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.

Around the world – in both mature and young democracies, elections continue to be a flashpoint for violence. Researchers at our department recently released a model for forecasting violence related to elections, which could help inform the work to protect and promote democracy and electoral integrity around the globe. In this episode we interview David Randahl and Hanne Fjelde, who worked on the project, to explore how the model works and what it could be used for.

The research was led by David Randahl, and the team also included Maxine Leis, Tim Gåsste, Hanne Fjelde and Håvard Hegre based at our department, as well as Staffan I. Lindberg from the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg and Steven Wilson from the Department of Politics at Brandeis University. The study was a collaboration with the Kofi Annan Foundation.

The paper is available as a pre-print through the VDEM working paper series website

This episode is hosted by Joakim Palmén, Communications Officer at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research.

In this episode of Researching Peace, we welcome Sabine Otto, who discusses her project focusing on the civilian aspects of UN peacekeeping operations and their role in promoting human rights. She explains the transition towards multi-dimensional peacekeeping operations and reflects on future steps to enhance the effectiveness of civilian components in peacekeeping missions.

In this episode of Researching Peace, we continue to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on peace research with Paola Vesco, a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Paola's research connects the dots between climate variability, food production, and conflict risk, providing essential insights in a world grappling with unprecedented environmental changes.

How does artificial intelligence (AI) affect peace and conflict research? Meet Jim Dale and Mert Can Yilmaz, who, in this episode, will explore the role of AI in peace and conflict research. Jim, a Programmer at the Violence & Impacts Early Warning System (VIEWS), explains the power of machine learning models in forecasting organized violence on a global scale. Mert, a Senior Analyst at Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), underscores the critical need to ensure AI systems are in sync with human values and intentions. Together, they navigate the complexities of explainable AI, its implications for peace studies, and the imperative for AI ethics. While they acknowledge the immense potential of AI in the realm of peace research, they stress that ethical considerations must guide its evolution to harness its benefits and curb potential risks.

In this episode, we welcome Stefan Döring, a researcher specializing in the intersection of water and conflict. Drawing from his interdisciplinary research, Stefan sheds light on the issue of water conflicts. He unpacks the spatial dynamics of communal violence and introduces a seemingly counter-intuitive argument: water scarcity can foster cooperation instead of conflict. As we explore the future interplay of water and climate, Stefan highlights potential strategies to curb water-related disputes and emphasizes the pivotal role of research in shaping this narrative.