War Studies

War Studies

Welcome to the War Studies podcast. We bring you world-leading research from the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, the largest community of scholars in the world dedicated to the study of all aspects of security, defence and international relations. We aim to explore the complex realm of conflict and uncover the challenges at the heart of navigating world affairs and diplomatic relations, because we believe the study of war is fundamental to understanding the world we live in and the world we want to live in. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, please rate and review us on your preferred podcast provider – it really helps us reach more listeners. The School of Security Studies harnesses the depth and breadth of expertise across War Studies and Defence Studies to produce world-leading research and teaching on issues of global security that develops new empirical knowledge, employs innovative theory, and addresses vital policy issues. Visit our website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/security-studies Sign up to our mailing list: https://kcl.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cc0521a63c9b286223dea9d18&id=730233761d DISCLAIMER: Any information, statements or opinions contained in these podcasts are those of the individual speakers. They do not represent the opinions of the Department of War Studies or King's College London.

Episodes

July 9, 2025 53 mins
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 1990s. In the wake of the Soviet Union’...
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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 with the large-scale Imaging Peace ...
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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 Intelligence, to discuss her new book W...
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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 the Department of War Studies, dis...
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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 Broderick McDonald discuss their research ...
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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 Colombia, public attitudes towards the...
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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 episode, Dr Craig Larkin, Dr Inna Rudo...
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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 Chief of the Defence Force, joins P...
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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 in Middle East Politics and Peace ...
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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 homeland, and what still needs to ...
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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 War Studies—delve into Trump’s stance...
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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 Investigations in the Age of Google’,...
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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 World War II and the Cairo Declaratio...
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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 Western dominance on the global stage is ...
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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 project called XCEPT, which is funded by ...
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*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 understand how experiences of conflict m...
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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 resilience to violent extremism. Read F...
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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 Zimmerman, interviewed by Dr Nafees Hamid, ...
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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.
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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, guides us through the complex world of ...
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