PRIO's Peace in a Pod

The West vs. 'The Rest'

On April 29th at the World Economic Forum, Norway’s Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, delivered a striking critique of the so-called “West,” accusing his allies of a double standard in their handling of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. 

His remarks echoed growing criticism from the Global South, and highlighted the risk of eroding multilateral institutions and international law.

But is there truly a double standard? And what new global alliances could emerge as the United Nations struggles with paralysis?

In this episode, Stein Tønnesson, Research Professor Emeritus and former Director of PRIO, and Gérard Araud, former French Ambassador to the UN and the United States, explore what “the West” means today and how global governance might evolve in the future.

This episode is hosted by Arnaud Siad.

Women in Peace Mediation: The Israeli and Palestinian Women Working for Peace

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, two women's organizations are pushing for a return to negotiation and a permanent resolution to the conflict.

“Women Wage Peace” is the largest grassroots peace movement in Israel, while its Palestinian counterpart, “Women of the Sun,” is a Palestinian women's organization based in Bethlehem.

They are part of a global movement to ensure women are not just represented, but also at the leadership table in peace negotiations.

Their work is supported by research showing that involving women significantly increases the chances of achieving enduring peace agreements.

In this episode, Xanthe Scharff, a gender expert, writer, and co-founder of The Fuller Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to groundbreaking reporting on women, tells us about her reporting on these two women’s organizations.

She is followed by Torunn L. Tryggestad, PRIO’s Deputy Director who heads its Centre on Gender, Peace, and Security, and Professor Azza Karam, a specialist in religion and development, and the keynote speaker at this year’s UN High-Level Seminar on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Processes, held in Oslo.

PRIO’s "Peace in a Pod" is hosted by award-winning journalist Arnaud Siad.

How Russians (Really) Feel about Putin and Ukraine

As Russians headed to the polls this month, the reelection of Russian President Vladimir Putin was not in doubt.

On March 17th, with over 87% of the votes in his favor, Putin secured a fifth term, becoming the longest-serving leader of the Federation since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. With most opposition candidates either dead, jailed, exiled, or barred from running, the path was clear, with no credible challenger to his rule.

Echoing this landslide victory, polls in Russia seem to indicate Putin enjoys real domestic support, with 86% approving of the President, according to the Levada Centre, a respected Russian pollster.

So beyond these official figures, what do Russians really make of their leader? And is support for the war in Ukraine as strong as the Kremlin claims?

In this episode, we talk to Aleksei Miniailo, a political activist in Moscow, who started a project with social scientists and analysts to find out how the war with Ukraine is really being perceived in Russia. Pavel Baev, a Research professor at PRIO and an expert on Russian foreign policy, also joins the conversation.

PRIO's Peace in a Pod is hosted by award-winning journalist Arnaud Siad.

Migration Trends in 2023: Stories From the Field with CNN’s Nima Elbagir

From war-torn Ukraine and Sudan to the Mediterranean, 2023 marked yet another year where thousands were forced to leave their homes in pursuit of a better life.

In one of the deadliest migrant boat tragedies, more than 600 people drowned on June 14 off the coast of Greece, after a fishing vessel known as the Adriana capsized and sank. A few months later, the minuscule Italian island of Lampedusa saw an influx of 10,000 individuals within days, which nearly doubled the local population. It created new urgent humanitarian needs, on an island that has already welcomed and seen thousands pass through over the years, while again fuelling a narrative by fringe political parties of an "invasion."

But beyond the gripping headlines, what were some of the key migration trends that defined 2023? What realities do those embarking on the journey to Europe face? And amidst the turmoil, are European initiatives aimed at curbing migration proving effective, and at what moral and financial costs?

In this episode, we hear from Maria Gabrielsen Jumbert, a Senior Researcher at PRIO and an expert on migration and humanitarian issues. She is joined by Nima Elbagir, CNN's multi-award-winning Chief International Investigative Correspondent, who just returned from an assignment in the West Bank. Nima is in Oslo to deliver PRIO’s Annual Peace Address.

This episode is hosted by Emmy-award winning journalist Arnaud Siad.

Israel Turns 75: Is its Democracy at Risk?

On April 25th, Israel marks 75 years of existence, commemorating the Declaration of Independence of 1948. But this year, amid the fireworks, military parades and flag-waving, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu will be on the lookout for disruptions and more protests.

Recent proposals by Netanyahu's government - the most far-right in the history of the country - to weaken the Supreme Court has sent hundreds of thousands of protestors to the streets. Meanwhile, illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank continue to spread, with the open support of members of the government, including controversial figures such as Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

So, is Israel's democracy at risk? And in this context, what future is there for Palestinians and Israeli Arabs?

Hilde Henriksen Waage, professor of History at the University of Oslo, and research professor at PRIO. She has worked extensively on the role of Norway in the Oslo Accords and is a published author on the topic. Jørgen Jensehaugen is Senior Researcher at PRIO, and author of the book “Arab-Israeli Diplomacy Under Carter."

73 - Taking Away the Guns: How Does Disarmament Influence Peace and Conflict Dynamics?

Disarmament, i.e. the collection of arms and ammunitions following civil wars, is aimed at preventing conflict recurrence and paving the way for peace. However, comprehensive disarmament of non-state actors is challenging and rare. In this episode, we look at the following questions: What is the relationship between disarmament of rebel groups and peace? What is 'criminalized peace' and how can we prevent it? What are the roles of women in arms control initiatives? The episode features the first female mediator who signed a peace agreement with a rebel group (Miriam Coronel-Ferrer), an expert on arms control and violence reduction (Guy Lamb) and a PRIO Senior Researcher who works on trade and trafficking of small arms and light weapons, homicide, and armed violence (Nicholas Marsh). The episode is hosted by PRIO Senior Researcher Júlia Palik.

72- Academic Fraud – How Much of a Problem Is It, and What Can Be Done To Stop It?

Research is only valid and useful so long as the people doing it are honest. However, there many incentives for researchers to lie. This discussion looks at the following questions: What is academic fraud? How prevalent is it? What can be done to prevent fraud?

It features a prominent investigator of academic fraud (Nick Brown), a researcher who has studied academic publishing (Lynn Parker Nygaard) and a deputy editor of a prominent journal (Sebastian Schutte).

This bonus episode is hosted by PRIO Senior Researcher Nicholas Marsh.

71- The New UN Climate Report: A Conversation with Lead Author Halvard Buhaug

On 28 February, the IPCC, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,launched the second part of its Sixth Assessment Report. This part assesses the impacts ofclimate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global andregional levels. It also reviews vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the naturalworld and human societies to adapt to climate change.

One of the main conclusions of the report is that climate adaptation is proceeding too slowlyand that measures are being implemented on too small a scale to address the major climatechallenges we face.

In this episode, we discuss the findings of the report, and the work behind it, with PRIOResearch Professor Halvard Buhaug, who is a lead author in the Sixth Assessment Report.

70- War by Other Means: The Crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The last few months in Bosnia have been marked by moves towards secession and a flare-up ofethnic tensions emanating from Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity of Bosnia andHerzegovina established by the Dayton Peace Agreement which put an end to the 3 ½-year-longBosnian War. Commentators are describing the last few months as the worst political and securitycrisis since the war ended in 1995.

In this episode, we discuss the current crisis and ask if what we are seeing in Bosnia is new to thecountry or part of a longer trend. We also discuss what these past few months tell us about thesuccesses and shortcomings of formal peace agreements.

Political scientist and migration scholar Aida Ibričević and psychologist and peace scholar IngerSkjelsbæk join Teuta Kukleci, Communicator at PRIO, for a conversation on the topic.

69- Jeffrey D. Sachs: PRIO Annual Peace Address

Every year, PRIO holds its Annual Peace Address, inviting distinguished guests to reflect on how to contribute to the creation of a world in which violence is the exception and peace is the norm. In 2021 the peace address was given by Jeffrey D. Sachs with the title “Why we must avoid a new cold war and how to do it”.

Sachs is a world-leading expert in economics and sustainable development, University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

Repost: 57- Energy and Power in the Eastern Mediterranean

Scrambles for natural resources and struggles for power when such resources come to light are a frequent cause of international conflict and tension around the world. In the Eastern Mediterranean, recent discovery of hydrocarbon has only exacerbated existing tensions. This is a region that includes Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel. Today we’re going to hear from PRIO Cyprus Centre researcher Zenonas Tziarras on this topic: he'll explain the key players, the recent history, and what kinds of issues he thinks are worth highlighting there.

Repost: 60- Transformative Visual Storytelling in Conflict Research

What is the transformative potential of visual storytelling in conflict research?

In the project Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts or (TRANSFORM), animations and comics were created in collaboration between researchers, activists, artists, writers, and many others. These pieces of art not only serve to inspire possible change, but also to illustrate and highlight stories of societal transformation around the world. That work was done in collaboration with PositiveNegatives.

Today Ben Dix, PositiveNegatives Founder, and Cindy Horst, Research Professor at PRIO, talk about their work together.

Related material

68- Academics and Activism: From Afghanistan to Australia

When the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, many academics found themselves in a desperate scramble. For female academics in particular, the threat of retaliation and loss of freedoms was ominous. Meanwhile, their colleagues and counterparts in other countries struggled to help them. Professor Jacqui True at Monash University managed to successfully help bring several female academics from Afghanistan to Australia.

Today Jacqui and Afghan scholar Parisa talk about developments in Afghanistan and the journey to Monash University.

Related material

67- Uffo: Acts of Defiance and Care

In the 1980s, in what was then Northern Somalia, doctors, teachers, and other professionals lived out their ethics and ideals by restoring a hospital and responding to the needs of people in their community. Their actions were rewarded with arrests and imprisonment. This is the story of the Uffo group.

In today’s podcast Mohamed Aden Hassan and Ebba Tellander discuss Uffo and how this story can inspire people around the world - especially perhaps the Somali Diaspora.

Ebba also wishes to acknowledge research assistance by Nasra Dahir Moahed and Shukri Ali (whose voice we hear in this episode as well).

Related material

66- Children in Conflict

In 2020, 1.6 billion children were living in a conflict-ridden country. Approximately 452 million children – more than one in six – were living less than 50 km from where the actual fighting took place.

For the last few years PRIO and Save the Children have collaborated on the Children in Conflict project which illuminates the number of children affected by violent conflict around the world. Updates have expanded to include children living in conflict zones where they are at risk for sexual violence.

In this episode Gudrun Østby, Ragnhild Nordås, and Roos van der Haer talk about this research collaboration.

Related material

65- Hypermasculinity and Power

Hyper-masculine leaders have grabbed headlines in the last few years: Putin, Trump, Bolsonaro, Erdogan. All of them employ the rhetoric of masculinity in public discourse and ultimately, often, policy. It’s worth asking: is this a new trend, and what does it mean for the ones living in these countries, especially women and LGBTQ individuals?

Johanne Rokke Elvebakken, Gender, Peace and Security Centre Coordinator at PRIO, and Kelly Fisher, Research Assistant, have both written on this topic and share their thoughts in conversation today.

Related material

64- The Taliban's Rise, Fall, and Rise Again

Before the Taliban regained control of the country this year, before they were the target and adversary of US military force, the Taliban were the governing force in Afghanistan. And before that, they were a transnational group of religious students.

To give context to modern-day Afghanistan and the political developments there, PRIO researcher Kristian Berg Harpviken provides a brief history of the Taliban on today’s episode.

63- Belonging and Bureaucracy in Norway

For some immigrants, acquiring citizenship in a new country is the final goal in a long journey of various residence statuses and times of uncertainty. But getting citizenship is not always the end of the story. From alienation through documentation, to having citizenship taken away, there can be other twists and turns even then. For immigrants with for example refugee status similar difficulties can occur.

Marta Bivand Erdal has researched citizenship, permits, and immigration status in Norway, and today discusses some of this research and her findings.

Related material

Two of Marta's publications on this topic:

62- A Nobel Peace Prize for Journalism: PRIO Researchers Comment

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 has been awarded to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, with the committee highlighting these journalists' efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. Maria Ressa is a Filipino-American journalist who has revealed abuse of power, violence, and authoritarianism in the Philippines. Dmitry Muratov is editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, the most independent Russian newspaper.

To comment on this prize, PRIO researchers Maria Gabrielsen Jumbert and Pavel Baev join the podcast with their fresh reactions.

61- Nobel Peace Prize Shortlist 2021: Henrik Urdal's Picks

60- Transformative Visual Storytelling in Conflict Research

What is the transformative potential of visual storytelling in conflict research?

In the project Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts or (TRANSFORM), animations and comics were created in collaboration between researchers, activists, artists, writers, and many others. These pieces of art not only serve to inspire possible change, but also to illustrate and highlight stories of societal transformation around the world. That work was done in collaboration with PositiveNegatives.

Today Ben Dix, PositiveNegatives Founder, and Cindy Horst, Research Professor at PRIO, talk about their work together.

Related material

58- Coup in Guinea

On September 5th, 2021, the military in Guinea pulled off a coup against president alpha conde. The coup was led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, and since then the situation has been unclear, though the military remains in power. Many in Guinea welcomed the power change, while others condemn it – and the international community largely falls in the second camp. What will happen next?

Related material

57- Energy and Power in the Eastern Mediterranean

Scrambles for natural resources and struggles for power when such resources come to light are a frequent cause of international conflict and tension around the world. In the Eastern Mediterranean, recent discovery of hydrocarbon has only exacerbated existing tensions. This is a region that includes Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel.

Today we’re going to hear from PRIO Cyprus Centre researcher Zenonas Tziarras on this topic: he'll explain the key players, the recent history, and what kinds of issues he thinks are worth highlighting there.

56- The Legacy of 9/11: "20 years past this, we're still at the beginning"

Today marks 20 years since 9/11. In this episode four researchers share their reflections on what the effects of this event have been on global politics, security, and war.

Related material

55- Technology's Power in Myanmar

In the last few years, technology has played a huge role in Myanmar’s politics and life in the last few years. Research Professor Stein Tønnesson explains how Facebook and Telenor in particular went wrong – and right – in the country, and what lasting effects those companies have had.

54- Coup in Myanmar, Seven Months Later

Just over seven months ago, on February 1st, 2021, the world witnessed a shockingly audacious military coup in Myanmar, in which the democratically elected National League for Democracy was deposed. Shortly after, PRIO researchers Marte Nilsen, Trude Stapnes, and Stein Tønnesson appeared in a podcast episode devoted to the coup. Today I’m talking again to these three researchers, getting their impressions and updates after seven months.

Related material

53- Taliban Takeover: What Happened?

The past week has been a shock for Afghanistan and the world watching. In a matter of days, the Taliban took over regional capitals one by one, entering Kabul on Sunday, August 15.

How could this have happened? Was it foreseeable – and preventable? Research Professor Kristian Berg Harpviken shares some initial thoughts on today’s episode.

Related material

52- Mixing Methods Without Making a Mess (Part 2)

In the second of this two-parter, Jørgen Carling shares his tips for employing mixed methods in research.

Related material

51- Mixing Methods Without Making a Mess (Part 1)

Research methods inform how knowledge is gained. The methods a researcher uses are often at the core of how they think about the world. Increasingly, some researchers have tried mixing methods. But this approach to research, though often beneficial, can also be challenging. PRIO research professor Jørgen Carling shares what he has learned about using mixed methods, and why it works so well for him.

Related material

Repost: 35- Can Research Tell Us How to Talk About Racism?

In the last few weeks a familiar subject matter has dominated headlines again: is structural racism an issue in the UK, Norway, France, and many other countries? Is this term, which is often situated in an American context, relevant to Europe and other parts of the world? PRIO Research Director Marta Bivand Erdal goes beyond the debate on whether or not structural racism is a useful term to the heart of the matter: no matter what terms we use, she argues, people are experiencing discrimination big and small in their everyday lives. And often linked quite simply to other people’s assumptions, which they base on what a person looks like. How can these incidents be resolved and reckoned with?

Related material

Repost: 42- Justice in Uganda

Justice after a conflict is often part of peacebuilding, and can be an important part of addressing victims’ experiences. These post-conflict processes are called “transitional justice” and are well-studied. During-conflict justice is less understood. When governments use trials, truth commissions, exiles and other tools to address crimes, even while violence is ongoing, what does it do to both the conflict itself and the people involved? Lino Owor Ogora, Nobert Dacan, and Cyanne Loyle join the podcast to address the case of Uganda.

Related material

50- Ten Years After 22 of July: Memory and Memorialization

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the bombing of the Oslo government quarters and the massacre on Utøya by terrorist Anders Behring Breivik. On the 22nd of July 2011, 77 people died, many more were injured and traumatized, and the effects of that event are still being felt today.

This week, Kristin Sandvik and Ingeborg Hjorth talk about the memorial at Utøya, and the controversy iterations of it have generated. They also illuminate how the ripple effects of a tragedy like this make waves in such a small country as Norway.

Related material

Repost: 19- Humans and War: Is It in Our Evolution?

Repost: 27- Have Universities Diversified Their Reading Lists Since #RhodesMustFall?

In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests around the world, many institutions looked inward at what they could do or change, PRIO included. Last year PRIO allocated internal funding to develop projects on ethnic, racial, cultural and religious discrimination. One of those projects is "Teaching African peace and conflict through European eyes (EuropAcademy)", led by Ilaria Carozza and Marie Sandnes. They set out to assess university syllabi from around Europe, before and after 2015 (when the #RhodesMustFall movement started), to see how diverse they were and are. In this episode they share their initial findings from courses on Africa, peace and conflict offered at several European universities, and talk about where they'd like to take the project.

Related material

48- How Can We Explain Support for Terrorism?

What makes people support terrorism or violent extremism? Is there any way to know what factors contribute? As terrorism has increasingly become a global concern, research has focused on who becomes a terrorist, and who supports terrorism, with many valuable conclusions coming out of that research. But until now no one has looked at whether these findings hold on a global scale.

46- New Trends in Conflict 2020

For the last 19 years, PRIO and the Uppsala university Department of peace and conflict have collaborated on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program. It’s the world’s main provider of data on organized violence, and is updated each year. In this episode Siri Aas Rustad shares the latest update and talks about changes and trends we’re seeing in armed conflict.

Related material

45- Ilwad Elman: PRIO Annual Peace Address

Every year, PRIO holds its Annual Peace Address, inviting distinguished guests to reflect on how to contribute to the creation of a world in which violence is the exception and peace is the norm. To bring these interesting, inspiring addresses to a wider audience we’ll be sharing some of them on the podcast as well. This week: Ilwad Elman, a Somali-Canadian activist who works at the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in Mogadishu, and is an icon in advancing the youth, peace and security agenda.

44- Nurse Migration: The Philippines, Poland, and Norway

Many nurses working here in Norway have migrated from other parts of the world. Why do they move, and what do they experience when they begin working life in a new context? In the project Migration for welfare (WELLMIG), researchers looked specifically at nurse migration in Norway, from three countries – Sweden, Poland and the Philippines. The differences and similarities in their experiences are illuminating. Marta Bivand Erdal and Lubomiła Korzeniewska talk on this episode about "deskilling" and what motivates nurse migrants.

Related material

43- Why Is Mali Experiencing Its Second Coup in Less Than a Year?

This week, for the second time in less than a year, Col Assimi Goïta seized power in Mali. To explain how and why, PRIO Marie Sandnes joins the podcast for this special extra episode.

42- Justice in Uganda

Justice after a conflict is often part of peacebuilding, and can be an important part of addressing victims’ experiences. These post-conflict processes are called “transitional justice” and are well-studied. But during-conflict justice is less understood. When governments use trials, truth commissions, exiles and other tools to address crimes, even while violence is ongoing, what does it do to both the conflict itself and the people involved? Lino Owor Ogora, Nobert Dacan, and Cyanne Loyle join the podcast to address the case of Uganda.

Related material

41- "Nobody Listens to Us": Are Minors in Conflict Getting the Help They Need?

The term “child soldiers” is very evocative. One might think of young children being drugged or forced into fighting, traumatized and exploited. In popular culture, films like Blood Diamond and Beasts of No Nation paint vivid images of child soldiers in Sierra Leone and Ghana. But minors in conflict can be found around the world, and their experiences are not always as clear-cut.

40- Punishment Attacks and Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland

This month marked 100 years since Ireland was split in two, creating Northern Ireland, which is now part of the United Kingdom. Tensions and fighting in Northern Ireland have ebbed and flowed, and still persist today, often in the form of paramilitary groups. These groups – from both sides – are part of society and daily life. In the past few weeks they have also been in the news internationally for the role in the latest riots spurred by Brexit issues

To explain the role of paramilitary groups and the way forward post-Brexit for northern Ireland, I’m joined today by Kristin Bakke and Kit Rickard, who have recently written an article on the topic of paramilitary groups and punishment attacks.

Related material

39- Climate Change = More Asylum Seekers? It's Not That Simple.

Five years after the European migration and refugee crisis, displacement remains a pressing issue worldwide. According to the UNHCR, the global number of forcibly displaced people passed 80 million during 2020 – the highest estimate ever recorded. Several factors have contributed to this increase, including a rise in political violence and instability, and extreme weather events. But when it comes to calculating how many might be moving due to climate change, there are challenges. Scientific literature hasn't provided a satisfactory answer. In a new article for Nature Communications, Sebastian Schutte, Jonas Vestby, Jørgen Carling and Halvard Buhaug seek to fill this gap and address factors for asylum migration to the European Union.

Related material

38- Ramadan, Zakat and Muslim Charity

April 12 kicked off the month of Ramadan, an important time of year for Muslims. It’s a time for contemplation, prayer and community. It's also a time when many donate "zakat", a kind of charity or almsgiving. Zakat generates billions of US dollars in donations per year, although exact numbers are near-impossible to pinpoint.

PRIO's Kaja Borchgrevink talks about zakat and Muslim charity along with one of her project members Amelia Fauzia, a Professor of Islamic history at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta.

37- Jihadism's Rise and Spread

Jihadism turns up not infrequently in the mainstream media. Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS – these are all jihadi groups. The word jihad simply which means struggle, and can be interpreted both as an internal struggle within oneself or as a more general struggle in the outside world. So what else do these groups actually have in common?

On this episode you'll hear Mona Kanwal Sheikh and Dino Krause, two experts on transnational jihadist networks, explain how these groups work together and apart.

Related material

36- Protection of Civilians and the Future of Urban Warfare

What do current trends in armed conflict and military technology mean for the future of urban warfare?

What are the future prospects for International Humanitarian Law in settings of urban warfare? 

What does this imply for the regulation of uses of explosive weapons in populated areas?

35- Can Research Tell Us How to Talk About Racism?

In the last few weeks a familiar subject matter has dominated headlines again: is structural racism an issue in the UK, Norway, France, and many other countries? Is this term, which is often situated in an American context, relevant to Europe and other parts of the world? PRIO Research Director Marta Bivand Erdal goes beyond the debate on whether or not structural racism is a useful term to the heart of the matter: no matter what terms we use, she argues, people are experiencing discrimination big and small in their everyday lives. And often linked quite simply to other people’s assumptions, which they base on what a person looks like. How can these incidents be resolved and reckoned with?

Related material

34- Hajer Sharief: PRIO Annual Peace Address

Every year, PRIO holds its Annual Peace Address, inviting distinguished guests to reflect on how to contribute to the creation of a world in which violence is the exception and peace is the norm. To bring these interesting, inspiring addresses to a wider audience we’ll be sharing some of them on the podcast as well. This week: activist Hajer Sharief, who works for peacebuilding in Libya, as well as advancing the youth, peace and security agenda.

33- Steven Pinker: PRIO Annual Peace Address

Every year, PRIO holds its Annual Peace Address, inviting distinguished guests to reflect on how to contribute to the creation of a world in which violence is the exception and peace is the norm. To bring these interesting, inspiring addresses to a wider audience we’ll be sharing some of them on the podcast as well. On the occasion of PRIO's 60th anniversary, Steven Pinker held the PRIO Annual Peace Address in June, 2019, which we present here.

32- Migrant Smuggling's Human and Political Effects

The term "migrant smuggling" might call to mind boats of refugees in the Mediterranean or trucks driving over the US-Mexican border. But migrant smuggling is complicated, and can take many forms. PRIO Research Professor Jørgen Carling has recently looked at how migrant smuggling is experienced by the migrants themselves, and how politicians and nation states use migrant smuggling as an example when making points about their immigration policy.

31- Why Are Senegalese Youth Protesting?

Sexual assault allegations and the arrest of Senegal's most prominent opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, have led to weeks of protests in the country. At least eight people have died. Mobilization is especially strong among young people, who are captivated by Sonko's critique of the political system and call for transparency in the management of resources. PRIO's Bintu Zahara Sakor and Aji Ceesay from Peace Direct break down why these protests are significant, and how they have developed.

30- The Human Choices of Artificial Intelligence at War

29- Malian Women's Fight for Peace

In honor of International Women's Day, we're highlighting the research of Jenny Lorentzen. Jenny is a Senior Researcher at PRIO and a Post-Doc at Lund University. Her PhD work focused partly on women’s participation in Malian peace processes, so today she's talking about what women in Mali had to do to get a seat at the table, and what can be learned from their efforts, and the work of female negotiators around the world.

28- Predictable Surprises: Finding the Next Conflict

Conflict prediction has traditionally involved statistical models and large amounts of data to yield information about where violence will take place. There are challenges with that approach though, and PRIO researchers want to improve conflict forecasting. They're trying a new approach with Conflict Cartographer.

27- Have Universities Diversified Their Reading Lists Since #RhodesMustFall?

In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests around the world, many institutions looked inward at what they could do or change, PRIO included. Last year PRIO allocated internal funding to develop projects on ethnic, racial, cultural and religious discrimination. One of those projects is "Teaching African peace and conflict through European eyes (EuropAcademy)", led by Ilaria Carozza and Marie Sandnes. They set out to assess university syllabi from around Europe, before and after 2015 (when the #RhodesMustFall movement started), to see how diverse they were and are. In this episode they share their initial findings from courses on Africa, peace and conflict offered at several European universities, and talk about where they'd like to take the project.

Related material

26- Afghan Peace Talks on Life Support

The Afghan Peace Talks started in September 2020, and with a second round having started in January it’s an interesting time to get an update on the process. PRIO Research Professor Kristian Berg Harpviken analyzes how the talks have gone thus far, and what can be expected moving forward.

25- Coup in Myanmar: Protest, Art, Technology

On the morning of February 1, Myanmar awoke to a shock: the military had deposed the democratically elected party, the National League for Democracy. Leader Aung San Su Kyii is under arrest, and as citizens have taken to the streets and social media to express their emphatic dissent, police have begun ramping up the force used against protestors.

The country has a long and complicated history of protests, coups, and fights for control. To understand this latest development, three PRIO researchers. Marte Nilsen, Trude Stapnes, and Stein Tønnesson, share a multi-faceted look at the situation.

Listen to the full protest song "Kabar Ma Kyay Bu" by Naing Myanmar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsrm2DpoJwo

24- Hong Kong's Uncertain Future

How did Hong Kong citizens wake up to the news of mass arrests on January 6, after such a long and engaging mass movement? Why wasn't that overwhelming support for democracy enough, and what will happen now? Marianne Dahl and Haakon Gjerløw have researched mass movements, autocracies, and democratization; they break down how the Hong Kong protests started, why it culminated in January 6, and what may be next.

To read more about mass movements around the world visit: https://blogs.prio.org/2020/01/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-twitter-revolution/ 

23- Coronavirus in the Nordic Countries: Where Things Went Right, and Wrong

The Nordic countries, and especially Scandinavia – Norway, Sweden, and Denmark – are often viewed as relatively similar, with robust welfare states, high standards of living, gender equality, and of course beautiful nature. But the coronavirus pandemic has revealed how different they really are. Therese Sefton from PRIO and Amy Clotworthy from the Center for Healthy Aging at the University of Copenhagen have started to analyze what has happened over the last year, and share some of their impressions of how and why the countries' approaches have differed.

22- Are We Sleepwalking Into New Technological Futures?

In his essay "Technologies as Forms of Life", Langdon Winner writes about "technological sonambulism", the idea that people's ability to consider technology's effects is much slower than the pace of technological development and implementation. Researcher Bruno Oliveira Martins and Research Assistant Neven Ahmad say the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating that problem — but there's still time to fix it.

21- "Like watching a democracy die": Two Researchers Contextualize What Happened in the US on January 6

Was it the "last, horrible and violent, dying gasp of an old, white supremacist racial order in the US", or the death of democracy? Håvard Nygård was shocked and horrified on January 6, but he says that as a researcher he still has hope. That day a mob stormed the US Capitol just as Congress was formalizing Biden's presidential victory. Sirianne Dahlum (PRIO, UiO) and Håvard Nygård (PRIO) bring their expertise to a discussion of what this attack means for the US, and how we can define and interpret it (what is a coup anyway?).

Related material

Repost: 13- The Secret History of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the PLO

November 4 marks the anniversary of the start of the Iranian hostage crisis. You might have learned about it as a major breakdown in the Iran-US relationship that persists today, or maybe you just watched Argo. Jørgen Jensehaugen highlights a different angle though in his article "A Palestinian window of opportunity? The PLO, the US and the Iranian hostage crisis". This aspect of the crisis has rarely been discussed, but can tell us a lot about the political dynamics at the time, and how those ripple effects are still being felt.

Repost: 8- What's Tiktok Got to Do With It? US-China Relations and Security

If you’re over 18, it’s possible you’ve never touched TikTok. But this innocuous-seeming repository of amusing video has increasingly helped shape popular culture, as well as Chinese international relations. Senior Researcher Ilaria Carozza walks us through why it's important, and what else Chinese companies have been in hot water for lately.

Repost: 2- Black Lives Matter and the Hope for a Positive Peace

The USA-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests which gained new momentum this spring and summer have sparked fervent discussions and mass demonstrations around the world. In this episode, researchers Christian Davenport (PRIO, University of Michigan) and Scott Gates (PRIO, University of Oslo) talk about their perspectives on state violence related to BLM, personal experiences as Americans, and the research that can shed some light on what is happening. Christian's book talked about in the beginning of this episode is "Media Bias, Perspective, and State Repression: The Black Panther Party". He will release a new book on state repression this fall. This episode was also informed by the Washington Post article "It’s hard to hear ‘Minnesota Nice’ without undertones of irony and despair" by Michele L. Norris. Visit prio.org to find more related research.

20- Drones, Security, and Surveillance

Drones seem to be everywhere in the news, but what do they actually mean for civilians in everyday life? And how do the military and police use and relate to them both as tools and as threats? Most importantly, what can they tell us about a wider security context? In this episode, Bruno Oliveira Martins and Andrea Silkoset also discuss how coronavirus has affected civilians lives from a security context, a surveillance context, and a technology context.

Repost: 9- Food Insecurity and Conflict: Why This Year's Nobel Peace Prize Matters

On the occasion of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded on December 10th, we're reposting our episode from the day it was announced.

This year's Nobel Peace Prize went to the World Food Programme, recognizing a basic human need and its role in war and peace. But what exactly is the link between food and conflict, and is this prize as uncontroversial as it may seem? Three PRIO experts on food insecurity, humanitarian aid, and international cooperation weigh in.

19- Humans and War: Is It in Our Evolution?

18- Art, Conflict, and Land Rights in Myanmar

17- Champions of Women, Peace and Security: Norway and Sweden on the Security Council

16- Women, Peace and Security in the UN Security Council

When Sweden was on the UN Security Council, it managed to push forward a women, peace and security agenda. That's a big part of what PRIO Senior Researcher and Gender Research Group Coordinator Louise Olsson has spent the last few years looking at. Now, Norway is poised to start its turn on the UNSC. What can small states like these accomplish, especially when it comes to women's rights?

If you haven't yet listened to episodes 10 and 11, you might want to check out those first before coming back to this one, since they give a good background to the UN and Resolution 1325.

15- What Comes Next for Women in Afghanistan?

14- America First? Hilde Restad and Scott Gates talk about what Biden brings to foreign policy

US foreign policy expert Hilde Restad joins Scott Gates to discuss the Biden administration. Will he follow in Obama's footsteps? Will we see a flurry of executive orders? And what does "America First" really mean? All this and more on our post-election episode.

13- The Secret History of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the PLO

November 4 marks the anniversary of the start of the Iranian hostage crisis. You might have learned about it as a major breakdown in the Iran-US relationship that persists today, or maybe you just watched Argo. Jørgen Jensehaugen highlights a different angle though in his article "A Palestinian window of opportunity? The PLO, the US and the Iranian hostage crisis". This aspect of the crisis has rarely been discussed, but can tell us a lot about the political dynamics at the time, and how those ripple effects are still being felt.

12- Protests, Elections, and Ethnic Tensions in West Africa

Nigeria has dominated headlines recently for the #endSARS campaign led by young people protesting years of state violence. But West African countries like Guinea and Ivory Coast, amongst others, are also experiencing turmoil, not least related to elections. Where might all of this lead in the long term, and how could it destabilize or shift the region? Plus, where does coronavirus fit in?

11- A Career of Firsts: a conversation with Major General Kristin Lund

Major General Kristin Lund was the first female force commander in a United Nations peacekeeping operation. She says at that point though, she was used to being the sole female perspective in military settings. As PRIO's Practitioner in Residence, Kristin brings her on-the-ground expertise and applies it to policy and practice. Join us for the second podcast in our 1325 series, celebrating 20 years of women, peace and security, as we discuss her career and the roles of women in conflict zones.

10- "Women are actors, not victims": Torunn Tryggestad talks gender, peace and security

In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Never heard of it? This resolution paved the way for women to participate in peace processes, for countries to adopt "feminist" foreign policy, and for academia to take more seriously issues like sexual violence in conflict. PRIO Deputy Director Torunn Tryggestad explains how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.

9- Food Insecurity and Conflict: Why This Year's Nobel Peace Prize Matters

This year's Nobel Peace Prize went to the World Food Programme, recognizing a basic human need and its role in war and peace. But what exactly is the link between food and conflict, and is this prize as uncontroversial as it may seem? Three PRIO experts on food insecurity, humanitarian aid, and international cooperation weigh in.

Tune in Tomorrow: Nobel Peace Prize Announcement Special

We'll be back tomorrow with immediate reactions from experts on the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

8- What's Tiktok Got to Do With It? US-China Relations and Security

If you’re over 18, it’s possible you’ve never touched TikTok. But this innocuous-seeming repository of amusing video has increasingly helped shape popular culture, as well as Chinese international relations. Senior Researcher Ilaria Carozza walks us through why it's important, and what else Chinese companies have been in hot water for lately.

7- Nobel Peace Prize Shortlist 2020: Henrik Urdal's Picks

Who is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize? Every year the PRIO Director chooses a shortlist of candidates they think are deserving, and this year Director Henrik Urdal is highlighting his picks. Plus, he explains why there's no way Trump is winning, and why Black Lives Matter-related organizations could be up for it — next year.

Coming Soon: The Nobel Peace Prize Shortlist 2020

We'll be back on Monday with PRIO Director Henrik Urdal's Nobel Peace Prize shortlist.

6- Gendered Aspects of Fieldwork in Conflict Contexts

Marie Sandnes is a doctoral researcher at PRIO researching the G5 Sahel joint force and counterinsurgency in Mali. Her research requires interviewing relevant actors, often members of the military, and because she focuses on Mali, her fieldwork is heavily based there. In this episode she talks about the pros and cons of being a woman in a male-dominated military research area, the first aid training she went through, and what she loves about being in the field.

5- Russian Poisonings and Regional Protest Movements

Politician and activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned with Novichok in August. Now that incident is having regional ripple effects. Pavel Baev is a research professor at PRIO; His work focuses on Russian military reform, energy interests in Russia’s foreign and security policy, and Russia’s relations with Europe and NATO. Given his professional and personal relationship to the country, I asked him to walk us through what this latest poisoning could do to Russia's relations with its allies and neighbors.

4- Money, Class, Migration

How does migration affect social class? Marta Bivand Erdal wants to find out. She's just been awarded a prestigious European Research Council grant to look families in four cities in Asia, to try to find out how migration has (or has not) changed their fortunes. Marta and Indigo talk pop culture migration narratives like Crazy Rich Asians, about language barriers in fieldwork, and how the Eurovision movie might be relevant to Marta's interests.

3- "It's an internal yoga process": Finishing a PhD

PRIO researcher Júlia Palik recently defended her PhD "Interstate rivals’ intervention in third-party civil wars: The comparative case of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Yemen (2004-2018)" from Corvinus University of Budapest. While writing it, she was also working at PRIO. We spoke about some of the challenges she faced with her research, her reflections on being an expert from outside a region, and what tips she has for current and future PhD candidates.

2- Black Lives Matter and the Hope for a Positive Peace

The USA-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests which gained new momentum this spring and summer have sparked fervent discussions and mass demonstrations around the world. In this episode, researchers Christian Davenport (PRIO, University of Michigan) and Scott Gates (PRIO, University of Oslo) talk about their perspectives on state violence related to BLM, personal experiences as Americans, and the research that can shed some light on what is happening.

Related material

1- Israel and Annexation: The Future of the West Bank

Summer 2020 has shown that Israel is serious about annexing the West Bank. It's a choice that would have major implications for Palestinians, but also for the relationship between Israel and its allies. Jørgen Jensehaugen talks about the historical context of those recent developments, and what the future might hold. Jørgen's book is "Arab-Israeli Diplomacy under Carter: The U.S., Israel and the Palestinians".