War Studies

Welcome to the War Studies podcast. We bring you world-leading research from the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, the largest community of scholars in the world dedicated to the study of all aspects of security, defence and international relations. We aim to explore the complex realm of conflict and uncover the challenges at the heart of navigating world affairs and diplomatic relations, because we believe the study of war is fundamental to understanding the world we live in and the world we want to live in. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, please rate and review us on your preferred podcast provider – it really helps us reach more listeners. The School of Security Studies harnesses the depth and breadth of expertise across War Studies and Defence Studies to produce world-leading research and teaching on issues of global security that develops new empirical knowledge, employs innovative theory, and addresses vital policy issues. Visit our website: https://www.kcl.ac.

War Studies is a education podcast hosted by Department of War Studies, with 191 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Department of War Studies hosts War Studies, a education show with 191 episodes published.

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  War Studies

  The Divided Brain with Dr Iain McGilchrist

  Aug 18, 202651 min

  In this episode of the Breaking Cycles of Conflict mini-series, XCEPT's Dr Nafees Hamid talks to Dr Iain McGilchrist – psychiatrist, philosopher, neuroscientist and author of The Master and His Emissary and The Matter with Things – about how the brain's left and right hemispheres attend to the world in fundamentally different ways. They explore how shifts in hemispheric dominance have shaped trust, institutions and the rise and fall of civilisations throughout history, and what this means for how governments, mediators and practitioners build, and lose, legitimacy in fragile and conflict-affected settings today. This research is part of XCEPT (Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends), a UK aid-funded programme. King's College London's contribution to XCEPT focuses on the factors that shape violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.

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  War Studies

  War Stories, Episode 5: An Indian Army officer in counter-insurgency operations, Assam, 2010-2012

  Aug 6, 20261h 7m

  In the fifth edition of the King's College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King's alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), Ru and Nick speak with Aravind Rajendran (MA Conflict, Security & Development, 2020–2021). A former commissioned officer in the Indian Army (2009 to 2020), Aravind served with the 3rd Battalion The Mahar Regiment, during counter-insurgency operations in Assam between 2010 and 2012, before later serving in Jharkhand and spending four years with Indian Special Forces. Expect to learn: • What it means to be a young officer commander operating in a second language with his troops, while engaging with local communities speaking a range of additional languages and dialects • What it is to navigate a complex insurgency in a remarkable cultural landscape, using leadership, trust-building and operational adaptability

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  War Studies

  War Stories, Episode 3: A Humanitarian in a conflict zone, Afghanistan and Ukraine, 2009-2021

  Jun 25, 20261h 4m

  In the third edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (War Studies, 2002-2005), Ru and Nick speak to Rory Moylan (War Studies, 2002-2005), who worked as a humanitarian in Afghanistan, in Mazar-i-Sharif, with first ACTED and then the International Committee of the Red Cross through 2009-2013, and Sloviansk in the Ukraine, amongst others. They delve into the complexity of operating across conflict lines as an independent humanitarian during an ongoing conflict, where risk is almost as high as that of a soldier in the same environment, yet protection depends on neutrality being respected by all sides. Rory, who is fluent in Farsi and Dari, focussed on dialogue between state, non-state actors and civilians, as well as detention centres. Further Reading: Kabul Disco, by Nicolas Wild: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26155829 Key Locations Described: Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan; Sloviansk, Donbas, Ukraine

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  War Studies

  The Helsinki Brief, Episode 3: Finland's Comprehensive Security Model

  Jun 12, 202649 min

  In this third episode of The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security, Dr Paul McGarr (King’s College London) is joined again by Hannamiina Tanninen of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) to explore Finland’s 'comprehensive security' model — a point of reference in international debates on resilience. They unpack what “comprehensive security” means in practice: an all-of-society approach designed to keep Finland functioning as normally as possible during crises, from major disruptions and natural disasters to heightened security threats. The conversation looks at how the model is embedded across government, the private sector and civil society — and why joint exercises, consultation and coordination are central to making it work. The episode also looks at the foundations that make this approach work in Finland — including high public trust, the welfare state, a broad-based education system and mandatory conscription — as well as the role of the National Emergency Supply Agency. Finally, the discussion considers which elements of the Finnish model might be transferable elsewhere — and which are rooted in Finland’s specific history, size and social cohesion. Hannamiina Tanninen is a doctoral researcher at the National Defence University in Finland, researching on modelling the strategic environment of the Finnish security of supply system with emphasis on defining economic intelligence and economic security in intelligence studies. She is also a visiting researcher at Imperial College London.

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  War Studies

  Afghanistan: 25 Years After 9/11. On the Brink of Another Crisis?

  May 27, 202655 minS0

  In this episode, Colin Smith, co-ordinator of the UN Security Council’s 1267/1988 Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, joins Tim Willasey-Wilsey, King’s Visiting Professor, Graham Aikin, PhD researcher at King’s, and Dr Paul McGarr, Lecturer in Intelligence Studies, to examine Afghanistan nearly 25 years after 9/11 and assess whether it is again becoming a base for international terrorism under Taliban rule. The discussion explores the presence of groups such as al-Qaeda, ISIL-K and regional militants, the Taliban’s internal dynamics, and how the global terrorist threat has become more fragmented and decentralised. It also considers evolving radicalisation pathways, the role of new t...

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