Researching Peace - a podcast by Uppsala University

#47 Nuclear Weapons and the Nordics – with Thomas Jonter

In this episode, we discuss nuclear proliferation and disarmament in the Nordic region with Professor Thomas Jonter. In response to the rapidly shifting security landscape of the Nordics and the Baltic Sea region, the AMC working group, which Thomas leads, has increasingly focused on this region. 

 

Read more about the working group and their research: https://www.uu.se/4.28afe6b218c4313625918573.html

 

A transcript of this episode is available on our website:

https://www.uu.se/download/18.7b07d1fb19ddcad926649530/1778586543292/Thomas%20transcription.pdf

#46 Understanding Election Boycotts – with Sebastian van Baalen

Our researcher Sebastian van Baalen and his team are conducting the most extensive study of election boycotts to date. In this episode, we ask him why political parties or candidates choose to drop out of elections and what they hope to achieve by doing so. What can we learn from their multifaceted reasons for opting out? Why are incumbents often afraid of such boycotts? What role does humour play?

 

Sebastian is the project leader for the ongoing research project “Opting out? Explaining the effectiveness of election boycotts”. Working with researchers Gudlaug Olafsdottir and Jesper Bjarnesen (The Nordic Africa Institute), the project has constructed the largest dataset so far on election boycotts, compiling new data on all election boycotts worldwide between 1945 and 2025.

Further resources

Read more about Sebastian's project on the DPCR website: https://www.uu.se/en/department/peace-and-conflict-research/research/research-projects/opting-out-explaining-the-effectiveness-of-election-boycotts

A transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://www.uu.se/download/18.12d27b2919db51d4e285378/1776953932007/Sebastian%20van%20Baalen.pdf

#45 A new logic of ethnic power-sharing – with Alexandre Raffoul

In this episode, we discuss power-sharing as a tool for ethnic conflict management with Alexandre Raffoul, who recently defended his thesis on the subject. His dissertation sheds light on the understudied concept of “associational power-sharing”, and his data reveal some striking findings. 

 

Resources:

The extensive summary (Kappa) of Alexandre's dissertation "The Logics of Multi-Ethnic Coalitions: Power-Sharing, Party Systems, and Ethnic Conflict Management" is available here: https://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A2024657&dswid=4385

The first essay, “Practicing Power-Sharing: How Political Adversaries (Fail to) Rule Jointly”, is available open access in Nations and Nationalism: https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.13110

The second essay, "Unstable Concepts, Unresolved Controversies: Reassembling Power-Sharing, Consociationalism, and Centripetalism", is published open access in Nationalism and Ethnic Politics: https://doi.org/10.1080/13537113.2025.2488577

# 44 When do Student Movements Turn Violent? – with Anders Themner

In this episode, Associate Professor Anders Themnér from our department discusses his research into student-led violence in sub-Saharan Africa. What are the patterns and warning signs of such violence? Should universities be mindful of these signs?   

 

Read more about Anders’ project: https://www.uu.se/en/department/peace-and-conflict-research/research/research-projects/uncivil-students-the-militarization-of-student-civil-society-as-a-threat-to-democracy

#43 Activism and the Academe – with Akosua Adomako Ampofo

In this episode, we welcome Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo. Tapping into her experience as a Ghanaian scholar and activist, we discuss feminism, activism, and potential pitfalls in academic collaborations between the global north and the global south.  

Akosua Adomako Ampofo is Professor of African and Gender Studies, and a former Director of the Institute of African Studies and the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Ghana. She was awarded the 2025 Claude Ake Chair, hosted by the Department of Peace and Conflict Research and the Nordic Africa Institute. (NAI)

This episode is hosted by Joakim Palmén

#42 Evolving Threats to Nuclear Security – with Lars van Dassen

What are the most acute threats to nuclear security and how are they evolving? How does nuclear security relate to non-proliferation and disarmament? In this episode we talk to Lars van Dassen, who is executive director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) in Vienna.

This episode is presented in collaboration with the Alva Myrdal Centre for nuclear disarmament.

#41 The Iranian Nuclear Issue – with Stephan Klement

In this episode we discuss the Iranian nuclear issue with Ambassador Stephan Klement, who is the EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

He has been a part of the nuclear negotiations with Iran for more than 20 years and is a Special Advisor for the Iranian nuclear issue in the European External Action Service.

Since Stephan holds two doctoral degrees, in International Law and in Physics, we also zoom in on the interdisciplinary aspect.

This episode is produced in co-operation with the Alva Myrdal Centre for nuclear disarmament: uu.se/amc

 

#40 A Journey Connecting Mental Health and Peace – with Karen Brounéus

In this episode, Karen Brounéus, professor in peace and conflict research and clinical psychologist, takes us on a journey from grassroots work to the bird's-eye view of research and policy and back again. Karen’s research helps us think more deeply about the intrinsic link between mental health and conflict reduction.

Her new Uppsala Initiative for Global Mental Health and Peace includes a project in Tigray, Ethiopia, developing an evidence-based approach to treat post-war depression, and a project with Mindfulness-based stress reduction in Sweden.

#Research #MentalHealth #PeaceAndConflict

#39 The Challenge and Potential of Conflict Data – with Therese Pettersson

In this episode UCDP Research coordinator Therese Pettersson discusses their newly released data for the year 2024. She also walks us through how the Uppsala Conflict Data Program ensures the quality of the datasets and how they tacke key challenges in data collection.

Further resources:

A special data feature in which the UCDP team discusses the data is available open access on the Journal of Peace Research website.

We also recommend the latest episode of PRIO's Peace in a Pod, which asks what the rise in global conflict means for children in the affected areas.

#38 AI, Peace and International Law – with Mary Ellen O’Connell

This special episode features the talk by Professor Mary Ellen O’Connell from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, which she gave at the inaugural Peter Wallensteen Lecture on 20 May 2025 in Uppsala. This new lecture series honours our founder Professor Peter Wallensteen.

The talk begins with a critique of the current reliance on deterrence theory. Professor O’Connell then proceeds to argue how AI research and state funds should be reoriented from deterrence towards self-defence based on the principles of international law. We found the talk thought-provoking and hope you too will find it stimulating!

Mary Ellen O’Connell is the Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law and Professor of International Peace Studies—Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, USA. Her work is in the areas of international law on the use of force, international dispute resolution, and international legal theory. Her current work is on AI in the military domain.