The word “genocide” feels like it has always been part of our vocabulary. But do we really understand what we mean when we use it? In everyday conversation, the term is often used to describe mass killings, widespread suffering, and horrific atrocities, especially in the context of armed conflict. Yet in law, genocide has a highly specific and demanding definition, shaped by a distinct legal and historical origin.

In this 11th episode of our series, Marko Milanović, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading helps us unpack this complex concept. Together, we explore what genocide means in international law, how courts interpret it, what it takes to prove it, and why it matters—both in courtrooms and beyond.

This special episode was recorded as part of the Ideas Alive strand of the Off the Shelf Festival of Words, one of the largest literary festivals in the North of England, celebrating books, words, and ideas. Ideas Alive is a series of podcasts by academics from the University of Sheffield talking about their fascinating research.

In this episode, we explore how stories of crime and justice are told — in fiction, film, news, and political discourse — and what they reveal about our collective understanding of law, crime, and punishment. From the enduring mythology of Jack the Ripper to contemporary media portrayals of riots and unrest, we discuss how words and storytelling shape public ideas of morality and justice, and, ultimately, how they influence law and policymaking.

To help us unpack these intricate issues, we are joined by two brilliant guests specialising in representations and narratives of crime:

• Dr Ciara Molloy, Assistant Professor in Criminology at University College Dublin. Ciara’s research explores cultural and historical narratives of crime, from Jack the Ripper mythology to portrayals of joyriding in 1980s Ireland.
• Dr Chloe Peacock, Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sheffield. Chloe's research, including her forthcoming monograph, examines how media, politics, and the courts talk about criminality in light of events such as the 2011 and 2024 riots in the UK.

In this episode we unpack the UK Supreme Court’s recent judgment in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers—a landmark case that raises urgent questions about the legal definitions of ‘sex’ and ‘woman’ under the Equality Act 2010.

Joined by Dr Sandra Duffy (University of Bristol), Dr Surabhi Shukla (University of Sheffield), and Dr SJ Cooper-Knock (University of Sheffield), we explore the legal reasoning behind the judgment, its implications for trans and non-binary people, and how it intersects with both UK and international human rights law.

We also examine the role of the so-called ‘gender-critical’ movement, challenge prevailing myths around single-sex spaces, and reflect on what this ruling means for the future of gender equality and trans rights in the UK.

Whether you’re a legal professional, activist, or curious listener, this episode offers a rights-based perspective on where we go from here.

The Trump Administration is back. And so are their signature trade policies. 'Tariffs' must be the buzzword of the year so far. But let’s be honest – even those of us that work on these subjects need to google things to fully understand what’s going on. To help us understand, we are joined in this episode by Greg Messenger, Professor of Trade Law & Policy at the Law School of the University of Bristol and Dr Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy at the University of Glasgow.

In this episode we cover the legal framework behind tariffs, the broader political and economic motivations driving these policies, and the potential fallout for global trade. Are Trump’s tariffs just tough bargaining tactics, or are they pushing the boundaries of international law? How are targeted countries responding? And what does all this mean for businesses, consumers, and economies worldwide?

Tune in for international trade law in the context of Trump 2.0.

What do recent court rulings mean for the future of climate action? How are international legal bodies shaping the fight against climate change? In our first episode for 2025 , we join forces with the ⁠Sheffield Centre for International and European Law (SCIEL)⁠ to explore the most pressing legal developments in climate law.

Together with Malgosia Fitzmaurice (QMUL), Ivano Alogna (BIICL), and Agnes Rydberg (Sheffield) we break down the key climate rulings of 2024, the role of ITLOS and the ICJ in shaping global climate governance, and the increasing legal pressure on corporations. We also unpack the outcomes of COP29 and what’s next for climate law in 2025.

If you're curious about how the law is responding to the climate crisis, this episode is for you.

Curious about how international law navigates the intersection of modern elections and digital technology? In Part II of our Elections Special, recorded for the ⁠⁠⁠ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024⁠⁠⁠, we delve into the legal frameworks that address electoral interference through cyber-operations and targeted digital campaigns, the use of personal data in electoral campaigns and algorithmic transparency, freedom of speech and the rise of disinformation campaigns, and the responsibilities of big tech in safeguarding human rights. Listen to insights by legal experts in the field of international law & digital tech:

Are you still confused about how the US electoral system works? Have you been invited to an election night party by your American friends but not quite sure what makes swing states such a big deal? Are you trying to keep up with the latest on the presidential candidates and the global debates that will shape the outcome and aftermath of the election? Are you curious about fake news, online influencers, and personal data in political campaigns? 

In Part I of this special double episode, recorded in the context of the he ⁠ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024⁠, we are diving into the legal and political drama of the upcoming US presidential elections with some of the sharpest minds in the game:

From the French Revolution and the women's suffrage movement to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, social movements and protests have served as catalysts for some of the most important events in world history. Still today, social and political change is sought through local and global collective action, such as the ‘Occupy’ or the LGBTQ+ rights movement, the Black Lives Matter, the Rhodes Must Fall, or Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil.

These movements and the means employed to raise awareness and drive political change often spark controversy. If we look at the headlines of international media, only in the past few days we had Stonehenge covered in powder paint by Just Stop Oil protesters, pro-Palestine protesters targeting Barclays bank branches, a milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage after the launch of his electoral campaign, animal rights activists plastering the official portrait of King Charles, and many others. And of course since October 2023, we have had sit-ins and student encampments in universities relating to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

In this episode, together with Audrey Cherryl Mogan, barrister at Garden Court Chambers, and SJ Cooper-Knock, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sheffield, we discuss the legal framework regulating the activities of social movements, the right to protest, and the role of the police, and explore the broader political and social context within which these movements operate.

This episode discusses the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which was introduced by the UK government in December 2023 and is currently discussed in the House of Lords. It unpacks the legal issues that arise from the Bill from an immigration, human rights, and public law perspective, and discuss the politics of asylum in the UK and their practical implications for migrants and asylum-seekers.  In this talk, the hosts are joined by Jonathan Collinson and Sam Guy, Lecturers in Law, and Lucy Mayblin Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Director of Migration Research Group at the University of Sheffield.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on February 28th 2024.

This episode of our rapid response event and podcast series unpacks the recent judgments of the International Court of Justice (available here and here) in the disputes initiated by Ukraine against Russia in respect of the latter’s military operations in Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, under the Genocide Convention, the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It addresses the decision of Ukraine to use the legal instruments in question (which are not about the legality of Russia’s military operations), the arguments of the parties, the content of the relevant judgments, the political context of the disputes, and their implications for global governance and security. In this talk, the hosts are joined by Dr Barış Çelik, Teaching Associate, Department of Politics and International Relations.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on February 14th 2024.