Here at the Department of War Studies, we are particularly concerned with contemporary and historical security challenges – all kinds of war, terrorism and more. What these security challenges have in common is that at the heart of each is some aspect of conflict.

So, it is not surprising that international organisations and governments have invested billions of dollars in funding projects in post-conflict settings. These projects are supposed to help war-torn and divided societies to reconcile. But what is reconciliation? How can it be achieved and measured? And what role do art projects play in the process of so-called ‘reconciliation’?

In this podcast, we hear from Dr Milena Michalski and Professor James Gow, discussing the Art & Reconciliation project. This is a pioneering, multi-disciplinary research initiative, funded by the AHRC, which brings together King’s College London, University of the Arts London and the London School of Economics, in order to explore these issues.

To find out more about the Art & Reconciliation project, visit www.artreconciliation.org and for more on Milena Michalski’s work see: www.milenamichalski.com.

To find out more about the artists discussed in the podcast, please visit the links below:

- Alketa Khafa Mripa is a conceptual artist; she created ‘Thinking of You’, in which she filled a football stadium in Kosovo with dresses to remember victims of war rape. See: www.tracesproject.org/alketa-xhafa-mripa/.

- Gunther Herbst is a painter who works with ideas around memory, memorialisation and monuments in South Africa. See: www.guntherherbst.com.

- Emma Elliott is a sculptor, and her work ‘Reconciliation’ relates to the Holocaust, whilst also referencing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

See: emmaelliott.com/work.

This podcast was produced by Ivan Seifert and Bisi Olulode.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT KING'S COLLEGE LONDON

SHARKS IN THE CHANNEL AND LIONS ON THE LOOSE: RUMOUR AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Rumour-mongering was universally denounced as a pathological, destructive condition that threatened the war effort. Professor Jo Fox will argue that, on the contrary, rumour is an inherently human behaviour and that studying rumour offers the historian an insight into complex human behaviours, motivations, and mentalities at times of crisis.

🗓Feb 6, 2018 ⏰ 5.30 PM📍Strand Campus

👉RSVP: http://bit.ly/2GxmcMm

NEW ARCHITECTURE OF UN PEACEKEEPING AND PEACE BUILDING OPERATIONS

How do you make peacekeeping work in environments where no peace existed to begin with? Lieutenant-General (Retd) Floriano Peixoto will discuss attempts to make peace operations a more effective tool for tackling today's complex security challenges.

🗓Feb 6, 2018 ⏰ 6.30 PM📍Somerset House East Wing

👉RSVP: http://bit.ly/2nBHpfC

HISTORY AND STATECRAFT

Why is it important to include an understanding of history in the making of statecraft? History enables leaders to assess past experiences and learn from ill-conceived policies. Yet, according to Professor Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou and Professor Jussi Hanhimäki, history is, to a large extent, neglected by policymakers.  

🗓Feb 7, 2018 ⏰ 1.30 PM📍Strand Campus

👉RSVP: http://bit.ly/2GD5GdU