Root of Conflict

Episodes

• 
  Militarism in Africa | Samuel Fury Childs Daly 04.06.2026 46m

  In the final episode of the season, we sat down with UChicago's Samuel Fury Childs Daily, who studies militarism and military rule in Africa. We discuss how conflict and military rule shaped post-colonial Nigeria, and the factors that have contributed to more recent coups in West Africa. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver Editing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Migration Flows and US Policy Tools | Katie Tobin 18.05.2026 42m

  In this episode, we speak with Katie Tobin, who worked in the NSC in the Biden Administration and the UNHCR before that on a range of migration, refugee and cross-border security issues. We discuss how conflict impacts migration flows to the US and the different tools the US has to address migration resulting from conflict, natural disasters, and violence. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver, Rushikesh Jadhav, and Marina Keller Soto de MeloEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Bringing Culture into Development and Security Work in Africa | Chidi Blyden 22.04.2026 45m

  In this episode, we speak with Chidi Blyden, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs and former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation on security and development in Africa. We discuss the importance of understanding culture in development and security work on the continent and how natural resources can complicate both conflict and development.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver and Sarah MacHargEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Event Recap: Iran and the Logic of Military Intervention: Jake Braun, Paul Poast, and Ryan Kellogg 06.04.2026 39m

  In this episode, we share a recent panel at the Harris School of Public Policy on the U.S. intervention in Iran with former White house official and current Cyber Policy Initiative Executive Director, Jake Braun, and University of Chicago professors Ryan Kellogg and Paul Poast. This discussion touches on U.S. policy goals in Iran and the impact energy markets. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Rebecca WolfeEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  The New Nuclear Age | Kennette Benedict 26.03.2026 34m

  In this episode, we speak with Kennette Benedict, a senior advisor to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy on nuclear policy and threats after the expiration of the New START Treaty in February. We explore what how changes in global politics could incentivize countries to proliferate and discuss other existential threats that inform the Bulletin's Doomsday Clock.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver and Hugo Vilela SarmentoEditing: Sabrina Beaver and Marina Keller soto de MeloProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Thinking about Foreign Policy and Alliances | Emma Ashford 02.03.2026 39m

  In this episode, we speak with activist and journalist Emma Ashford from the Stimson Center on international security and US foreign policy. We explore what a realist internationalist view of foreign policy might look like, and how Trump's foreign policy may be perceived by allies and adversaries.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver and Wyatt HartwigEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland | Emma DeSouza 10.02.2026 51m

  In this episode, we speak with activist and journalist Emma DeSouza on peacebuilding in Northern Ireland 28 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. We explore what work remains to be done in implementing the agreement, and how to make the process an inclusive one that brings in the voices of the youth and women.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver and Erik Tiersten-NymanEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Event Recap: What's Next for Venezuela? | Chris Blattman, Ryan Kellogg, and Paul Poast 27.01.2026 41m

  In this episode, we share a recent panel at the Harris School of Public Policy on the what comes next for Venezuela with University of Chicago professors Chris Blattman, Ryan Kellogg, and Paul Poast. This discussion touches on plans for the transition in Venezuela, the impact energy markets, and what this means for U.S. policy more broadly. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Rebecca WolfeEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Brief: Protests in Iran | Pegah Banihashemi 20.01.2026 13m

  In this brief, we speak with Pegah Banihashemi about recent protests in Iran. We discuss how this wave of protests differs from those of prior years and what conditions detainees likely face.  Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina BeaverEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/tim-schaufert/it-doesnt-have-to-end
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  Reporting on Conflict | John Haltiwanger 14.01.2026 46m

  In this episode, we speak with Foreign Policy staff writer John Haltiwanger about his experiences reporting on conflict and national security matters. We explore how current conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, may conclude, as well as the obstacles to peace. This conversation touches on conflict resolution, the importance of expertise, and the role of the US in these discussions.Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Sabrina Beaver and Kerem TasdanEditing: Sabrina BeaverProduction: Sabrina BeaverMusic from #Uppbeat :https://uppbeat.io/t/neozoic/cold-fire
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  The Role of Schools in Diminishing Conflict | Anjali Adukia 18.09.2025 45m

  In this episode, we speak with Professor Anjali Adukia from the University of Chicago about her research on restorative practices in schools and how they can reduce suspensions, arrests, and racial disparities without harming academic performance. We explore what restorative practices look like, why they matter, and how they may impact not only students but also teachers and families. The conversation also touches on the school-to-prison pipeline, the importance of representation in textbooks, and what schools and policymakers can do to give all children a fair chance to succeed.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Alonso Gutiérrez Olivares Editing: Helena TalermanProduction: Isabella Nascimento 
• 
  Criminal Governance in Brazil | Benjamin Lessing 12.06.2025 1h

  In this episode, Professor Benjamin Lessing unpacks the dynamics of organized crime and informal governance in Brazil. He discusses how extra-legal organizations operate as alternative authority structures—stepping into the vacuum left by weak state presence. Traditional law enforcement often fails to dismantle them, requiring innovations in policymaking aimed at reducing violence in the country. Lessing highlights what works—and what doesn’t—when the state seeks to reassert its authority. Professor Benjamin Lessing is a political scientist at the University of Chicago, specializing in criminal governance, state capacity, and Brazilian politics. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Fernanda Garcia, Gil do Vigor Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 
• 
  Congo in Crisis: History, Minerals, and Power | Eduardo Montero 01.05.2025 44m

  This episode explores the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the lens of historical legacies, regional dynamics, and international interests. Our guest, Professor Eduardo Montero, introduces the current crisis and its deep roots in colonial exploitation, institutional fragility, and unresolved tensions from past conflicts. By the end of the episode, you will also understand the role of external actors and the broader geopolitical and economic stakes shaping the conflict today.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.   Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Júlia Mansur, Manda Bwerevu Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 
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  What’s Next for Ukraine? | Roger Myerson 03.04.2025 51m

  This episode features Professor Roger Myerson, Nobel Laureate (2007) and Professor at the University of Chicago. We discuss the war in Ukraine through his on-the-ground experience and academic expertise. Professor Myerson reflects on the political, social, and technological shifts he has witnessed since the war began. The conversation examines how Ukraine is adapting to the change in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, the prospects for peace, the role of NATO and other security guarantees, and the gap between Europe’s economic power and military response.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Viktoriia Shcherba Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 
• 
  Behavioral Science to Conflict Mitigation | Rebecca Wolfe 06.03.2025 51m

  This episode features Professor Rebecca J. Wolfe, senior lecturer and Executive Director of International Policy & Development at the Harris School of Public Policy. Drawing on her extensive experience designing conflict prevention and violence reduction programs worldwide, Dr. Wolfe explores how behavioral science can be leveraged to mitigate conflict. She discusses the role of trusted authorities in shifting norms, the effectiveness of contact-based interventions in fostering peace, and the challenges of applying these strategies across different contexts. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the intersection of behavioral science and peacebuilding.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Clarice Tee Editing: Megha Viswanath Production: Isabella Nascimento 
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  Paths to Reconciliation | Sergio Jaramillo Caro 07.02.2025 52m

  This episode explores strategies for finding consensus between the government and rebel insurgencies. We spoke with Sergio Jaramillo Caro, former High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia, who led the secret negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas, culminating in the Final Agreement in 2016. He discusses strategies for peace negotiations, potential challenges, and how to overcome obstacles in the long term.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Sol Rivas Lopes, Lina Gonzalez Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 
• 
  From Vision to Action | John Marks 09.01.2025 37m

  How can social entrepreneurship help end violent conflict? In this episode, John Marks, founder of “Search for Common Ground”, an international NGO dedicated to resolving global conflicts, shares insights from over 40 years of experience in peacebuilding. Marks discusses key lessons from his extensive career, highlights core concepts from his latest book, “From Vision to Action”, and offers practical advice for young policymakers striving to implement effective conflict-resolution strategies.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Sol Rivas Lopes, Mithila Iyer Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 
• 
  A Possible Path for Haiti | Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis 05.12.2024 54m

  Karl Popper once said, “Open societies are their own worst enemies.” In this episode, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, former prime minister of Haiti and president of the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation, reflects on this idea. She shares her perspective on Haiti’s development challenges and paths to peace. Michèle emphasizes the importance of negotiating with opponents to advance the public good and building institutions through compromise. Tune in for her insights on fostering collaboration and creating a brighter future for Haiti.  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento and Ralph Valiere Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento 
• 
  Does Counterterrorism work? | Richard English 07.11.2024 39m

  Defining successful antiterrorism strategies is challenging. With groundbreaking research in the history of political violence, terrorism, and nationalism, Professor Richard English guides us through the main concepts and structures to understand valid approaches for countering terror. Richard English is a Professor of Politics at Queen's University Belfast, where he is also Director of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website a www.thepearsoninstitute.org. Podcast Production Credits:Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento, Raul Leon, and Natalia ZorillaEditing: Nishita KarunProduction: Isabella Nascimento
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  Wealth in People | James Robinson 03.10.2024 50m

  How can the West learn from Africa? Professor James Robinson, director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, highlights the richness of development in the African region. Robinson has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, and is a Fellow at the Institute for African Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In today’s episode, he discusses what inspires his work in the region, common misconceptions about development, the complexities of working on the ground, and the concept of "Wealth in People."  This podcast is produced in partnership with the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. For more information, please visit their website at www.thepearsoninstitute.org.  Podcast Production Credits: Interviewing: Isabella Nascimento and Mario Venegas Editing: Nishita Karun Production: Isabella Nascimento