Warpod

In the first episode of this special series of the Warpod ‘Reckoning with 9/11’, our hosts Larry Attree and Delina Goxho recall the initial reaction to the attacks, in particular from U.S. President George W Bush. They are joined by Dr Sophie Haspeslagh, from the American University in Cairo and author of ‘Proscribing Peace’, who explains how the U.S. response to the attacks redefined how the world understands terrorism, with implications for governments, rebel groups and peace processes around the world.

This special Warpod series ‘Reckoning with 9/11’ is created by Saferworld with support from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and produced by the Podcast Company.

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

In this episode of the Warpod we pair with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century to launch an E-IR book entitled Remote Warfare: Interdisciplinary Perspectives.

Abigail Watson and Delina Goxho speak to Jen Gibson and Baraa Shiban, from Reprieve, Camilla Molyneux, from the APPG on Drones and Modern Conflict, and Lauren Gould and Jolle Demmers, from Intimacies of Remote Warfare at the University of Utrecht – all of whom contributed a chapter on the different elements of remote warfare.

They discuss how conflict has changed and the need put the people in conflict affected countries into the centre of Western policies.

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

In this episode of the Warpod we combine two interviews. In the first, we speak to Samantha Crompvoets from the research company, Rapid Context and discuss what the UK can learn from the Brereton inquiry into abuses by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. In the second we speak to Malte Riemann and Norma Rossi, from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and discuss how the increased use of private military contractors has impacted society.

Through both interviews we explore how the changing character of conflict – and the use of special forces or private military contractors – challenges how we understand and more important how we oversee the use of force abroad. All the guests agreed on the need for more transparency and accountability so we can check bad strategy and stop any harm that our states do in our name.

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

In this episode of the Warpod, we pair with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century (PS21) to discuss whether no intervention would be better than the current interventions in the Sahel. Abigail Watson and Delina Goxho are joined by: Ornella Moderan, Head of Sahel Programme at the Institute for Security Studies in Bamako and Nina Wilen, Africa Director at Egmont Institute in Brussels.

They discuss recent developments in the region, including the ‘double coup’ in Mali, the assassination of President Déby in Chad and the attempted coup in Niger. They also consider how the many international actors involved in the region, including the EU, the UN, France and the UK, should change their approach.

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

In this bonus episode of the Warpod, we pair with Chatham House’s Undercurrents podcast to discuss security forces in Nigeria and the role played by young people in trying to bring about change. The episode is broken into two halves. Abigail Watson and Delina Goxho are first joined by Tarela Ike from Teesside University and Odeh Friday from Accountability Lab. They discuss the problems with responses to Boko Haram in the North East of the country and the recent EndSars movement.

In her half, Amrit Swali, project coordinator in the International Security Programme at Chatham House, speaks to Mariam Haruna, a member of Chatham House’s Common Futures Conversation, and Tolu Oni, a member of Chatham House’s Panel of Young Advisers, about their experiences of the EndSARS movement in 2020, the role of social media in the protests, and how to move towards sustainable change in policing structures.

The episode can also be listened to on the Chatham House website, here: https://undercurrents.libsyn.com/

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

In the fourth episode of the Warpod, Abigail Watson and Delina Goxho are joined by: Wayne David, Shadow Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Lewis Brooks, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at Saferworld and Dr Kate Ferguson is Co-Executive Director and co-founder of the human rights NGO Protection Approaches.

They discuss their takeaways from the UK Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, including reflecting on the gap between rhetoric and reality on conflict and atrocity prevention. Wayne also lays out the plans for Labour’s own foreign policy review and Lewis and Kate explain how this review could avoid some of the same mistakes as the Integrated Review.

In the third episode of Warpod, Abigail Watson and Delina Goxho are joined by Sarah Kreps, Director of the Cornell Tech Policy Lab, and Maysa Ismael from Airwars. In the episode, we discuss why and how the secrecy surrounding warfare has increased. Sarah and Maysa explain what this secrecy may mean for discussing the true risks of contemporary conflict and why Western publics and parliaments often fail to understand these risks. This episode was recorded before the Integrated Review was published and discusses how it should incorporate the protection of civilians.

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

Abigail Watson and Delina Goxho are joined by Roy Isbister and Elizabeth Kirkham from Saferworld’s Arms Unit, and the Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood. Tobias Ellwood reflects on these issues from his perspective as Chair of the Defence Committee and member of the Committees on Arms Export Controls. The group discusses the history of UK leadership on the arms trade, including its role in developing the Arms Trade Treaty, and how the UK’s reputation is being unravelled by the devastating impact of arms sales to Saudi Arabia on the people of Yemen.

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

Saferworld is excited to announce that the Warpod podcast has joined Saferworld. This first episode examines the biggest security threats facing the world and what policies we should develop to make the world a safer place.  Its host, Saferworld’s Conflict and Security Policy Coordinator, Abigail Watson will be joined by:

Please note the views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the contributors featured. They are not the views or opinions of Saferworld.

Delina Goxho and Abigail Watson speak to Jack Watling, from RUSI, and Erica Gaston, from the Global Public Policy institute, about support relationships, partnerships and proxies. In particular, they discuss Jack and Nick Reynold's book "War by Others' Means: Delivering Effective Partner Force Capacity Building" and Erica's work on U.S.-Iran Proxy Competition in Iraq. 

Further Reading:

Music by BenSound

Image credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff/ Flickr Creative Commons