Digital resources

S2 EP#1: Ten years of war in Syria?

In this podcast, we set out to challenge some of the assumptions in the existing debate around military intervention in Syria. We argue that Syria has seen very wide ranging military interventions by a large number of foreign actors. It is simply wrong to see it as a case of "non-intervention", even from the West. And this poses a question around how interventions should be designed and undertaken. 

S2 EP#2: Investigating the oil rush in Somalia

In this podcast, we critically review the efforts undertaken to date to start tapping into Somalia's oil wealth. We identify a problem of a lack of regulation and ask whether, given the global turn underway to renewable energy sources, this is the wrong time for Somalia to develop an oil industry. 

S2 EP#3: Traumatic decarbonisation in South Sudan

In this podcast, we explore the 'peak oil' problem in South Sudan. As the country's reserves dwindle, and oil prices collapse, the extremely impoverished, oil dependent economy has faced a mounting and existential crisis. This is what the Conflict Research Programme calls, 'traumatic decarbonisation'. And it's been a central factor in the South Sudanese Civil War. Drawing on expert interviews and archive footage, Conflict Zone investigates this process and asks what can be done to address the on-going crisis. 

S2 EP#4: Decolonising conflict research in the Global South: reflections and dialogues

In this episode, we introduce the Silent Voices Bukavu Project, a collaborative research project, based on the sharing of experiences and creation of dialogue, which has created an intellectual and cultural resource for the global academy. The project seeks to identify and share problems in order to promote and encourage collaborative best practices. 

S2 EP#5: The logics of conflict in the DRC: from the mineral to the checkpoint economy

In this episode, we explore the changing nature of the political economy of violence in the DRC. We outline the connections between local and global factors in fuelling the 'mineral wars'. But we also explore the new phenomenon of rebel financing: the role of checkpoints, showing how this also elicits linkages between globalisation and local political economies. We argue checkpoints provide an important window into governance practices in the DRC - and a greater awareness of this aspect, and its nuances, can help generate policy-making that is receptive to local conditions. 

EP #1: How is war changing? Organised violence in the 21st century

In this podcast, the first in a new series from the LSE, we explore the nature of intractable conflict in the modern world. While warfare is no longer seen as a normal mechanism for resolving disputes between states, many states and regions across the globe still live with the reality of conflict and violence.   

EP #2: Buying and selling politics: the political marketplace and its adversaries 

In this podcast, we introduce the idea of the political marketplace as a way of understanding the relationship between politics and organised violence in twenty-first century conflicts. This is a term which we use on the CRP to discuss the nature of the challenge facing democratic politics in societies prone to violence.

EP #3: Identity politics and the political marketplace

In this podcast, we investigate the relationship between political marketplace conditions and organised violence in Iraq and Syria. We also review the political history of post-1991 Ethiopia and ask if it's undergoing a transformation from a developmental state to a political marketplace one.

EP #4: Opportunities for peace and democracy: civicness in conflict societies

In this podcast, we discuss the phenomenon of 'civicness', arguing that this simple idea can unleash democratic change. We explore the movements for gender equality, independent journalism and democratic transformation in Iraq and Syria.

EP #5: What works? Effective security sector reform in conflict situations

In this podcast, we ask how security services can be reformed to work in the public good, ensuring that the state is not a vehicle for rentier interest groups. We take a closer look at cases of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

EP #6: What works? Exploring the role of local peace agreements in contemporary conflict resolution

In this episode, we look at the role local agreements can play in building a sustainable peace. We suggest caution in seeing these as a solution to organised conflict, but identify the potentially positive role they can play in peace building. The episode features evidence from Somalia, Iraq, Syria and South Sudan.

South Sudan Conflict Research: The Panel on the Pandemic 

In this episode of the podcast, scholars and activists reflect on the impacts of COVID-19 in South Sudan and for South Sudanese refugees. They analyse the responses of governments and humanitarian organisations to the pandemic, and its political and social implications for a nation fractured by civil war since 2013, and on the brink of peace when the pandemic hit. The discussion took place during the third Conflict Research Programme (CRP) South Sudan Panel meeting, held virtually in July 2020. 

The podcast features David Deng, human rights lawyer, independent consultant and research associate at the Conflict Research Programme (CRP); Angelina Daniel Seeka, women’s rights activist; and Dr Augustino Ting Mayai, Director of Research at the Sudd Institute and Assistant Professor at University of Juba’s School of Public Service, along with other CRP South Sudan panellists.

South Sudan Conflict Research: The Panel on Peace and Security

In this podcast, members of the Conflict Research Programme’s South Sudan panel reflect on questions of peace and security, based on their diverse research agendas. The episode features Professor Julia Aker Duany’s account of the historical role of women in indigenous peace-making processes. It then examines the challenges of South Sudan’s current peace process, with attention to the social contract, transitional justice and food security, including contributions from Professor Luka Biong Deng Kuol, David Deng, Kuyang Harriet Logo, Christopher Oringa and Tong Anei. Professor Alex de Waal hosts the discussion and explains the aims and achievements of the panel.

South Sudan Conflict Research: Reflections on patriarchy and sexual violence 

In this podcast, Dr Rachel Ibreck shares extracts from conversations about patriarchy, toxic masculinity and sexual violence in South Sudan, recorded with other associates of the Conflict Research Programme over the past two years. Rachel’s book South Sudan’s Injustice System: law and activism on the frontline explores some of ways in which customary laws are implicated in licencing violence against women and sustaining violent conflict. She argues that the everyday efforts of lawyers and activists to challenge patriarchal norms in courts are pivotal to ending war and securing justice and peace.

But sexual violence is a multifaceted problem, and the podcast features insights from four other researchers who have spent years documenting and probing it from different angles. We hear from a member of the CRP Bridge local research network; Alicia Luedke, adoctoral candidate in Political Science at the University of British Columbia; and from two members of the CRP South Sudan Panel, Angelina Daniel Seeka, a women’s rights activist and researcher, and Prof. Jok Madut Jok, an anthropologist from Syracuse University. 

Knowledge Production in the Global South: Launching (Silent) Voices: The Bukavu Expo

This event explored North-South research collaborations, discussing how to overcome the erasure of local voices in the production of knowledge across academia. The event also launched the (Silent) Voices: The Bukavu Expo, an online exhibition illustrating the difficulties faced by Congolese researchers when conducting fieldwork in conflict settings.

Start the tour.

Rethinking UK policy towards conflict: lessons from the CRP

The panellists, Mary Kaldor, Rim Turkmani, Julian Reilly and Alex de Waal discussed the policy recommendations proposed by the Conflict Research Programme to the UK Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

Download the paper here.

Financial Strains, Health Pressures: Syria, Somalia and the COVID-19 impact

Populations and institutions in Syria and Somalia have been subject to conflict and political turmoil for many years and now face the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This event draws on analysis from the CRP and its researchers and partners involved in these settings.

Listen to the audio here.

Syria and the coronavirus: what are the risks?

An online briefing held in collaboration with Caabu discussing Syria's health care capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presentations from the CRP's Mazen Gharibah and Zaki Mehchy, authors of the paper: COVID-19 pandemic: Syria’s response and healthcare capacity.

Civic Stories from Conflict Zones: examples from the DR Congo, Somalia and Syria 

The panel discuss recent examples of civicness in the DRC, Somalia and Syria and ask whether there are ways to support and strengthen civicness from the outside, and whether this could help to weaken persistent conflict.

Food and Power in Somalia: business as usual?

Discussion and report launch of ‘Food and Power in Somalia: Business as Usual?’ The panel discuss how the political economy of food has changed in the past 10-15 years, with shifts in governance and in aid. 

Prospects for Democracy in Sudan

The panellists discuss the events leading up to the 2019 Sudanese Revolution, the history of protests across Sudan and the role of civil society and the diaspora. 

Yazidis and ISIS: The Causes and Consequences of Sexual Violence in Conflict

Launching the paper 'Yazidis and ISIS: The Causes and Consequences of Sexual Violence in Conflict' by Zeynep Kaya.

Approaches to Reforming the Iraqi Economy amid Popular Protests

Launching the report ‘Public Payroll Expansion in Iraq: Causes and Consequences’ by Ali Al-Mawlawi. 

Satellite Sectarianisation or Plain Old Partisanship? Inciting Violence in the Arab Mainstream Media

Dr. Jessica Watkins launches a new report that assesses widespread claims that pan-Arab satellite news channels have been responsible for inciting sectarian violence during the Arab uprisings.

LSE Festival 2019: Art & Conflict 

The panellists discuss the role of art and visual representation in response to conflict and dealing with its consequences.

Civic Perspectives on Conflict

Two critical intellectuals from the Democratic Republic of Congo and from Syria present their analyses and prognoses of the violence in their countries, with commentary from researchers on the CRP and Dr Javier Solana, the former High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union and Professor of Practice at LSE.

Understanding the Drivers of Conflict in Iraq

Listen to the launch event of the CRP Iraq team. In this podcast they present the findings from the Iraq synthesis paper.

The panel of speakers included CRP Research Director for Iraq, Toby Dodge, CRP Research Fellows Zeynep Kaya and Jessica Watkins and; Chatham House Research Fellow Renad Mansour.

Understanding Violence in Africa and the Middle East

Listen to the podcast from the launch of the Conflict Research Programme in March 2018. In this podcast, CRP Research Directors, Mary Kaldor, Rim Turkmani and Toby Dodge engage in a panel debate facilitated by Lyse Doucet. They were also joined by Rachel Ibreck and Javier Solana.

International Law and New Wars 

Listen to this podcast on the book launch of International Law and New Wars with the co-author and Executive Director of the Confict Research Programme, Professor Mary Kaldor.

Professor Kaldor spoke on some of the ideas about human security and civicness that underlie much of the CRP's work, particularly in Syria and South Sudan. 

What’s Next for Sudan’s Fragile Democratic Transition?

In this podcast, Alex de Waal describes the current situation and political dynamics in Sudan (as of August 2019.) He outlines the crucial next steps needed in order to transition into a civilian-led government.

The Political Marketplace of South Sudan

Listen to this podcast with CRP Research Programme Director, Alex de Waal, discussing his concept of the 'political marketplace' with colleagues from the Rift Valley Forum and the South Sudan Young Leaders Forum.

The panel analysed how the political marketplace is shaping the politics of South Sudan and discussed possible economic reforms that might help lift the country out of its current crisis. The political marketplace forms a key element of the CRP's research framework.