discuss their new book, Our Dear Friends in Moscow: The Inside Story of a Broken Generation.
The book reflects on a generation of young Russians who came of age in the hopeful yet turbulent 1990
Imaging Peace: Photographing everyday peace
In this episode, Dr Tiffany Fairey, Senior Research Fellow at the Department of War Studies, and Dr Pamina Firchow, Associate Professor at Brandeis University, join Professor Rachel Kerr, Professor of War and Society at the Department of War Studies, to delve into their groundbreaking research that uses photography and community-defined indicators to rethink peace from the ground up.
To coincide
Watching the Jackals: Cold War terror, espionage, and Prague’s secret role
How did communist Czechoslovakia become a hub for Cold War terrorists like Carlos the Jackal and Abu Daoud? And what can today’s intelligence professionals learn from its uneasy covert alliances?
In this episode, Dr Daniela Richterova, Senior Lecturer in Intelligence Studies at the Department of War Studies, joins Dorothea Gioe, Visiting Research Fellow at the King’s Centre for the Study of Inte
Spying in South Asia: Cold War intelligence and the making of modern India
How did Cold War intelligence operations shape postcolonial India’s domestic politics and international alignments? Why did Western agencies prioritise relationships with Indian counterparts while publicly decrying non-alignment? And what can today’s policymakers learn from the legacies of covert cooperation in the Global South?
In this episode, Dr Paul McGarr, Lecturer in Intelligence Studies in
From rebels to rulers: Who are Syria’s new leaders?
In December 2024, the Assad regime in Syria was overthrown. Today, Ahmed al-Sharaa is acting as the interim president of Syria, at the head of a new transitional government.
What will the future look like for Syria under its new leader? Will the coalition of rebel factions be able to work together to build a stable future for Syrians?
Dr Nafees Hamid, Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Nils Mallock and Broderi
How behavioural science can pave the way to peace in Colombia
In 2016, the Colombian government signed a historic peace agreement with guerilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC. The agreement brought an end to 52 years of war, but today, eight years after the agreement was ratified, Colombia is still not at peace.
In this episode, Dr Nafees Hamid and Dr Andrés Casas discuss the motivations of guerilla group members in Col
The national and transnational dynamics of Iraq's Islamic Resistance landscape
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) is considered a key player in Iran’s Axis of Resistance, and its connection to the state security forces in Iraq has raised concerns about its access to power and position. But the IRI isn’t a cohesive organisation; it’s made up of armed factions which have their own agendas and domestic interests to pursue, and not all of these align with Iran’s.
In this epi
Eyes on the Indo-Pacific: Australia’s defence strategy
What does the future of Australia's defence strategy look like in the face of rising geopolitical tensions? How are shifting dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic influencing Australia’s approach to security? What role do partnerships like AUKUS play in shaping Australia’s military readiness for both the present and future?
In this episode, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN, the Australian
The fall of Assad and its impact on international dynamics
What does the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime mean for the future of Syria and the broader Middle East? How might the rise of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani reshape Syria’s governance and regional alliances? Can the rebel leader overcome immense challenges to stabilise the country, or will his leadership lead to further turmoil?
In this episode, Dr Shiraz Maher, Senior Lecturer, Dr Craig Larkin, Reader
The legacy of the Yezidi genocide with Mirza Dinnayi
In 2014, the self-styled Islamic State committed genocide against the Yezidi population in Iraq. To mark the anniversary of the genocide, Dr Inna Rudolf speaks to renowned Yezidi human rights advocate Mirza Dinnayi about what life is like for the Yezidi community 10 years on from the genocide.
Inna and Mirza discuss justice and accountability, the geopolitical situation in the Yezidis’ ancestral
Trump and the future of the Russia-Ukraine war
What would Trump’s return to the White House mean for Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security? How might his strategy for the war in Ukraine differ from the current administration’s? Can he deliver on his pledge to end the conflict quickly, and what might his approach involve?
In this episode, Dr Charlie Laderman, Dr Ruth Deyermond and Dr Barbara Zanchetta—Senior Lecturers in the Department of Wa
The power of open-source intelligence with Henrietta Wilson
How is open-source data being used to uncover threats to human security, and what ethical challenges do practitioners face when working with open-source intelligence? In this episode, we delve into these questions with Henrietta Wilson, Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Science & Security Studies, King’s College London.
Henrietta, co-editor of the recently published book ‘Open-Source In
The Strugle for Taiwan with Professor Sulmaan Khan
What makes Taiwan such a crucial flashpoint in global politics? How has its historical journey shaped its current role on the world stage?
In this special 'War Studies Podcast Live' episode, Dr Charlie Laderman, Senior Lecturer in International History, talks with Professor Sulmaan Khan of Tufts University about his latest book, ‘The Struggle for Taiwan’.
From Taiwan’s significance during Wo
The Great Global Rebalancing with Dr Samir Puri
Are we witnessing the decline of Western power and influence? What could this mean for the future of the global order?
In this episode, Dr. Samir Puri—former UK diplomat and Visiting Lecturer in the Department of War Studies—delves into these critical questions and more. We discuss his new book, Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing, and explore the shifting dynamics of a world where Wester
What is the ‘logic’ of intergroup conflict?
Why do groups enter into conflict when a peaceful resolution could be reached?
Dr Nafees Hamid interviews Dr Hannes Rusch about his work examining the ‘logic’ of intergroup conflict. Dr Rusch talks us through the basic models which explain why groups might choose conflict, and highlights key questions that remain unanswered by the research.
This research is being undertaken as part of a projec
Understanding conflict trauma and mental health in South Sudan
*This episode was recorded in early March 2024, before the recent escalation of violence in Sudan.
South Sudan may be the youngest country in the world, but it’s already undergone a huge amount of violence – and the ongoing civil war in Sudan looks set to bring further instability.
In this episode, Dr Costanza Torre and Dr Fiona McEwen discuss XCEPT’s research in South Sudan, which aims to under
Building resilience to violent extremism
What makes a person or a community resilient to violent extremism? Are these inherent characteristics or are they something that can be taught?
‘Resilience’ has become a buzzword in the field of countering violent extremism (CVE), but how useful is it? In this episode, Federica Calissano interviews Dr Nafees Hamid about the benefits and drawbacks of CVE initiatives which focus on building resili
How greening initiatives can help promote peace
After two decades of violent conflict in the city of Mosul, Iraq, Dr Omar Mohammed, founder of the Mosul Eye organisation, started a tree-planting initiative to help bring communities together. In the United States, Dr Marc Zimmerman examined how greening and improvement initiatives reduced crime in cities that had suffered economic decline.
In this episode, Dr Omar Mohammed and Dr Marc Zimmerma
Nuclear security and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with Dr Ross Peel
How has the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant impacted nuclear security and safety?
In this podcast episode we explore nuclear security and safety and the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with Dr Ross Peel, a Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies and the Centre for Science & Security Studies.
Wargaming: Playing out uncertainty with Dr David Banks
Wargaming has surged in popularity in recent years, drawing substantial financial backing from militaries, governments and the private sector alike. But what are wargames and how are they being used within the defence industry to navigate present and future conflicts?
In this episode, Dr David Banks, Lecturer in Wargaming and co-director of King's Wargaming Network at King’s College London, guid
The experiences of displaced Ukrainian women with Dr Daryna Dvornichenko
“So far, six million Ukrainians are estimated to have left the country to flee Russia's full-scale invasion. And because of military service requirements in Ukraine, most of these refugees are women. In some host countries, such as Italy, Poland and Estonia, the share of women among Ukrainian refugees exceeds 80%”, says Dr Daryna Dvornichenko a Visiting Research Fellow at The Dickson Poon School o
What do current conflicts tell us about the world today and our prospects for peace?
**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 Depart
Israel and conflict memory in Lebanon
Series: Breaking Cycles of Conflict
As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, Dr Craig Larkin and Bronte Philips reflect on what this means for the people of Lebanon.
They explore how the escalation of violence is reigniting traumatic memories of conflict with Israel, how past experiences are shaping attitudes in the present, and why the current conflict risks cementin
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 po
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
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
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 un
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
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, th
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 Londo
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
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 Russ
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 fre
Making the military moral with Professor David Whetham
How can we help the armed forces make the best decision when faced with impossible choices? What can we do to minimise the damage to soldiers’ mental health after conflict? And how can we save the highest number of lives?
In this episode, we speak to Professor David Whetham of the Defence Studies Department about military ethics education. We explore the process of educating the armed forces on m
50 years after Chile's coup d'etat with Francisco Lobo
"Reconciliation happens when my enemy tells me my story and I am able to say: ‘That is my story" - Stanley Hauerwas.
11 September 1973. Military forces attack La Moneda Palace, the Hawker Hunter plane launches rockets that hit the main wings of the building, fire echoes through the streets of Santiago, the body of President Salvador Allende is found. Fear begins to spread across the country.
50
Afghanistan after the Fall of Kabul with Dr Christine Cheng
“They couldn’t scrape together enough food to feed a family… It was very, very, very desperate.”
On August 15 2021, international troops withdrew from Afghanistan.
Two years on, what has been the impact of the Taliban’s rule? How has the country experienced both conflict and peace? And with a significant humanitarian crisis affecting the country, what can we do to support the people of Afghanis
Five years in terrorist captivity with Shahbaz Taseer
Please note that this episode contains material of a highly sensitive nature including kidnapping, violence and abuse that may be triggering for some individuals.
In late August 2011, a few months after the assassination of his father Salmaan Taseer, Governor of Punjab, Mr Shahbaz Taseer was dragged from his car at gunpoint and kidnapped by a group of Taliban affiliated militants called the Islam
Society, Sacrifice, and Devotion
‘I think people are willing to sacrifice, and go through all sorts of pain, but it can’t just be for oneself. There has to be some higher reasoning to it’.
In this episode, we are joined once again by Dr Nafees Hamid, cognitive scientist, Senior Research Fellow at the ICSR, and Research and Policy Director on the XCEPT project at King’s College London. We’ll be discussing identity in the West, t
Trauma and the reintegration of ex-combatants
In the latest episode of the Breaking Cycles of Conflict mini-series, Dr Heidi Riley is joined by Dr Gina Vale to discuss how trauma can affect efforts to reintegrate ex-combatants. Dr Riley explores the different ways in which trauma can be experienced by combatants, and why this makes an individual’s reintegration into post-conflict society so complex.
This research is being undertaken as pa
Neuroimaging of Radicalisation
In the latest episode of the Breaking Cycles of Conflict mini-series, we are joined by Dr Nafees Hamid, Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) and Research and Policy Director for the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme. A cognitive scientist focusing on the social side of cognitive research, Dr Hamid talks
Council of the Syrian Charter
As the conflict in Syria passes its 12th anniversary, one civil society body is trying to pave the way to peace. The Council of the Syrian Charter calls for social cohesion built around a common social heritage that transcends political affiliation.
In this podcast episode, Dr Craig Larkin and Dr Inna Rudolf are joined by Syrian lawyer and founder of the Council, Dr Naseef Naeem; journalist and
What makes a violent lone actor? Exploring the role of mental health
In this episode of the Breaking Cycles of Conflict mini-series, Paul Gill, Professor of Security and Crime Science at University College London, discusses his research into lone actor terrorists and the complex link between mental health and terrorism with Professor Ted Barker. The pair talk about how coping mechanisms, stigma, and protective factors shape an individual’s motivations to join a ter
Russia's War: Unravelling the Kremlin's narrative
Why is there support for Putin's invasion of Ukraine? How has the Kremlin framed the war? What will be the long-term impact of the war on Russia?
In this episode, we spoke to Dr Jade McGlynn, a Senior Researcher in the Department of War Studies and the author of 'Russia's War', a book that explores the attitudes and opinions behind the support for the invasion of Ukraine and popularity of Vladim
Making Sense of Trauma
How can testimony and storytelling help us understand the suffering and trauma of victims of conflict? Why is the act of bearing witness to trauma politically important in terms of raising awareness, healing, and reconciliation?
In this episode, Dr Pablo De Orellana, Lecturer at War Studies, sits down with two authors, Professor Minoli Salgado and Gareth Owen, who retold stories of trauma in c
Where are the women? Exploring the experiences of women in conflict
Why is it important to give women a voice in the study of war and security? Are women considered in military strategies and post-conflict reconstruction?
In this special edition for International Women's Day, we talk to Dr Amanda Chisholm about the role of women in conflict, discussing her latest book 'The Gendered and Colonial Lives of Gurkhas in Private Security: From Military to Market'.
365 days of war in Ukraine: What have we learned?
King's College London postdoctoral researcher, Marina Miron, talks to the War Studies Podcast as we reflect on the first 365 days of Russia's 'Special Military Operation' in Ukraine.
Using her knowledge of Russian military strategy, information warfare, and technology, we explore what has happened, why, and what it could mean for the future of global security.
The women of IS
As Shamima Begum appeals the removal of her British citizenship, the question of whether or not she is a ‘victim’ has flooded the press. Was Begum trafficked? Was she groomed? Or did she in fact know exactly what she was doing when she set off to Syria?
In this episode of the ‘Breaking Cycles of Conflict’ mini-series, Dr Gina Vale talks about her research into the role of women in IS. She explain
Do trauma interventions work?
Trauma interventions in fragile areas can help to break cycles of conflict, because we know that exposure to violence causes trauma, but that trauma can also cause violence. But these interventions are often delivered for only a narrow group of people deemed to be ‘worthy’ of them. In reality, the distinction between victim and perpetrator in conflict-affected populations isn’t quite so clear cut.
Prisons: the path to extremism?
Are prisons really hotbeds of terrorism? Will the ‘ordinary’ young man entering prison be so influenced by his cell mate that he leaves a terrorist? Or can a spell in these ‘incubators of extremism’ actually have the opposite effect?
In the second instalment of this mini-series, we join Dr Craig Larkin and Dr Rajan Basra fresh off the plane from Beirut to talk about their fieldwork out in Lebano
Breaking cycles of conflict
What drives one person to violence and another to peace? How does experience of trauma lead to radicalisation? Are there interventions that can help deflect people from trajectories of extremism? These are some of the questions that researchers at the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme at King’s College London are trying to answer.
In this episode Dr Nafees Hamid
Compassion or control? Britain and the abolition of slavery with Dr Maeve Ryan
The HMS Derwent arrived in Freetown harbour, Sierra Leone in March 1808, escorting two captured American ships carrying 167 enslaved people. What made them unusual was that their journey was interrupted — they were not simply captives, but “recaptives.” No longer bound for the Americas, these “liberated Africans” were instead bound to the British Empire: one of the first groups of survivors of the
Patchwork States: The roots of political violence in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
Over the winter of 2019 in India, 519 riots took place causing mass casualties and deaths. This in part was a reaction to the introduction of the Citizenship Amendments Act (CAA), government legislation that enabled non-Muslim immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to become Indian citizens. The exclusion of Muslims was seen by many as a fundamental challenge to principles of secular
The Western Front: The Generals in the First World War
The Western Front, that cauldron of war, a bubbling, fermenting experiment in killing that changed the world. The Western Front would become synonymous with stalemate and mass slaughter, with indecisive, attritional struggles, amid a tortured landscape of barbed wire and mud.
All the commanders of the First World War, whether leading the British, French or German, struggled in this maelstrom. Ye
Women leaders in health and conflict
Globally, there are very few women in leadership positions in healthcare and peacebuilding in areas of armed conflict – but why is this the case?
Why are women a key part of healthcare & peacebuilding? What barriers do women face in accessing leadership roles? And what can we do to tackle this?
In this episode, we speak with a team of researchers about their recently published policy brief, ‘A
The Road to Vietnam with Dr Pablo de Orellana
Why did the United States become involved in Vietnam? To combat communism, evidently. But just how did a Southeast Asian French colony already devastated by two wars become an existential threat?
The Vietnam war is one of the most studied diplomatic and security conundrums of international history, political science, international relations and statecraft. Yet less is known about the actual origi
Why biodiversity and wildlife conservation is crucial to global security with Dr Richard Milburn
“Empty stomachs have no ears…”
These were the words of a poacher in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, when asked why he continued to destroy wildlife in a local forest. It reveals what we often forget: that the degradation of biodiversity doesn't happen in a vacuum.
So how are global security, development and conservation related? In what ways do conflict and its many secondary effect
