Ludovica Castelli is an expert on the history of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. In the latest episode of our podcast Researching Peace, Ludovica takes us on a fascinating journey covering oft-overlooked nuclear politics in the region and offers her take on recent events in light of this complex history.

This episode is presented by the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament. It is hosted by Giacomo Cassano, who is currently doing his PhD at the Centre as a member of the working group on nuclear negotiations.

Around the world – in both mature and young democracies, elections continue to be a flashpoint for violence. Researchers at our department recently released a model for forecasting violence related to elections, which could help inform the work to protect and promote democracy and electoral integrity around the globe. In this episode we interview David Randahl and Hanne Fjelde, who worked on the project, to explore how the model works and what it could be used for.

The research was led by David Randahl, and the team also included Maxine Leis, Tim Gåsste, Hanne Fjelde and Håvard Hegre based at our department, as well as Staffan I. Lindberg from the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg and Steven Wilson from the Department of Politics at Brandeis University. The study was a collaboration with the Kofi Annan Foundation.

The paper is available as a pre-print through the VDEM working paper series website

This episode is hosted by Joakim Palmén, Communications Officer at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research.

 

 

In this episode of Researching Peace, we welcome Robert Kelley, a veteran nuclear engineer at the US Department of Energy's nuclear weapons complex at Los Alamos. Kelley was involved in research and engineering operations before shifting to information analysis and disarmament in the 1980s. He worked for the International Atomic Energy Agency where he led the nuclear inspections in Iraq in 1992 and again in 2001. Over the course of his career, he has traveled to more than 20 countries, including South Africa and Libya to inspect nuclear weapons programs. We are pleased to present this episode of Researching Peace in English.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research and the Alva Myrdal Center for Nuclear Disarmament at Uppsala University.

 

Kan forskning bidra till en fredligare värld? Det tror dagens gäst – professor Isak Svensson som redan som tonåring var fredsaktivist. I det här avsnittet ska han lära oss mer om hur forskning om förhandlingar kan förändra världen.

Vi ska också prata om hur förödande kriget i Ukraina är för framtida förhandlingar med länder som har kärnvapen.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

Cecilia Wikström är inte bara en av Sveriges mest seniora EU-parlamentariker – hon är också ordförande i Alva Myrdal-centrums styrelse. I det här avsnittet blickar vi framåt och frågar oss vad centret egentligen kan åstadkomma på sikt. Och varför var det just Cecilia Wikström som fick frågan om att leda arbetet? Dessutom, hur har hon fått tag i en lampa som Indira Gandhi gett i present till Alva Myrdal?

Det och mycket mer i vårt första avsnitt för den här säsongen.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

Vem är det som kontrollerar om ett land har kärnvapen eller inte? Finns det verktyg för att ta reda på sanningen? Det har blivit dags att vässa geniknölarna i Researching Peace. I det här avsnittet träffar vi Sophie Grape, docent i tillämpad kärnfysik. Hon beskriver själv sitt jobb som ett detektivarbete.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

I det här avsnittet träffar vi svenska Beatrice Fihn som leder antikärnvapenrörelsen ICAN, mottagare av Nobels fredspris 2017. Men hur är det att leda den globala kampen mot kärnvapen mitt under brinnande krig, när världen plötsligt står inför ett verkligt kärnvapenhot? Är hon själv orolig för framtiden? Och varför är hon så besviken på den svenska regeringen?

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

Hur kommer Sveriges relation till Ryssland se ut i framtiden? Vad behöver hända efter kriget för att gå framåt? Och vad kan Alva Myrdal centrum spela för roll i det hela? I det här avsnittet av Researching Peace träffar vi Joakim Vaverka, toppdiplomat med lång erfarenhet från bland annat FN:s säkerhetsråd. Dessutom sitter Joakim Vaverka i styrelsen för Alva Myrdal centrum.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

Sedan kriget i Ukraina bröt ut har kärnvapenhotet trappats upp, bedömare menar att risken för att kärnvapen kommer att användas har ökat. I det här avsnittet möter vi Sveriges Radios utrikeskorrespondent Lubna El-Shanti som är född i Ukraina och som var på plats när kriget bröt ut. Hon är också en av de journalister som med egna ögon sett det fasansfulla i Butja där civila låg mördade på gatorna. Vi pratar om hur är det är att bevaka ett krig där hotet om kärnvapen finns närvarande och vad folket i Ukraina själva tror om kärnvapenhotet.

Dessutom ska vi reda på bakgrunden till varför Pink Floyd sjunger en Ukrainsk folkvisa.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

   

Kan Sverige bygga upp en beredskap för en kärnvapenattack? Eller är enda vägen framåt att arbeta för nedrustning? I det här avsnittet möter du Vendela Englund Burnett, ordförande i Svenska läkare mot kärnvapen, som menar att den svenska sjukvården skulle stå maktlös vid en kärnvapenattack. Vendela Englund Burnett är dessutom en av få som besökt de hemliga områdena i Sibirien där kärnvapen produceras.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

1945 fälldes två atombomber över Hiroshima och Nagasaki i Japan. Attackerna slog ut städerna och dödade över 200 000 personer. Kriget i Ukraina har återigen satt fokus på kärnvapenfrågan. Men vad har världen lärt sig av historien? Hur nära var det att kärnvapen avfyrades under Kuba-krisen? Och vad spelar sanktioner egentligen för roll? I det här avsnittet möter du Peter Wallensteen, professor och pionjär inom fredsforskningen. Dessutom får du höra hur det var när Peter som ung student blev inbjuden till samma fest som Alva Myrdal. 

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

   

För första gången sedan kalla kriget står världen inför ett reellt kärnvapenhot. Hur hamnade vi här och vilken roll kan Alva Myrdal center spela i nedrustningen? I det första avsnittet av vår andra säsong möter du Erik Melander, professor och föreståndare för det nystartade Alva Myrdal Center.

Researching Peace - en podcast från institutionen för freds- och konfliktforskning samt Alva Myrdal-centrum för kärnvapennedrustning vid Uppsala Universitet.

In this episode of Researching Peace, we welcome Sabine Otto, who discusses her project focusing on the civilian aspects of UN peacekeeping operations and their role in promoting human rights. She explains the transition towards multi-dimensional peacekeeping operations and reflects on future steps to enhance the effectiveness of civilian components in peacekeeping missions.

How is peace research perceived in different places around the world? Do the perceptions remain the same when we move from a research environment in the global north to another in the south? If there is variation, what is the reason behind it? In this episode, Pedro Valenzuela -Professor of International Relations at the Javeriana University- and Angela Muvumba Sellström -Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute and affiliated to Uppsala University’s Department of Peace and Conflict Research- talk about how peace research is viewed in the global south. They highlight the value of global partnerships and collaborations shaping the perceptions on this particular research field. Valenzuela and Sellström also discuss how researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can help create a fertile climate for peace by participating in outreach programs.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

What are the ethical challenges of conducting field research in conflict-affected areas? In this episode, Prakash Bhattarai -the Founder and Executive Director of Center for Social Change- and Karen Brounéus - Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University- talk about their experiences in the field, including in post-war Nepal, and they highlight some of the perils of doing field research. In addition, they underline the significance of creating a research culture of reflection and honesty. Sharing and learning from mistakes might be the key to building this culture, according to Bhattarai and Brounéus.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Is it possible to forecast when and where violence will escalate in the future? In this episode, Håvard Hegre -Dag Hammarskjöld Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo- talks about how he approaches to the question of prediction in peace studies. As the leader of the Violence Early-Warning System (ViEWS) project, Hegre explains the main components of a machine learning-based conflict forecast model. He also mentions various ethical dimensions of producing publicly available predictions.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

How can peace research play a role in the developments in international relations and diplomacy? How does the interaction between theory and practice work in the context of peace and conflict? In this episode, Jan Eliasson - Honorary Doctor of Uppsala University, former Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs - talks about his experiences of interacting with peace research in his diplomatic efforts. He provides significant insights on the value of evidence-based policies and scientifically grounded policies in the field of peacebuilding and international mediation. In this regard, he emphasizes the role of the DPCR and SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), especially in peace efforts led by Swedish researchers and policymakers around the world.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

How should peace researchers reflect on ethics in their studies? What are the key challenges that they are likely to face while investigating on the ground in the conflict zones? Are ethical review boards really necessary? In this episode of Researching Peace, Kristine Höglund -Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University- talks about how to conduct peace research in an ethical manner. She also points out the significance of a rarely-addressed facet of the research ethics debates i.e. the climate responsibilities of the academia.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Why do we need data on conflicts in order to understand peace? The Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) has been collecting systematic information on organized violence around the world for almost 40 years. In this episode of Researching Peace, the UCDP’s program director Magnus Öberg and project manager Therese Pettersson explain the logic and practice of collecting conflict data and they highlight what makes the UCDP one of the leading data sources in the field of peace and conflict research. Öberg and Pettersson also talk about the recent trends in organized violence in light of the newly released UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset 21.1.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Do we need to study civil resistance to better understand war and peace? Does civil resistance even work? If so, when and how? In this episode of Researching Peace, Erica Chenoweth - Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School and Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study- talks about the study of civil resistance and shares her insights on the patterns of nonviolent and violent campaigns. Chenoweth’s transformation from a “detached skeptic” to an “invested participant in nonviolent movements” opens questions on the role of scholars and the ethics of studying civil resistance.   Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Civil society initiatives for peace are valuable in conflict-affected regions. Peace research learns a lot from the good practices and paves the way for practitioners and policy-makers to make them realize what works and what not when it comes to peacebuilding. In this episode, Hannah Tsadik – Advocacy Director for Open Society Foundation, Africa Regional Office – talks about how to respond to conflict as a civil society actor. Her insights on how her studies at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research have affected her work on the ground give some clues on how to minimize the gap between research and practice.   Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Peace research seeks to understand the causes, dynamics, and resolution of armed conflicts and organized violence. In this episode, Kjell-Åke Nordquist – Professor of International Relations at the University College Stockholm- is talking about the origins and the evolution of peace and conflict research in Uppsala. As a former Head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, he is narrating how he was trained as a peace researcher and how the training had changed over time. He is also sharing how his experiences as a peace researcher helped him in different conflict settings, especially while he was acting as a facilitator in East Timor.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Conflict-ridden areas are at the focus of peace research in academia. But how does it feel to be on the ground? In this episode, Jamie LeSueur -Head of Emergency Operations at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Uppsala University Alumnus of the Year (2020)- shares some insights on his daily work as a practitioner and talks about how his time in Uppsala has been affecting his decisions at IFRC. As a master's graduate from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, LeSueur emphasizes that a degree in this field provides "a taste of what reality looks like" and being on the ground may provide even more.

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

In this episode of Researching Peace, we continue to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on peace research with Paola Vesco, a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Paola's research connects the dots between climate variability, food production, and conflict risk, providing essential insights in a world grappling with unprecedented environmental changes.

Is there a divide between research and policy? If so, how does this gap manifest itself? In this episode, Mimmi Söderberg Kovacs -Head of Research at the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA)- and Govinda Clayton -Senior Researcher in Peace Processes within the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich- talk about how to bridge the gap especially in peace and conflict related issues. Communication between the researchers and policymakers seems to be the key but why is it so difficult to set the scene for better communication?

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University has been working on understanding organized violence since 1971. In this episode, Peter Wallensteen -Senior Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and Professor Emeritus at University of Notre Dame- takes a look at this 50-year-long journey, talks about the foundational moments of the department and tries to answer some of the biggest questions in the field: What is peace research really about? Why do we need to make peace "researchable”?

Researching Peace is a podcast from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, hosted by Professor Isak Svensson.

Building on his background in British Intelligence John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold was a global success. It has been followed by a series of other best-selling works, many of which have been filmed with prominent directors and actors. In this Philosophy Tea we focus on the role of the spies, particularly during the Cold War: Do they contribute to war or peace? Do they add to transparency and tension reduction or to conspiracy, deceit, danger and fear ? It seems le Carré seldom provide answers, but such reflections are necessary, not the least as he in 2019 was awarded the Olof Palme for making “an extraordinary contribution” to “freedom, democracy and social justice”.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on John le Carré, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 23 November 2021.

Producer: Paul Kessel

 The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Naomi Klein, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 3 November 2021.

In our second Philosophy Tea we discuss Naomi Klein’s timely and controversial contribution to the climate change debate, This Changes Everything (2014). The book is a valuable account of the debate at that time, as well as an excellent introduction to today’s climate crisis. This summer’s extreme weather occurrences, the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warning about climate tipping points, and the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, which has been billed as the last chance to get runaway climate change under control, has made her 2014 analysis more relevant than ever.

Producer: Paul Kessel

In this Philosophy Tea we scrutinize the life, achievements and legacy of the icon of nonviolent action Mohandas K. Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). His work began with Asian resistance against White rule in South Africa and led to a number of campaigns for India’s self-determination in the 1920s and 1930s, contributing to the country’s independence in 1947. In his book My life is My Message he summarised his thinking about nonviolence and its role in social change. Undoubtedly he is one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century but at the same time remains enigmatic: not easy to follow or. We will attempt to illuminate some aspects of his life as well as his contribution to providing a role for the marginalised around the globe.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Mahatma Gandhi, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 5 October 2021.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

This episode discusses John Maynard Keynes’ important work of political economy, The Economic Consequences of the Peace. Critical of the harsh reparation payments imposed on Germany after World War I by the Treaty of Versailles (1919), Keynes argues that these will lead to increased suffering by the German people and to economic and political instability. He instead proposes financial assistance to rebuild Germany and war-ravaged Europe, much like the Marshall Plan would do after WW II. Throughout his long and distinguished career Keynes challenged conventional economic thinking, including leaving the gold standard and advocating state intervention to end the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Keynes’ unique ability to sense how the world economy was changing and to develop new economic policies to deal with it speaks to us today as we gradually emerge from the Corona pandemic that has radically altered our world.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on John Maynard Keynes, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 19 May 2017.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Fredrika Bremer, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 9 March 2021.

Producer: Paul Kessel

 

Author Fredrika Bremer (1801-1864) is discussed in this pod, recorded at the Regina Theatre March 9, 2021 (producer: Paul Kessel) in front of a live audience, as part of the Theatre’s series of Philosophy Teas  in cooperation with Uppsala University. It is a dialogue between Peter Wallensteen, Senior Professor of Peace and Conflict Research, and Literature Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both at Uppsala University. Their readings of Bremer provide contrasting perspectives. In the discussion they note that she did not go to the historical Seneca Falls meeting in 1848 that set the direction for the struggle for women’s voting rights. She did, however, present a unique proposal for a women’s peace convention in 1854, receiving international attention. The talk also goes into the importance of Bremer for women’s rights in Sweden.

 

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Martha Nussbaum, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 2 February 2021.

Producer: Paul Kessel

 

In their discussion on American philosopher Martha Nussbaum (b. 1947) Peter Wallensteen and Daniel Ogden focuses on Nussbaum’s book The Monarchy of Fear that was published in 2018. It was recorded in the Regina Theatre on February 2, 2021, for an audience on Zoom (Producer: Paul Kessel). Nussbaum emphasizes fear and anger as the most important human emotion and that can, for instance, explain outcomes of elections (such as the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections of 2016). The pod goes into recent research on emotion in psychology that questions Nussbaum’s conclusion. Wallensteen and Ogden also discuss anger and what type of action is can or should lead to.

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

In this Philosophy Tea we discuss Camus’ highly topical, The Plague (La Peste). Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. The Plague has often been seen as an allegory of the Nazi Occupation of France during World War II. But it is also part of a longer tradition of plague literature, a genre pioneered by Daniel Defoe in his A Journal of the Plague Year (1722), a work that Camus quotes in the epigraph to his own novel. In a more general sense it is about the human condition and our vulnerability to life threatening circumstances, be they caused by viruses or the actions of our fellow humans. How we respond to these circumstances defines us as human beings.

This episode was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 1 December 2020.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

Disarmament negotiator Alva Myrdal (1902-1986) was the focus in the Regina Theatre Philosophy Tea discussion on November 17, 2020 between Peter Wallensteen and Daniel Ogden and produced by Paul Kessel. Their discussion focuses on nuclear weapons, their impact on society (including Harry Martinsson’s Aniara) and the attempts to eliminate them. Alva Myrdal was the Swedish chief negotiator in the talks that were held in Geneva during the 1960s (following her position as Swedish Ambassador to India). Her book The Game of Disarmament was published in the 1970s and constitutes a classic in this particular field. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982 together with Mexican ambassador Alfonso Garcia Robles (1911-1991) for their joint efforts to reach agreements on a nuclear weapons test ban and on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

How does artificial intelligence (AI) affect peace and conflict research? Meet Jim Dale and Mert Can Yilmaz, who, in this episode, will explore the role of AI in peace and conflict research. Jim, a Programmer at the Violence & Impacts Early Warning System (VIEWS), explains the power of machine learning models in forecasting organized violence on a global scale. Mert, a Senior Analyst at Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), underscores the critical need to ensure AI systems are in sync with human values and intentions. Together, they navigate the complexities of explainable AI, its implications for peace studies, and the imperative for AI ethics. While they acknowledge the immense potential of AI in the realm of peace research, they stress that ethical considerations must guide its evolution to harness its benefits and curb potential risks.

Inspired by George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-four, Margaret Atwood set about in 1984 to write a dystopia from, as she has said, “the female point of view”. That such a dystopia was needed can be seen by the popularity of the novel itself and the HBO TV series by the same name (2017-). In our first Philosophy Tea of autumn 2020, we focus on Atwood’s novel and how it treats a number of highly relevant issues, not least among these being what happens when authoritarian governments use the suppression of women’s rights to help maintain their hold on power.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Margaret Atwood, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 12 September 2020.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

  Nathan Söderblom and World Peace.

In this episode we take up the Uppsala-based theologian, Archbishop Nathan Söderblom (1866-1931). We examine his ideas for forging cooperation between different Christian denominations and for using religion to promote peace. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1930. We discuss why he received the award and how the impact of his work has shifted since then.

This episode  was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 12 February 2020.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

John Locke and Natural Law

Our second philosophy tea discusses the groundbreaking ideas of the philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) on natural law in his Two Treatises of Government (1689) and the impact they had on the formulation of human rights in the American Declaration of Independence (1776), the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (1789) and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Locke’s ideas continue to inform debates on human rights and how they can be applied in the world today

This episode was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 30 January 2020.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

Eleanor Roosevelt and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

This season’s first philosophy tea discusses Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) and the role she played in creating the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In chairing the committee that drafted the Declaration, Roosevelt drew upon her long involvement in human rights and social justice issues. We also discuss the impact of the Declaration on later statements, legal conventions as well as for national and international politics.

This was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 23 January 2020.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

On Perpetual Peace (1795) Immanuel Kant's Philosophical sketch for World Order.

Immanuel Kant's Philosophical sketch for World Order became important to peace movements in the 19th century and inspired world organizations, such as the League of Nations and the United Nations, in the 20th Century. This Philosophy Tea discusses its role in the 21st century with inputs also from Kant specialist Rebecka Lettevall, Malmö University.

This episode was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 18 November 2019.

Producer: Paul Kessel

 

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

30th October 2019 – Arundhati Roy

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) The Tragedy of Kashmir and the Partition of India.

Set in New Delhi and the troubled region of Kashmir, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by award-winning novelist, social critic and political activist Arundhati Roy gives imaginative voice to lives affected by the traumatic events that have formed modern India. Our philosophy tea will look at these events and how they are portrayed in the novel, and the consequences they have for the identity of contemporary India, the world’s largest democracy.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” The Nightmarish World of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four (1949).

The legacy of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four is well established. Phrases such as “Big Brother is watching you”, and terms such as “doublethink” and “thoughtcrime” and “1984” itself have entered our political vocabulary. In this philosophy tea we will be looking at the story behind the novel and the reasons for its continued relevance. We will also be discussing how Orwell constructs this nightmarish world and whether the novel leaves any room for hope.

This episode was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 24 September 2019.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line”, The Souls of Black Folks (1903).

What unites the African Union in Addis Ababa and former president, Barack Obama, in the White House? The threads go back to W. E. B. Dubois (1868-1963), the first African-American to get a Ph. D. from Harvard University; a sociologist and a proponent of Black liberation. His work inspired independence for Africa through Pan Africanism, as well as civil rights in the United States. Since he is largely unknown in Europe, our Philosophy Tea will highlight this important proponent of human equality.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 12 December 2017.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

When Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring was published in 1962 it was an instant bestseller and a resounding alarm-bell: human activities were about to destroy the very conditions that made human existence possible. Being a marine biologist Carson (1907-1964) had observed the impact, for instance, chemicals like DDT on wild-life. Her documentation of these effects helped to galvanize public action, led to a questioning of human domination of the planet’s resources and resulted in debates on appropriate policies that still are ongoing. In this session we will discuss Carson’s arguments, their precedents and continued importance.

This episode was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 12 February 2019.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A misunderstood philosopher?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was, and still is, a controversial thinker. He has been blamed for the excesses of the French Revolution and preparing the way for twentieth-century totalitarianism. But is this a fair assessment of Rousseau? In order to try to answer this question, our philosophy tea will focus on Rousseau’s first important philosophical work, Discourse on the Arts and Sciences (1750), in which he first set forth his ideas on the natural goodness of humankind and how it has been corrupted by civilization. These ideas would play an important role in the development of his later, more mature political philosophy, and give rise to much of the controversy surrounding his name. By re-examining Rousseau’s ideas on nature and society, we hope to shed light not only on the impact he had on Enlightenment and Romantic thinking, but also what relevance he might have for us today

This episode of was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 21 January 2019.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

In this episode, we welcome Stefan Döring, a researcher specializing in the intersection of water and conflict. Drawing from his interdisciplinary research, Stefan sheds light on the issue of water conflicts. He unpacks the spatial dynamics of communal violence and introduces a seemingly counter-intuitive argument: water scarcity can foster cooperation instead of conflict. As we explore the future interplay of water and climate, Stefan highlights potential strategies to curb water-related disputes and emphasizes the pivotal role of research in shaping this narrative.

Nigeria in a Globalized World - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s, Americanah (2013)

This Philosophy Tea discusses the portrayal of post-colonial Nigeria in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah (2013). Driven by political instability and economic difficulties, the main characters – and lovers – Ifemelu and Obinze, seek a better life in the United States and England respectively. Returning to Nigeria they find that not only have they changed but so has Nigeria. Americanah, together with Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) and Purple Hibiscus (2003) form a loose trilogy of Nigeria after independence.

Daniel Ogden is a researcher and teacher of utopian ideas, for many years at Uppsala University and now at Mälardalen University. Peter Wallensteen was the first holder of the Dag Hammarskjöld Chair in Peace and Conflict Research (1985-2012) and is now Senior Professor at Uppsala University.

Philosophy Teas are produced in cooperation with Uppsala University and the discussions are disseminated as podcasts by the theatre and the University.

This episode was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 11 December 2018.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

Amartya Sen - Development and Freedom

Amartya Sen (born 1933) is a respected economist and philosopher from India with a broad perspective on development, inequality, freedom, democracy and social progress. In his widely read Development as Freedom (1999) he connects to the pioneering economic thinkers such as Adam Smith to argue for the enhancement of socially responsible freedom as the basis for economic development. One of his earlier works demonstrated that famines rarely happen in democracies, thus pointing to the importance of political institutions for economic development that benefits society as a whole. Similarly he demonstrated the impact of gender inequality by calculating the number of 'missing women' in the use of India's demographic statistics.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998 and the Skytte Prize in Political Science in 2017.This autumn Professor Peter Wallensteen and Lecturer Daniel Ogden will continue their popular Philosophy Tea talks. Each Philosophy Tea is a discussion about a particular philosopher or practitioner in the field of peace and justice and lasts for an hour. The discussion can span the whole career of the philosopher or focus on a particularly significant work. The final twenty minutes is reserved for an open discussion with the audience. The events are run in English.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Amartya Sen, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 9 October 2018.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

Philosophy Tea, september 25th 2018 Leaving Europe Behind – Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels (1726)

In our first Philosophy Tea for autumn 2018, we follow the sea adventurer, Lemuel Gulliver, on a voyage of self-discovery away from his native England. Through his encounters with Little People, Big People, Flying Islands and Talking Horses, Gulliver is forced to rethink his views on European superiority. But when he starts to question his own humanity, perhaps Gulliver has gone too far.

This autumn Professor Peter Wallensteen and Lecturer Daniel Ogden will continue their popular Philosophy Tea talks. Each Philosophy Tea is a discussion about a particular philosopher or practitioner in the field of peace and justice and lasts for an hour. The discussion can span the whole career of the philosopher or focus on a particularly significant work. The final twenty minutes is reserved for an open discussion with the audience. The events are run in English.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.

"A World Built on Rationality". In his Power: A New Social Analysis from 1938 the empirically acute philosopher and activist Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), reacting to the way the world was developing in the 1930s, provided a book that offered hope for peace through independence of mind. His monumental The History of Western Philosophy (1945) established him as a renowned scholar and brought him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950. His activism included protests against nuclear weapons, war in general and the Vietnam War in particular.

This episode of the Philosophy Tea, focusing on Bertrand Russell, was recorded and edited at Reginateatern, which also served as the host venue for the event on 27 February 2018.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.