In this episode we look at current threats to democracy and ask if the internet and social media have turned against democracy? Joining us from Norway is Espen Geelmuyden Rød, who is a former researcher at our department. Espen has done research on the social and political causes of autocracy and democracy as well as the political impacts of digital information and communications technology.

Sources mentioned:

The Struggle for Trust Online | Freedom House

Study on US democracy/oligarchy: Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens | Perspectives on Politics | Cambridge Core

Sample of Espen’s Research:

Empowering activists or autocrats? The Internet in authoritarian regimes Espen Geelmuyden Rød and Nils B Weidmann https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022343314555782

The Internet and Political Protest in Autocracies Nils B. Weidmann and Espen Geelmuyden Rød https://academic.oup.com/book/34978

The determinants of democracy: a sensitivity analysis Espen Geelmuyden Rød, Carl Henrik Knutsen and Håvard Hegre https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11127-019-00742-z?te=1&nl=the-interpreter&emc=edit_int_20191111

In this episode, Johan Brosché helps us navigate the complexities and horrors of the civil war currently raging in Sudan. Johan works as associate professor at our department and is one of Sweden’s leading experts on Sudan.

A quick glance at Johan’s CV reveals his academic interest in Sudan, but during our conversation his engagement and empathy for the people of Sudan also became apparent.

During our conversation Johan shared memories from Sudan and recent reports from contacts on the ground, while offering valuable insights into the conflict , paths towards de-escalation and why the war is underreported in Western media. This episode is hosted by Joakim Palmén, Communications Officer at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research.

Ludovica Castelli is an expert on the history of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. In the latest episode of our podcast Researching Peace, Ludovica takes us on a fascinating journey covering oft-overlooked nuclear politics in the region and offers her take on recent events in light of this complex history.

This episode is presented by the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament. It is hosted by Giacomo Cassano, who is currently doing his PhD at the Centre as a member of the working group on nuclear negotiations.