Politics and International Relations Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Oxford University
Although the 2003 Iraq War was linked to the "War on Terror" the case for the war was presented, at least in the UK, within the terms of the established framework of international relations, with the UN at the centre. The aftermath of the war pushed the UK into an arena in which terrorist methods were regularly employed and it struggled to cope. The lecture will explore what this might mean for future British interventions.
Professor Alex Bellamy (University of Queensland) discusses new challenges for implementing Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principles in the current age. Bellamy, who is also Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, outlines his view that R2P has gained normative acceptance throughout the international community at a much higher level that in previous decades. Significant progress has been achieved such as putting North Korean human rights on the table. With the rumbling year of politics in 2016, however, Bellamy finds that R2P protectors must be on alert. As far back as 2012, long before the time of Trump, he suggests that R2P was challenged by an increased prevalence of atrocity crimes, displaced persons and extremist activities concurrent with a decline in international capacity to handle these issues. Countries were failing to practically implement R2P despite their implicit agreement with its promises. The dearth of leadership from the United States under the next administration, he says, will only make things more challenging. Despite these concerns though, Bellamy remains optimistic about the future of R2P and proposes six ideas to protect R2P itself. These range from searching out leadership beyond the West and striving for more complete implementation of existing policies.
Author Angela Cummine gives a brief overview of her book on Sovereign Wealth Funds: what they are, and who actually owns them. Dr Cummine then explains some of the political disagreements that can occur when the state sees itself as the primary owner of sovereign wealth, rather than the agent of the people, who she argues, are the principal-owners of these assets. It is citizens therefore, who must enjoy meaningful control over and benefit from these assets. If sovereign funds are managed and used in a way that respects this vision of them as community funds holding citizens' wealth, they could be used for a whole range of laudable public policy goals, for example, to plug budget deficits and to tackle economic inequality. You can learn more about the book by clicking here: http://citizenswealth.net
Geir Lundestad, a Norwegian historian, who until 2014 served as the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, delivered the 2016 Cyril Foster Lecture, 'Twenty-five Years in the Search for Peace: Reflections on the Nobel Peace Prize', on 3rd March 2016. The Cyril Foster Lecture is the University's principal annual guest lecture in the field of International Relations. It has attracted a most distinguished group of lecturers. The Cyril Foster bequest specifies that the lectures are to deal with the ‘elimination of war and the better understanding of the nations of the world.’
Geir Lundestad was the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute and the secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the Nobel Peace Prize, from 1990 to 2014. In 2015 Geir published a frank account of his 25 Nobel years. The lecture is based on Geir's book, and in particular, discusses what the Nobel Peace Prize can realistically achieve.
Professor John J. Mearsheimer (University of Chicago) presents the conclusions of his latest article published in 'Foreign Affairs' on offshore balancing. Mearsheimer sets out his case against the practice of liberal hegemony by the US, making the bold statement that Presidents Bush and Obama have acted very similarly when it comes to intervention abroad. He examines the track record of US involvement in places like Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria before moving on to explain why 'offshore balancing' would be a superior strategy for the US government to adopt. Mearsheimer argues that by managing conflict from afar, the US can halt the buck passing that is so common in international relations today, free up resources to be spent domestically and curb the spread of terrorism. His argument is tempered by a caveat for conflict with potential world hegemons: while he believes that the US can retreat from Europe and the Gulf, onshore involvement will be increasingly required in China as it poses a strategic threat to the US that will not be tempered independently by Russia.
Discussant and DPhil student Ulrike Franke (DPIR) whose research examines drone warfare questions Mearsheimer on his conceptualization of liberal hegemony, the role of NATO and the Obama administration's legacy. She also raises the relevance of public opinion for his theory's implications.
'The Case for Offshore Balancing' is coauthored with Stephen M. Walt (Harvard Kennedy School) and may be found here: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2016-06-13/case-offshore-balancing.
St Antony's College hosts the 2015 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Svetlana Alexievich, for a discussion of her the Soviet soul and her current and former projects. Conducted in Russian and translated by Oxford DPhil student Margarita Vaysman, the discussion captures key insights into Alexievich's writing process, often described as a new genre between journalism and literature for her extensive usage of interviews to craft a global voice. Alexievich explains the pique of her interest for storytelling from a conversation with her grandmother and the methods she uses to approach her subjects as neighbors who form part of the same history of the Soviet experience. Her profound musings on truth, suffering and evil versus good provide a broader context for her works Second-Hand Time (newly translated to English this year) and Chernobyl Prayer as well as many others.
Professor Timothy Garton Ash discusses the premise of his new book titled 'Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World.' Introduced by Warden Margaret MacMillan of St. Antony's, Professor Timothy Garton Ash presents his newest book, 'Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World.' The work is based on the premises that the conditions of free speech are changing given movements of mass migration and the wide dissemination of the Internet, both of which make us all neighbors, both literally and figuratively. Professor Garton Ash organizes his book around what he argues are the ten main dimensions of free speech: lifeblood, violence, knowledge, journalism, diversity, religion, privacy, secrecy, icebergs and courage. Crucially, Professor Garton Ash argues that we must be able to agree on how we disagree and that issues of civility ought not to be mediated by the law.
University scholars Adam Roberts (Balliol), Patricia Thornton (Merton) and Faisal Devji (St. Antony's) address the new publication with contextual information on the cases of India and China as well as a debate on the existence of universal values.
Associated with the book is a website curated by Professor Garton Ash and graduate students of the University featuring information and contributions on the ten principles of free speech in 13 different languages including Turkish, Japanese, Urdu and Arabic. The website is available here: http://freespeechdebate.com.
President of the Stefan Batory Foundation Aleksander Smolar discusses nationalism and internationalism in contemporary Poland
Félix Krawatzek and Andy Eggers discuss methods to analyse large bodies of text in more systematic and reliable ways.
Professor Todd Hall discussed his recently published book, 'Emotional Diplomacy: Official Emotion on the International Stage.'
The speaker analyses the concept of 'sovereignty' as presented in the Objectives Resolution of Pakistan presented to the Constituent Assembly in March 1949
Professor Sarah Chartock discusses ethnodevelopment policies, illustrated with the cases of Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala.
Dr Slaughter discusses workplace policies and the value we place on care of children and other loved ones.
Dr Micah Muscolino discusses his new book entitled "The Ecology of War in China: Henan Province, the Yellow River, and Beyond, 1938–1950." This book explores the interplay between war and environment in Henan Province, a hotly contested frontline territory that endured massive environmental destruction and human disruption during the conflict between China and Japan during World War II. In a desperate attempt to block Japan's military advance, Chinese Nationalist armies under Chiang Kai-shek broke the Yellow River's dikes in Henan in June 1938, resulting in devastating floods that persisted until after the war's end. Greater catastrophe struck Henan in 1942–3, when famine took some two million lives and displaced millions more. Focusing on these war-induced disasters and their aftermath, this book conceptualizes the ecology of war in terms of energy flows through and between militaries, societies, and environments. Ultimately, Micah Muscolino argues that efforts to procure and exploit nature's energy in various forms shaped the choices of generals, the fates of communities, and the trajectory of environmental change in North China
How Europe's external border controls that limit and monitor the entry of non-Europeans relates to the reception of migrants in the European Union
Both undergraduate degrees in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, as well as History and Politics have a gender discrepancy in finals results. This workshop addresses the reasons for these differences. This workshop organised by the Oxford Q-Step Centre (OQC) brings together key speakers from Oxford and beyond to discuss gender differences in examinations in the context of courses that include quantitative methods.
The UK has a crucial role to play in the debate over how the EU should be reformed. This session engages in a conversation as to why and how.
Federico Fabbrini (Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen) delivered a talk on his book manuscript 'Economic Governance in Europe: Comparative Paradoxes and Constitutional Challenges.' The Euro-crisis and the legal and institutional responses to it have had important constitutional implications on the architecture of the European Union (EU). The purpose of the talk – which is based on the ongoing book project – is to offer a broad picture of how relations of power in the EU have changed, considering three different dimension: 1) the vertical relations of power between the member states and the EU institutions: 2) the relations of power between the political branches and the courts; and 3) the horizontal relations of power between the EU member states themselves. Federico Fabbrini will argue that, in the aftermath of the Euro-crisis, power has been shifting along each of these axes in paradoxical ways. In particular, as a brief comparison with the United States helps to reveal, the EU is nowadays characterized by a high degree of centralization in budgetary affairs, an unprecedented level of judicialization of economic questions and a growing imbalance between the member states in the governance of fiscal matters. As the talk will suggest, however, each of these dynamics is a cause for concern – as it calls into question important constitutional values for the EU, such as the autonomy of the member states in taking decision about taxing and spending, the preeminence of the political process in settling economic matters, and the balance between state power and state equality. To address these issues, therefore, the talk will suggest possible options for future legal and institutional developments in the EU, and discuss the challenges that accompany any further step towards a deeper Economic and Monetary Union.
The launch of the tenth edition of St Antony’s International Review includes panels and presentations on the theme of the resurgence of identity politics. St Antony's International Review (STAIR) is Oxford's journal of global affairs, a peer-reviewed, academic journal established in 2005 by graduate members of St Antony's College at the University of Oxford.
Featured Panels and Presentations:
Session 1: Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict and New Political Identities Dr. Jonathan Leader Maynard, Dr. Aurelien Mondon, and Professor Alexander Betts. Introduced by Katharine Brooks.
Session 2: The Devoted Actor: Pancultural Foundations of Intractable Conflict (in co-operation with the Centre for International Studies) Dr. Scott Atran (Director of Research, ARTIS and CIS Research Associate). Introduced by Kalypso Nicolaïdis.
Session 3: The Role of Identity in International and Regional Relations Dr. Bettina Schorr, Professor Erika Harris, Professor Kalypso Nicolaïdis, and Professor Gwendolyn Sasse. Introduced by Emily Tamkin.
Session 4: Keynote presentation by Craig Calhoun, Director, LSE. Introduced by Katharine Brooks.
Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz discusses the growing levels of inequality in societies like the United States and Britain, why inequality is a problem, and how the levels of inequality can be reduced. This event, the Fourth Annual Oxford Fulbright Distinguished Lecture on International Relations at the University of Oxford, was giving on 23 May 2014. It was hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, in association with the US-UK Fulbright Commission, the Embassy of the United States of America, Pembroke College and the Lois Roth Endowment.
Professor Loukas Tsoukalis, Professor of European Integration at the University of Athens, gives the 2014 Cyril Foster Lecture. Professor Loukas Tsoukalis, is also the President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), and Visiting Professor at King’s College, London and the College of Europe, Bruges. The transformation of Western Europe during the second half of the twentieth century was a remarkable success story, and regional integration was part and parcel of it. After the collapse of the Soviet empire, Pax Europaea gradually spread to the eastern part of the continent. The European project became much bigger, more intrusive and less inclusive, while external competition intensified in a rapidly globalising world. And then, a big international financial crisis transformed itself into an existential crisis of the European currency union. Was the euro a terrible mistake? And what lessons can be drawn from the way Europe has so far (mis)managed the crisis? Centrifugal forces have been growing between and within countries. Trust is low. Economic factors often push for more integration, but politics resists. Meanwhile, Europe’s ‘soft power’ is too weak to deal with an increasingly unstable neighbourhood, not to mention global challenges. Or, does collective weakness have more to do with internal divisions? More differentiation and flexibility will be necessary to deal with heterogeneity and growing divergence within the EU, although this may not stop the UK from exiting. Has European integration reached the end of the road, and if so, what would be the implications for peace and prosperity in Europe and beyond? And what are the pre-conditions for a new European grand bargain?
Prof. John Curtice discusses the implications of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. Is it merely a technical detail of little consequence - or does it represent a quiet constitutional revolution? The Fixed-term Parliaments Act is one of the very few constitutional changes included in the coalition's Programme for Government that has managed to see the light of day. Yet it is little discussed and its potential effects seemingly inadequately understood. This lecture discusses its apparent effects on UK politics to date and its potential effects in future, focusing in particular on its implications for Prime Ministerial power, government formation, and the parliamentary and devolved electoral cycles. This was the keynote lecture of a one day workshop on “The Fixed-term Parliaments Act”, co-sponsored by the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Constitutional Studies Programme.
Dr Katherine Morton (Australian National University) discusses China and the future of global governance, with particular emphasis on the areas of food security and the maritime commons. The event was held at St Antony's College on 21 Oct 2014 as part of the East Asia Seminar Series.
Speakers from this day event join in discussion with Mark Philp himself about some of the issues raised throughout the day. This discussion is taken from 'A celebration and critical evaluation of the work of Mark Philp'. Mark Philp was our founding Head of Department (2000-2005) and Tutorial Fellow at Oriel College (1983-2013). He is now, since 2013, Professor of History at the University of Warwick. His work in the fields of political thought and political theory are notable for their interdisciplinarity as well as the excellence of their scholarship and depth of philosophical analysis. The event took place at the Department of Politics and International Relations on 22 April 2014.
Sir Martin Davidson KCMG, CEO of the British Council, examines the UK’s soft power capacity.
On 24 January 2014, the Centre for International Studies hosted a workshop on 'The Global Liberal Order and its Future' that explored the current shift of power and influence between nations that is taking place globally.
Against the background of the broader history of the idea of human rights, this lecture investigates when and why the contemporary field of "global justice" in philosophy and political theory was invented. Returning to the engagement of American liberals with the decolonisation process in the 1970s, in the aftermath of the Vietnam war and even as more powerful tendencies were about to bring the welfarist ideal of the postwar era low, this lecture presents contemporary "cosmopolitanism" as a response to a forgotten revolt of the global south against the prevailing economic order of our age.
Kathryn Sikkink (Blavatnik School of Government) discusses 'The Role of Agency in Constructivism' in the 'Future of Constructivist Research in International Relations' conference (30 April 2013). This half-day workshop discussed the contributions of constructivism and what the future constructivist research agenda might look like. It was organised by the Centre for International Studies.
Katherine Nwajiaku-Dahou gives an introduction to the Same Difference? - Nigerian Brits, French Senegalese: Comparing Integration in the UK and France conference held on 6th July 2012 at St Anthony's College, Oxford. Please see http://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/index.php/details/1904-same-difference-comparing-integration-in-the-uk-and-france.html for more information.
Stephen Whitefield, head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, gives an introduction to the Volcano symposium: a series of talks discussing the causes of and possible solutions to the current global crisis.
Professor Jeremy Waldron, Chichele Professorship of Social and Political Theory at Oxford, delivers the keynote address for the Inaugural Oxford Graduate Conference in Political Theory. The conference theme was Political Theory and the Liberal Tradition.
Keynote Speech by Professor Desmond King FBA (University of Oxford) for the Third Conference of 'Transformations of the State' (11 May), which forms part of the Anglo-German 'State of the State' Fellowship Programme, with an introduction by Heike Klüver.
Ambassador Thomas Pickering delivers the second Annual Oxford Fulbright Lecture on International Relations. This lecture took place on 18 May 2012.
Robbie Shilliam, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London, gives a talk on 19th Jan 2012 for the Historical Materialism and International Relations seminar series. The Historical Materialism and International Relations seminar series seeks to explore and develop the multiple points of contact between Marxist theory and international relations, most broadly defined. It does so with the double aim of investigating the critical and explanatory potentials of Marxism in the domain of international relations, as well as to probe what an engagement with 'the international' might contribute to Marxist theory. The seminar series is associated with the journal of Historical Materialism: Research in Critical Marxist Theory and its forthcoming 'Historical Materialism and International Relations' book series.
A conversation between Elizabeth Frazer (PPE, 1984; DPhil 1987), Matthew Powell (PPE, 2010) and Nick Alexander (PPE, 1976). Matthew and Nick discuss their learning experiences at Oxford across the internet divide, and find that they have much in common. Nick has just started his 30th year in the video game business where he is currently Executive Chairman of Connect2Media and Non-executive Chairman of TeePee Games; Matthew is currently studying for the MPhil in Comparative Government. A forum to discuss this podcast is available at http://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/index.php/in-conversation/in-conversation.html
'The Politics of Interpretation and The Interpretation of Politics' conference (23rd to 24th Sep 2011, organised by Jens Olesen): first talk. Chair: Jens Olesen (Oxford) 10:00 - 11:00 Welcome and Introduction Professor Michael Freeden (Oxford) Ideology Between Method and Meaning: The Gateway to the Political.
Professor Saskia Sassen gives the keynote speech of the 'Transformations of the State: Interdisciplinary Perspectives' conference held by the Anglo-German State of the State Fellowship Programme on 21st May 2011.
Kathryn Nwajiaku, Oxford, gives a talk on The politics of Oil and Ethnic Nationalism in Nigeria's Niger Delta as part of the Nigeria Economy and Society section of the Celebrating Gavin Williams Conference.
Inaugural Fulbright lecture in International Relations, given at St Antony's College to commemorate Senator J. William Fulbright, one of Oxford's most distinguished alumni and founder of the Fulbright Programme of Academic Exchanges. Professor Slaughter discussed how the nature of US foreign policy during the Obama administration has shifted from purely government - government diplomacy to place far greater emphasis on government - society relations and on society - society relations. As part of this shift development has come to assume a much higher priority in US foreign policy, alongside defence and traditional diplomacy. Introduced by Professor Sir Adam Roberts and Professor Andrew Hurrell and hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, in association with the US-UK Fulbright Commission, the United States Embassy, Pembroke College and the Roth Endowment.
Professor Neil MacFarlane, Fellow in International Relations gives a talk on Humanitarian aid, the responsibility of the international community to protect individuals and groups on 18th June 2011.
Professor Michael Freeden introduces the Politics in Strange Places conference, held in Oxford in September 2010.
Part of the Politics in Strange Places conference held n Oxford University, September 2010.
Dr Pauline Kleingeld (University of Leiden) gives a paper for the 2010 Kant and Colonialism Conference held at Nuffield College, Oxford. Introduced by Dr Tomothy Walingore.
First presentation from the Kant and Colonialism conference held in University of Oxford in October 2010. In association with the Oxford University Department of Politics and International Relations, The Centre for The Study of Social Justice (CSSJ), The London School of economics and Political Science and Nuffield College.
Rescuing Justice and Equality: Celebrating the Career of G.A. Cohen Conference at the Centre for the Study of Social Justice (CSSJ), Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January 2009. On January 23-24 2009, with the generous support of Philosophy and Public Affairs, the Centre for the Study of Social Justice will be hosting a conference to celebrate the career of G.A. Cohen, who is retiring after 23 years as Chichele Professor of Social and Political Theory. Delivered by Paula Casal, comments by Philippe Van Parijs.