Coffee Break at Harmo: Recent Episodes
Forum Committee 2022/2023
Welcome to Coffee Break at Harmo: where international relations students of study association Clio start a dialogue about IR related topics and news. Join Clio’s Forum committee in an exploration of IR from all kinds of perspectives: researchers, activists and people affiliated with the university of Groningen or working with or within the field of IR who share their unique opinion and expertise on a different topic in each podcast. Get deep and diverse knowledge from this podcast that approaches everyday news and IR topics from unexpected and specialist perspectives!
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What an eventful year it has been! In our final episode our 37th Chair of Clio, Fabian Rosielle and Commissioner of Internal Affairs, Sietse de Hoop clarify the workings of Clio and what their Clio experience looked like! We also interview our lovely chairs, Mart, Romy and Carla as they reminisce their committees and look fondly upon the year that has passed them by. Last but not least, we are joined by our new ClioWelcome elcome chair, Tülin who details the workings of the upcoming intro period in September and why it is a period of celebration and fun, for everyone, new and old! Hosted by Angela and Iben.
Delve into the multifaceted world of online populism, with Dr. Kun He, as he dissects its contested definition, global significance, and evolving role in the digital age. Explore how platforms like TikTok shape populist movements, especially in China's unique digital landscape, hosted by Luk Pudwell and Robin Kopke.
Join us, as Dr. Lukas Linsi and Dr. Yuleng Zeng help us discover how global trade leads to growing interdependence between nations and how these developments affect diplomatic relations. Learn more about how current events impact global trade and hear Dr. Linsi and Dr. Zeng’s predictions for which current developments will impact global trade in the near future, hosted by Iben and Sinclair.
In our third episode, unveil the complexity of the EU's external relations with Dr. Eske Van Gils, as she walks us through the strategic utilisation of soft power and the nuances of normative power in IR. Drawing examples from Azerbaijan and her research on the country, listen to Dr. van Gils weigh in on their use of soft power and its implications on EU diplomacy.
On the 23rd of November, 2023, the right-wing populist Party For Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, won 37 seats at the Dutch General Elections. Assistant Professor in EU Foreign Policy (IRIO), Dr. Marek Neuman dives into the results of these elections and its potential impacts: what does the PVV's win mean for climate change and immigration in the Netherlands? How could this affect international students in Groningen? What are the reasons that can be attributed to the rise in right-wing support? Tune in to our episode, hosted by Nandita and Luk, to find out more.
For the debut of our fourth season, unearth the frozen landscape of the Arctic with us on our Christmas edition podcast! Guided by the professional insights of Dr. Humrich, this episode navigates through the ice-cold geopolitical terrain of the Arctic with questions about the dwindling prominence of Russia in the region, the influence of climate change and global warming on the conflict, the debatable role of the Arctic Council and much more. If all these questions seem to pique your interest, grab a cub of hot chocolate, cozy up and join us on this chilling episode!
In this episode of Coffe Break at Harmo we will discuss one of the most pressing issues in the region of our university. The earthquakes in the province of Groningen that are caused by the extraction of gas. Are you interested in learning more about the regional and national issues of the region and country you are studying in, than this episode will be a great start!
In this episode we ask IRIO lecturer Davide Dell’Isola about EU politics, migration and Meloni. What is the current migration approach in Italy, why do Southern European countries have more debt, and what is the role of the EU in coping with differences between member states? This and much more will be discussed in the fifth episode of coffee break at harmo!
Artificial intelligence and politics may seem an unlikely duo. Many will get horror visions of cyborgs and mass media companies taking over the world. In this podcast we interview dr. Davide Grossi about how artificial intelligence and computer science can improve democracy, social media in democratic societies and possible issues with the use of AI. Why is the response to AI initiatives tepid, and how can our societies deal in a healthy way with the risks of computerisation? Find out in this new, fascinating episode of Coffee Break at Harmo.
Together with Annika Kruse from FFF Hamburg, who attended multiple COPs, we will take a look behind the scenes of COP27 and find out how decision making on climate change takes place. We will dive into questions as, what kind of role does the host country and activism play in this decision making process? How efficient are yearly COPs? Was it justifiable to fly to COP27? Are all forms of climate activism justifiable? What can you do to stop climate change?
With an insider perspective from COP27, you will learn the answers to these and more questions in this episode of Coffee Break at Harmo!
Explore with us the conflict in the Palestinian areas and Israel and learn more about activism in Groningen with Willem and Masa from the organisation 'Groningen for Palestine'. Offering a perspective from activism on a heated subject.
What does activism look like in Groningen? Why is activism not a big thing despite the high amount of students? What exactly is the conflict and how do we speak about it? Is there a right to self-defence for Israel? How does Groningen for Palestine see democracy within the Palestinian authority? How does the conflict play a role in geopolitics? Learn the answer to these questions and many more in the second episode of season 3 of Coffee Break at Harmo.
Dive into the Russo-Ukrainian war with Dr Nicolaas kraft van Ermel. Why did Putin invade Ukraine? Is there a chance for peace? What is the role of historical parallels in the conflict and how is the position of Europe changing? Learn the answer to these and many other interesting questions in this first episode of Coffee Break at Harmo Season 3.