War Studies

In this episode, Dr Pablo de Orellana, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, is joined by journalist and Emmy-nominated producer Nora Neus to discuss her book "24 Hours at the Capitol: An Oral History of the January 6th Insurrection". Drawing on hundreds of interviews and primary sources, Neus reconstructs the “minute-by-minute” experience of 6 January 2021 – from elected officials to frontline staff – and argues the attack cannot be understood as a one-off event, but as the culmination of a longer movement that gathered momentum after Charlottesville and accelerated through the pandemic era. Their conversation explores how far-right coalitions form and fragment; the role of social media platforms and online ecosystems in mobilisation; and the political power of mythic nationalism – from “1776” iconography to competing claims about American exceptionalism. They also examine the wider relationship between ethnic nationalism and religion, as well as the implications for future episodes of political instability.

This episode introduces The Helsinki Brief, a podcast mini-series on Finnish intelligence and security. Hosted by Dr Paul McGarr of King’s College London, the discussion features Hannamiina Tanninen, an analyst at Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO), about the role and structure of civil intelligence in Finland. The discussion covers SUPO’s legal mandate, core functions such as counterterrorism, counterespionage, cyber intelligence and security vetting, and its cooperation with domestic and international partners. The episode also addresses key security threats, including terrorism, cyber activity and state-based intelligence operations, as well as public trust, recruitment and oversight within Finland’s intelligence system.

In this episode, Professor Roddy Brett, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Director of the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol, joins Dr Nafees Hamid, Co-PI of the XCEPT research programme, to discuss his new book, ‘Victim-Centred Peacemaking: Colombia's Santos-FARC-EP Peace Process’. Professor Brett reveals how the victims’ delegations changed the dynamics of the Santos-FARC-EP peace process, transforming victim-perpetrator relations and ultimately shaping the final agreement, which was signed in 2016. At a time when the number of civilian casualties in armed conflict is rising around the world, the Santos-FARC example offers valuable insights into how to effectively involve victims in peacemaking. Professor Brett’s book is available from Bristol University Press: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/victim-centred-peacemaking This episode has been produced as part of the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more at www.xcept-research.org

In this episode, Dr Gary Buck, author of A Risk Too Far: A Psychological Autopsy of the Planning for Arnhem, joins Dr Huw Dylan to explore the human factors behind one of WWII’s most daring operations. Drawing on his expertise in operational psychology, Dr Buck reveals how stress, ambition and personality shaped the decisions of commanders like Montgomery, Browning and Urquhart during Operation Market Garden. Through this psychological lens, the episode uncovers how bias, rivalry and pressure influenced Allied command—and how the mind can be as decisive a battlefield as any fought on land or air.

In this episode, Dr Tim Stevens, co-editor of the Research Handbook on Cyberwarfare, explores the evolving realities of cyber warfare and its growing impact on global security. He discusses the challenges of defining cyberwarfare, tracing its development from early military computing to today’s complex cyber operations across a distinct digital battlespace. The conversation examines the key players in cyberwarfare—from states to non-state actors and cybercriminal groups—their motivations, tactics, and the broader consequences of their actions on critical infrastructure and civilian life. Dr Stevens also addresses the difficulties of international regulation in cyberspace and the ethical dilemmas that arise when cyber operations blur the lines between military and civilian targets.