Root of Conflict

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 fails to dismantle them, requiring innovations in policymaking aimed at reducing violence in the country. Lessing highlights what works—and what doesn't—when the state seeks to reassert its authority. Professor Benjamin Lessing is a political scientist at the University of Chicago, specializing in criminal governance, state capacity, and Brazilian politics. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Fernanda Garcia, Gil do Vigor Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 fragility, and unresolved tensions from past conflicts. By the end of the episode, you will also understand the role of external actors and the broader geopolitical and economic stakes shaping the conflict today.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.   Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Julia Mansur, Manda Bwerevu Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 witnessed since the war began. The conversation examines how Ukraine is adapting to the change in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, the prospects for peace, the role of NATO and other security guarantees, and the gap between Europe's economic power and military response.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Viktoriia Shcherba Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 behavioral science can be leveraged to mitigate conflict. She discusses the role of trusted authorities in shifting norms, the effectiveness of contact-based interventions in fostering peace, and the challenges of applying these strategies across different contexts. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the intersection of behavioral science and peacebuilding.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Clarice Tee Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 Final Agreement in 2016. He discusses strategies for peace negotiations, potential challenges, and how to overcome obstacles in the long term.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Sol Rivas Lopes, Lina Gonzalez Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 extensive career, highlights core concepts from his latest book, “From Vision to Action”, and offers practical advice for young policymakers striving to implement effective conflict-resolution strategies.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Sol Rivas Lopes, Mithila Iyer Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 to peace. Michèle emphasizes the importance of negotiating with opponents to advance the public good and building institutions through compromise. Tune in for her insights on fostering collaboration and creating a brighter future for Haiti.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento and Ralph Valiere Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 English is a Professor of Politics at Queen's University Belfast, where he is also Director of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website a www.thepearsoninstitute.org. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Raul Leon, and Natalia ZorillaEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Isabella Nascimento

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, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, and is a Fellow at the Institute for African Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In today's episode, he discusses what inspires his work in the region, common misconceptions about development, the complexities of working on the ground, and the concept of "Wealth in People."  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento and Mario Venegas Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 

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 Cavanaugh's scholarship, like her academic training, is interdisciplinary and seeks to interrogate questions of law in its social context. She has published on international human rights and humanitarian law; theoretical as well as applied research on the use of political violence; ethno-nationalism; and more recently, militant democracy and the politics of memory. As a consultant, she has undertaken numerous missions on behalf of Amnesty International including to Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, and Iraq and she will be speaking at the 2024 Pearson Global Forum in October. We discuss, among other topics, the framework of international humanitarian law, storytelling in meta conflicts, and the difficulties of accountability for human rights violations within the international system.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org You can access the transcript here. Podcast Production Credits:Editing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 internationally recognized expertise in amnesty laws through extensive writing and the creation of the Amnesties, Conflict and Peace Database. She works as part of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, led by the University of Edinburgh, and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Professor Mallinder's teaching focuses on international human rights law, human rights practice, constitutional law, and transitional justice. We discuss how amnesties can be granted without compromising justice, the intersection of law with other disciplines in academia, and Professor Mallinder's perspectives at large on the field of transitional justice.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Should you encounter any challenges with the audio quality, we invite you to follow along with the transcript provided for a seamless experience. You can access the transcript here. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Isabella Pestana de Andrade do Nascimento, Natalia Zorrilla Ramos, and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 human rights and democracy and has worked over the past 20 years to strengthen democratic institutions and promote human rights throughout the East Asia and Pacific Region. As a career civil service employee and former Presidential Management Fellow, Ambassador Turner has dedicated her career to advancing human rights around the world. We discuss how the United States and its allies in the region play a role in protecting and promoting human rights in North Korea, how the United States balances Human Rights with some of its hardline measures – like economic sanctions and military deterrence, and how Ambassador Turner engages with the broader Korean American community.A note that the acronym DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the country's official title, which is also commonly referred to as North Korea. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Should you encounter any challenges with the audio quality, we invite you to follow along with the transcript provided for a seamless experience. You can access the transcript here. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Levi Latoz, Myong Kun (Chris) Shin, and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah BalikciResources:Memoirs written by North Korean Refugees

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 Peace Agreement in southern Colombia. She researches and writes journalistic stories on illegal armed groups, deforestation, and organized crime. She is also the author of A War Later, (Spanish: Una Guerra Después) a journalistic book that tells the stories of five Colombians impacted by the Peace Agreement made between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC). The book focuses not just on the former FARC combatants but also tells the stories of victims, military personnel, and government officials that weren't covered in the broader news at the time. We discuss the framework of the peace agreement, the impacts of implementation, and the how Vélez built trust within communities to facilitate her journalism.Watch the Pearson Institute's talk featuring Juanita Vélez on YouTube here.You can find more information on A War Later here.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.orgAccess the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Paula Cadena Moreno and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 problems in the economics of development, political economy, and conflict. He conducts most of his research in areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); where he looks at the organization of society, the economics and psychology of armed groups, the emergence of state functions, and the economics of organized corruption, working closely with these actors, while also gathering detailed data for statistical analysis. We discuss Professor Sanchez de la Sierra's path to working in the DRC and later involvement in Congo Calling, a documentary film that follows him and two other Europeans who work in various roles within the international development aid sector in the DRC. Later, we discuss his goals and objectives for his class Power and “Development,” which he teaches at Harris. Finally, we explore Professor Sanchez de la Sierra's perspectives on the state of the world at-large, including his insights into the #FreeCongo movement.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Raphael Rony Anthony, Manda Bwerevu, and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 political landscape and how polarization impacted its own democratic journey. We also discuss different theories of political transition, Middle Eastern development politics, and Dr. Brumberg's perspectives on Iran.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Joshilyn Binkley and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 how Kashmir was made "integral" to India through a study of the decade long rule of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, the second Prime Minister of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. We discuss the historical context of the conflict in Kashmir through the book's chapters.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Nishita Karun and Julia HigginsEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 Institute and Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. We speak about his past and current research projects in Afghanistan, dual-use infrastructure, and broad U.S. policy interventions. We also talk about his work teaching as a professor, his advice for students, and how his life journey has influenced his understanding of conflict and ripple effects.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Jose Macias and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 development, as well as gender and human rights in post-conflict contexts. We talk about gender-based violence in the context of war, Dr. Chishti's work in passing Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and the complexities of humanitarian aid implementation today.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Julia Higgins, Rabail Sofi, and Hannah BalikciEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 gender studies at Cairo University. We talk about the role of gender when discussing conflict, the women's movement in Iran, and Palestinian mothers today.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Jordan Enos, Raphael Rony Antony, and Isabella Pestana de Andrade do NascimentoEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 accountability for human rights violations committed by authoritarian regimes and are generally the most well-known example of transitional justice. Yet, there exist different procedures of extra-judicial transitional justice—including lustration, truth commissions, and purges—that hold human rights violators accountable and remove them from positions of power without formally sentencing them.In this episode, we speak with Professor Monika Nalepa, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, about her new book After Authoritarianism and her monumental work building the Global Transitional Justice Dataset at the Transitional Justice and Democratic Stability Lab. We talk about the different implications of transitional justice for both leaders and rank-and-file members of authoritarian regimes and the more recent global phenomenon of democratic backsliding.Learn more about After Authoritarianism and read it here.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Olga Bednarek and Isabella Pestana de Andrade do NascimentoEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 erased—and their movements co-opted before the international community. In this episode, we speak with Rez Gardi, a Kurdish New Zealander lawyer and human rights activist, about how, despite becoming the symbol of a revolution, non-Kurdish activists and news coverage have continually denied Jina her true name and identity. We talk about the long-lived Kurdish resistance against state oppression in Iran, Syria, and Turkey and the broader history of the Kurdish struggle for autonomy and self-determination in the Middle East.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Hannah Balikci and Zareen HussainEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Reema Saleh

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 labs in the Global South. Drawing from ten years of research by the Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium, she argues that the international development sector, in its current form, often fails to take into account the experiences and perspectives of people living in contexts of violence and conflict and offers a new language for transforming development in the wake of conflict. We talk about the colonialist thinking underpins international development, how the sector's unflinching faith in causality creates blind spots for practitioners, and what it means to envision this space anew.Learn more about Lives Amid Violence and read it here.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Julia Higgins, Reema Saleh, and Umama ZillurEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Reema Saleh

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 sixth annual Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Lecture to discuss Sudan's political transition and economic policymaking. The lecture took place just weeks after violent conflict erupted in Sudan. Fighting between two military factions has forced millions of Sudanese to flee the violence and cast a shadow of uncertainty over Sudan's ambitions to transition to a civilian-led democracy.Watch the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Lecture featuring Dr. Elbadawi here.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at ThePearsonInstitute.org Access the transcript here.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Hisham Yousif and Kirgit AmlaiEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Hannah Balikci

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 immigration attorneys as they navigate the asylum process and pursue refugee status in the United States.Spanning six years of research between the Obama and Trump administrations, her ethnographic research examines the paradoxical and precarious criteria that decide who is deserving and whom we should protect—and how U.S. asylum laws fail to protect children escaping life-threatening violence. We talk about her work, how recent immigration changes are impacting unaccompanied minors, and how Chicago will grapple with an unanticipated migration influx.Learn more about “Precarious Protections:” https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520391918/precarious-protectionsThis podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Natalie Reyes, Gabriela Rivera, and Reema Saleh Editing: Ricardo SandeProduction: Reema Saleh

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 relationship with Europe and how it has adapted in a globalizing world. We talk about maps, how the British Isles went from a relativelyunimportant country on the edge of other empires to a globe-spanning power from its periphery, and what geography has to tell us about the future of Britain's place in the world.Learn more about “Geography is Destiny:”https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157272/geographyisdestinyThis podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Hannah Balikci, Zareen Hussein, and Reema SalehEditing: Ricardo SandeProduction: Reema Saleh

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 politics in the Palestinian territories. He documents how liberation is not a single moment in history but instead a complicated process that begins before and continues long after the colonizer loses power. We talk about how settler-colonialism is embedded at heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict and what the struggle for liberation can look like around the world.Learn more about “Decolonizing Palestine:” https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501752742/decolonizing-palestine/This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcast

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. Witnessing the murder of friends and neighbors on Bloody Sunday, he joined the Irish Republican Army to resist British occupation. He left the IRA in 1976, and since then, he's worked to build bridges between Catholic and Protestant communities in the North of Ireland and foster peace and reconciliation. For the first fifteen minutes, we talk about the history of the troubles and the Irish resistance before going on to discuss his work, personal experiences, and how victims and survivors move forward after conflict. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org Access the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcast Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Hisham Yousif and Reema Saleh Editing: Ricardo Sande Production: Reema Saleh

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 documents how the conflict disrupted lives and reshaped people's social worlds outside of our conventional understandings of war. We talk about the ordinary, everyday actions that people took to contribute to fighting and how civilians came together to deliver comfort and care.Learn more about “Everyday War,” coming out this February: https://gretauehling.com/This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcast

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 episode, we speak with Bashir Goth, the Head of the Somaliland Mission in the United States. We talk about how Somaliland has navigated state-building without international recognition, democracy and development, and what Somaliland has to offer the world in the coming decades. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org Access the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcast Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Deqa Aden and Joshua Charles Editing: Ricardo Sande Production: Reema Saleh

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 post-conflict societies—the interventions that create interpersonal trust between former perpetrators of violence and former victims of violence as they build their everyday lives together.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Connor Christensen and Andrea Mariño VarelaEditing: Ricardo SandeProduction: Reema Saleh

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 women in the Middle East. We discuss her work with the Intisar Foundation—studying drama therapy as a mental health intervention for refugee women and how it's impacted communities within the camps.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcast

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 Harris School. We talk about his research and how homegrown solutions to African problems can come from within.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastThe Pearson Global Forum is our annual in-person and virtual convening on discrimination and marginalization. Join us to hear from global experts as they discuss various topics including the social cost of discrimination, the crisis in Lebanon, and bias in media coverage of conflict. The event is free and open to all on October 14. More information at www.thepearsonglobalforum.org.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Christelle InemaEditing: Ricardo SandeProduction: Reema Saleh

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 episode, we speak with Carter Malkasian, a historian and author of “The American War in Afghanistan: A History” – a comprehensive history of the US intervention, conflict, and withdrawal in the country. A former advisor to American military commanders in Afghanistan, Malkasian has extensive experience working in conflict zones and has published several books in his career.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastThe Pearson Global Forum is our annual in-person and virtual convening on discrimination and marginalization. Join us to hear from global experts as they discuss various topics including the social cost of discrimination, the crisis in Lebanon, and bias in media coverage of conflict. The event is free and open to all on October 14. More information at www.thepearsonglobalforum.org.

How has the Myanmar military coup fostered 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 episode, we speak with Jason Gelbort, an international lawyer and legal advisor to ethnic nationality organizations in Myanmar. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Upland Advisors, a not-for-profit organization supporting sustainable peacebuilding initiatives and human rights advocacy.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sahara Chen and Anupriya NagEditing: Ricardo SandeProduction: Reema Saleh

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 Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the failures of Western intervention, and what worldbuilding after colonialism can look like.Listen to Ambassador Kimani's speech to the United Nations on Russia and Ukraine: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082334172/kenya-security-council-russiaThis podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Deqa Aden, Josephine Lando, and Nancy SmithEditing: Aishwarya Kumar and Ricardo SandeProduction: Reema Saleh

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 U.S. State Department and White House advisor in the Obama administration to leading international programming at Heartland Alliance, she shares insights from her work on human rights, HIV/AIDS, and refugee protection programming.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Deqa AdenEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

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 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the other ongoing conflicts our world faces today, many of us are wondering, is resorting to violence the norm? Are the paths to war easier than the paths to peace? Examining real-world interventions, “Why We Fight” explores why violent conflict is rare in reality and how successful societies interrupt and end violence through peacebuilding.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Deqa Aden and Ana Camila VasquezEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

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 governments are impacted by Russian disinformation tactics and how to navigate the future of conflict. We also talk about her upcoming book, "How to Be a Woman Online," coming out April 21, on how to deal with gendered harassment and abuse in online spaces.Note: this episode was recorded in November of 2021, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, so keep that in mind as you're listening. In the past month, we've seen misinformation and disinformation efforts ramp up, so it's important to understand how these strategies work and what threats they pose.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Annie Henderson and Reema SalehEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

How we can 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 Index, which measures and ranks the peacefulness of 163 different countries around the world.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Deqa Aden and Reema SalehEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

What are the prospects for peace in Yemen and how do we hold international actors accountable? In this episode, we speak with Afrah Nasser, a researcher with Human Rights Watch investigating humanitarian law violations and human rights abuses in Yemen. A former activist and independent journalist in Sana'a, Nasser has been advocating for human rights and justice in Yemen for over a decade.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Reema SalehEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

Can intergroup contact build social cohesion after conflict? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Salma Mousa, a political scientist studying social cohesion after conflict and what policies can build trust between groups. She talks about her latest study on building social cohesion between Christian and Muslim youth soccer players in post-ISIS Iraq and the challenges to achieving peace between groups.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the study here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abb3153Access the transcript here: https://thepearsoninstitute.org/news-and-media/podcastPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Aishwarya Raje and Wafa Eben BeriEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

Refugee populations face unique challenges to mental health and overcoming trauma in resettlement. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Aimee Hilado, a clinical social worker and researcher specializing in immigrant and refugee mental health and Associate Professor of Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Hilado is the founder and director of the RefugeeOne Wellness Program, a mental health program established in 2011 for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in Illinois.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgRefugeeOne is the largest refugee resettlement agency in Illinois and serves over 2,500 immigrants and refugees each year. Learn more about them on their website at www.refugeeone.orgPodcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Aishwarya Raje and Marina MilaszewskaEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

How do researchers assess the impact of peacebuilding interventions? And what can we learn from examining existing literature as a whole? In this episode, we speak with Ada Sonnenfeld, a former Evaluation Specialist with the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). She talks about her work managing systematic reviews and evidence gap map projects, which can help policymakers make more informed decisions about how to use evidence – to make sense of what we know and learn from what has been done before. We discuss her recent review, where she and her colleagues synthesize evidence on programs that promote intergroup social cohesion in fragile contexts.This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.orgAccess the study here: http://bit.ly/SocialCohesionSR46 Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Reema Saleh and Mwangi ThuitaEditing: Aishwarya KumarProduction: Reema Saleh

The relationship between illegal financial flows and state-level violence is present in conflicts around the world, and is especially pronounced in Afghanistan. In particular, the country’s thriving drug market based on the opium trade has proven to be a major economic factor that has been fueling the ongoing conflict. In this episode of Root of Conflict, Aishwarya Raje and Mwangi Thuita speak with Gretchen Peters, Executive Director of the Center on Illicit Networks and Transnational Organized Crime (CINTOC). Drawing on her role at CINTOC as well as her decades-long career as a writer and journalist, Gretchen talks through why the political economy of the War in Afghanistan is so poorly understood, and the connections between criminal networks, weakened institutions, and breakdown into disorder.