Podcasts by Changing Character of War
The Changing Character of War Centre (CCW) is an Interdisciplinary research centre for the study of current armed conflict. We are part of the University of Oxford, based at Pembroke College and the Department of Politics and International Relations. We bring together scholars from several disciplines and build connections with many institutions around the world. In addition to a number of research projects, we offer bespoke policy advice and react to events in real time.
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Reflexive Control Theory: a Soviet perspective on influence and why it matters in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from 2022-05-31T10:55:07
Maria de Goeij provides a brilliant introduction to reflexive control theory, a Soviet theory of influence. Listen to learn more and appreciate how it can help us better understand today's world, i...
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Nation-Building in the Borderlands of a Borderland: A Cartographical Examination of the Russia-Ukraine War from 2022-05-24T10:41:32
Dr Marnie Howlett presents an engaging and thought-provoking look at the cartographical causes and consequences of the war. She looks at Ukraine's position between East and West and the implication...
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Responsible Stakeholder or Challenger? Assessing India’s Foreign Policy Orientation via Leadership Travel from 2022-05-17T10:53:04
Dr Walter Ladwig III presents on his excellent research project which seeks to explain India's foreign policy orientation by analysing the foreign travel patterns of Indian government leaders. Will...
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International Law, Politics and Ethics of Humanitarian Military Intervention from 2022-05-17T10:44:10
Dr Iacovos Kareklas, Visiting Fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre (CCW), presents a strongly argued thesis that there is a legal and moral right to unilateral humanitarian intervention w...
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The Strategies of Small States: Safeguarding Autonomy and Influencing Great Powers from 2022-04-12T12:58:23
Dr Hillary Briffa looks at what characterises small states, their challenges, and the strategies they utilise to overcome these. She argues that small states can very successfully protect their aut...
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Russian Perceptions of Conflict with Discussion of War in Ukraine from 2022-03-16T11:21:41
Mark Galeotti discusses Russian perceptions of war and conflict. The differences between what is considered "war" vs "conflict" and how this changes between the military and civilian security estab...
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The UN and the changing character of peacemaking: new tools and new thinking from 2022-02-16T16:38:31
A discussion on the need for the UN to refocus its mission and retool itself to address increased incidence of intra-State conflict. Raja Karthikeya is a Political Affairs Officer in the United Nat...
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Illusions of Autonomy: why Europe cannot provide for its security if the United States pulls back from 2022-02-08T10:50:51
How would Europe fare if the United States completely withdrew its security assurances and assistance? Dr Hugo Meijer argues that Europe would struggle to mount a collective, autonomous defence cap...
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Russian Strategy in the Social Media Battlefield from 2022-01-26T13:06:47
What strategies do states and nonstate actors use when engaging in disinformation and malign manipulation of the information environment? What do they do and why, and how successful is it? And what...
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Military Strategy in the 21st Century: The Challenge for NATO from 2021-12-14T16:30:28
Hear from Professor Janne Matlary, co-editor of this recent publication, as well as two contributing authors: Steiner Torset and Anders Sookermany Dr Rob Johnson will chair a panel discussion with ...
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CCW 2021 Annual Lecture: British Defence Policy: Reviews and Redirections from 2021-12-07T10:37:35
In light of the Integrated Review this year, what other military reviews have there been and what was their impact? Peter Watkins (former Director General in the UK MoD) looks back at previous mili...
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Emerging Military Technologies: A New Military Revolution? from 2021-12-07T10:30:22
How are new technologies impacting the conduct of war? And what will be the impact more broadly on our societies and, in particular, our understandings of time, space, and self. “Military revoluti...
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The Central Role of Space Domain Awareness in Future Military Conflicts from 2021-12-07T10:23:25
As space becomes increasingly central in military planning and strategy development, what is the current situation and what capabilities (and weaknesses) currently exist? Since the start of the Spa...
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Integration – The Goldilocks Factor from 2021-12-07T10:16:11
What is better integration? More integration may not be the simple answer for militaries like the US and UK. The Integrated Review, Multi-Domain Integration, The Integrated Operating Concept, Multi...
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Conflict and Wellbeing Deprivation in sub-Saharan Africa from 2020-04-16T07:02
Ricardo Nogales gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series.
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Unpacking the Refugees-Terrorism Nexus from 2020-04-16T07:00:13
Sara Polo, University of Essex, gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series.
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The Russian Understanding of War from 2020-04-16T06:55:21
Oscar Jonsson, Stockholm Free World Forum, gives a talk for the Changing Character of War Programme.
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Terrorism and Recent Developments in Human Rights from 2020-04-16T06:51:06
Lord John Alderdice gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series.
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A Westphalia for the Middle East? from 2019-05-01T13:19:45
This talk will discuss the parallels between the Thirty Years War and today’s Middle East and suggest ways in which lessons drawn from the congress and treaties of Westphalia. It was the original f...
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The Consequences of Refugee Repatriation for Stayees: A Threat to Stability and Sustainable Development? from 2019-05-01T13:12:12
Using longitudinal data from Burundi collected in 2011 and 2015, this paper explores the consequences of repatriation for stayee households i.e. those who never left the country during the conflict...
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Why the Responses to Address Intrastate Armed Conflicts fail? from 2019-05-01T12:30:54
Michael von der Schulenburg will discuss the shortcomings of the UN Charter to regulate foreign military interventions and paradoxes in UN peacekeeping The character of wars is changing. Today, war...
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The Law and Practice of Cross-border Humanitarian Relief Operations: Syria as Case Study from 2019-04-29T15:36:30
Dapo Akande and Emanuela-Chiara Gilliard from ELAC (Oxford) discuss humanitarian relief in Syria The extremely severe restrictions on humanitarian operations have been one of the defining features ...
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Gender, State-collapse, Conflict and State-building: Recent Research from the Somali Context from 2019-04-29T15:32:12
Gender, State-collapse, Conflict and State-building: Recent Research from the Somali Context Prescribing and policing gender norms and relations, in other words controlling society’s experiences of...
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The Constitution of Illicit Orders: Contested Sovereignty in Territorial Domains from 2019-04-29T14:22:48
Within the context of modernity and globalisation, this research project investigates the processes by which governance arises in territories subjected to illicit forms of social order that contest...
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Responding to Sexual Violence in Conflict: Fighting Impunity in DRC from 2018-12-17T15:40:27
Focusing on the 'male perpetrator,' this paper first examines how, why, and with what effect gendered and raced imaginaries became encoded in international peace and security policy. Sexual violen...
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Introducing the Changing Character of Conflict Platform project: New approach to quantitative analysis of protracted conflicts from 2018-12-17T15:13:50
Dr Katerina Tkacova, member of CCW, introduces the seminar series based on the CCW research project - Changing Character of Conflict Platform project: New approach to quantitative analysis of protr...
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Offensive Cyber, Ecology and the Competition for Security in Cyberspace: The UK’s Approach from 2018-05-14T15:47:47
The Strategic Cyber Security model illustrates how offensive cyber capability has been operationalised as a critical component in the delivery of the UK's cyber security strategy The 2013 public an...
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Cyber Strategy: The Evolution of Cyber Power and Coercion from 2018-05-14T15:38:27
Brandon Valeriano examines cyber strategies in their varying forms through quantitative analysis and questions their level of impact This project examines the changing character of cyber strategies...
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Artificial intelligence, Robotics and Conflict from 2018-04-30T14:14:13
Al Brown discusses new technologies, robotics and artificial intelligence entering armed conflict Secretary of Defence James Mattis recently said of artificial intelligence: "I'm certainly questio...
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Defence Cooperation in Europe: Driving Forces and New Formats from 2018-03-21T11:27:09
Dr Matlary discusses the driving forces behind defence cooperation, the key players and cooperatives within Europe, as well as Russia’s effect on defence policy.
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The Decision Point: Military Command in the 21st Century from 2018-02-23T16:10:50
Professor Anthony King gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series. Command has long been a major concern for military historians and security studies scholars. Focusing on the di...
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Adapting to Sanctions: How Russia Responded to Western Economic Statecraft from 2018-02-23T16:04:49
Dr Richard Connolly gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series. After Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Western powers and their allies responded by imposing sanctions...
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How To Think About Limited War (Without Limiting Your Thinking) from 2018-01-24T11:45:32
'Limited War' is one of the terms making a frequent appearance in the strategic studies, international relations, and military history realms over the last 70 years. What does 'Limited War' mean? ...
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The Role of Deterrence in Managing Great Power Competition from 2018-01-22T14:29:46
This seminar will not only offer a core foundation in the concept of deterrence, from a practitioner's perspective, but explore its utility and application to present day conflict scenarios in Euro...
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The Culture of New Wars from 2017-12-20T11:11:56
Mary Kaldor discussing her pioneering work on the concept of new wars and global civil society. Her work on the practical implementation of human security has directly influenced European and natio...
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Regional Opportunities and Challenges Facing the West in the Middle East from 2017-12-20T11:09:22
The focus of this presentation is on post-ISIS Syria and Iraq, Iranian ascendancy in the region, and the reaction of the US, UK and their allies in the region. It also considers prospects for Saudi...
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Lessons From a Study in Failure - The Force Intervention Brigade and the United Nations Mission in Congo, 2012-2017 from 2017-11-16T14:16:13
This seminar is concerned with the broad issues raised by the UN’s long-running mission in the DRC and what it tells us about the deeper challenges facing the UN as it continues to grapple with civ...
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Wall Street Goes to War from 2017-11-16T14:12:32
In this provocative seminar, Dr Sean McFate, author, novelist and expert in foreign policy and national security strategy, looks at the neglected area of the economics of war.
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Soft War: The Ethics on Unarmed Conflict from 2017-10-26T15:06:31
Soft war tactics, including cyber-warfare and economic sanctions, propaganda and non-violent resistance are of increasing importance but largely unexplored in just war theory. This talk illuminates...
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Giving Up The Gun: Disengaging from Politically Motivated Violence in Northern Ireland from 2017-10-23T13:29:49
Is de-radicalisation of former terrorists helpful or even possible? This presentation explores the processes involved in leaving social movements or disengaging from terrorist activities. This pres...
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The End of Peace and Optimism: Assessing the Changing Character of War from 2017-10-16T12:09:57
A 'deliberately provocative' assessment of contemporary conflict. In 'The End of Peace and Optimism: Assessing the Changing Character of War', CCW Director Dr Rob Johnson discusses a broad range of...
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The Ontology of Autonomy for Autonomous Weapons Systems from 2017-04-05T11:36:21
Dr Heather Roff discusses the role of autonomous weapons systems within the international community. She provides a theoretical framework for defining and classifying these systems, examining the d...
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Technology and the Rise of Boundless Warfare from 2017-04-05T11:32:42
Professor David Galbreath gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series.
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Social Pluralism Religious Cleansing and Hybrid Warfare in Syria from 2017-04-05T11:21:52
Since the ‘Arab Spring’ uprising of 2011, the United States and a network of European and regional Sunni allies have applied instruments of coercion against Syria that collectively take on the char...
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Militant Jihadi Culture: Poetry as a Weapon from 2016-12-05T12:32:20
The power of poetry to move Arab listeners and readers emotionally, to infiltrate the psyche and to create an aura of authenticity around the ideologies it enshrines, make it a perfect weapon for m...
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What we are missing about the Missing; searching for the disappeared victims of armed conflict from 2016-12-05T12:30:16
One of the aspects of the changing character of war is an increased awareness of and attention to those who go missing due to armed conflict. This presentation will discuss changing norms and comp...
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Strategy Evolves from apes to Artificial Intelligence from 2016-12-05T12:27:48
Kenneth Payne explores the evolutionary basis of strategic behaviour, and assesses the impact of non-biological intelligence on the future of warfare. From chimpanzees to computers, via a dose of C...
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On Criminal Strategy from 2016-10-14T11:14:19
Do criminal groups use 'strategy'? Are crime wars really wars? This talk will reveal criminal groups using force and other means to determine political outcomes to suit their own agendas and compet...
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Environment, Energy and Economics and the Structure of our Geo-Political Future from 2016-07-08T12:02:52
Steven Jermy gives a talk for the Changing Character of War Programme seminar series. Steven Jermy's analysis builds on an article published in 2013 for the Russian International Affairs Council, a...
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Clan and Conflict: The Intersection between State Violence and Societal Violence in Somalia from 2016-07-08T11:56:26
Mohamed Haji Ingiriis gives a talk for the Changing Character of War Programme seminar series. Using oral testimonies, visual evidence and ethnographic observation, and drawing from literature acro...
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Children and War: Victims, Villains, and the United Nations from 2016-07-06T11:58:23
Discussing the issues involved in using children in conflict, assesses the changing characteristics of security and war, and explains the complex international system and interwoven constraints and...
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Strategy and War in the Modern Age: CCW Annual Lecture 2016 from 2016-07-06T11:53:08
Professor Jeremy Black from the University of Exeter delivers the CCW Annual Lecture on the theme of "Strategy and War in the Modern Age".
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Mare Liberum and Mare Clausum: Maritime sovereignty, emerging countries and war from 2016-07-06T11:48:18
Rodrigo Fracalossi de Moraes gives a talk for the Changing Character of War programme seminar series. The idea that the sea is a common heritage of mankind has been giving way to the idea that the ...
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Responsibility to Protect on its Tenth Anniversary: Point of Collapse or Resurgence? from 2016-07-06T11:42:39
Joanne Neenan gives a talk for the Changing Character of War Programme seminar series.
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Strategy and Democracy from 2016-07-06T11:36:28
Sir Hew Strachan gives a valedictory lecture for the Changing Character of War upon stepping down as Chichele Professor of the History of War.
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The Utility of Force in Cities: Calibrating Security and Development Tools for Urban Stability from 2016-07-06T11:30:54
Rapid and unmanaged urbanisation is leading to protracted armed violence in key cities of the developing world. This seminar analyses the conduct of recent stabilisation operations within large and...
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Prisoners of the Past, Preparing for the Future: The Influence of Institutions, Experience, and Culture on Military Adaptability from 2016-07-05T15:41:14
Jason Clark gives a talk for the Changing Character of War Programme seminar series.
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The Morality of Unconventional Force from 2016-07-05T14:34:27
Tom Simpson gives a talk for the Changing Character of War programme seminar series.
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Concentration and Asymmetry in Air Combat from 2016-07-05T14:30:13
Historical Lessons for the Defensive Employment of Air Power
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Diplomacy: The First Line of Defence from 2016-07-05T14:26:20
James Kidner gives a talk for the Changing Character of War programme seminar series.
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Towards Mobilization? The Evolution of Russian Grand Strategy from 2016-07-05T14:23:34
This talk will explores the various aspects of Russian strategic thinking and planning, the conducting of the orchestra and what appears to be a move towards mobilisation measures.
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Arrangements of Convenience Among Violent Non-state Actors from 2016-07-05T14:18:05
This talk will discuss how rebels, paramilitaries and criminals cooperate in borderland areas, and what this means for security.
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The Evolution of Grand Strategy in Theory and Practice from 2016-07-05T13:53:36
Lucas Milevski gives a talk for the Changing Character of War programme seminar series. This talk will cover the full evolution of the meaning of the term "Grand Strategy" from the early nineteenth...
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War in the Time of Terror from 2016-07-05T13:36:58
This talk attempts to set out what IS aims are, whether there are negotiating possibilities and what the West's response to this new phenomenon should be.
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Cybersecurity and the Age of Privateering: An Historical Analogy from 2016-07-05T13:33:15
DPhil research using a historical analogy to mercantile companies, privateers, and pirates to shed light onto the blurred boundaries between state and private interests.
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5 SOLDIERS – The Body is The Frontline: Choreographing 21st Century War from 2015-01-12T13:37:48
Rosie Kay gives a talk for the Changing Character of War seminar series on dance and war
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The Russian-Ukrainian War: Challenges for Military Policy in the Baltic State from 2015-01-12T13:31:53
Dr Deividas Slekys (University of Vilnius), gives a talk for the Changing Character of War programme seminar series.
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Fighting to the End: The Strategic Culture of the Pakistan Army from 2015-01-12T13:24:41
Dr C. Christine Fair (Georgetown) gives a talk for the Changing Character of War programme seminar series.
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How to Educate a General from 2014-05-21T12:06:38
Defining and delivering military education: Col (rtd) Dr Randall Wakelam draws on his historical research to look at what constitutes good military education and how it can be most effectively deli...
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Current Progress in Afghanistan from 2014-05-12T14:57:56
Brigadier Jones evaluates the current state of progress in Afghanistan, focussing in particular on summer 2013. He also discusses the extent to which achievements are reflected in the media narrative.
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The Perception of Victory: Israel’s Recent Experiences of Winning and Losing the Narrative from 2014-04-30T14:06:42
Tim Fawdry-Jeffries considers observer perceptions of the outcome of war, taking as examples the Second Lebanon and Gaza Wars. Tim Fawdry-Jeffries is a serving Officer in the Royal Air Force having...
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Enemy Within: Underlying Flaws in Policy-Making on Afghanistan from 2014-04-01T13:26:03
Matt Waldman considers what went wrong in policy-making on Afghanistan
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How the Syrian Regime Sells its War at Home from 2014-04-01T13:19:40
Drawing his own experience of working as a journalist in Syria, Stephen Starr reports on the war in Syria and how the current regime presents the war to the people of Syria.
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Child Soldiers: Protected Beyond Gender? An International Criminal Law Perspective from 2014-04-01T13:17:18
Patricia Sellers draws on her professional experience to discuss how children can be legally protected in armed conflict
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The Prosecution of Rape in Wartime: Evidence from 1950s Kenya from 2014-04-01T13:12:15
Julianne Weis draws on historical data to consider the prosecution of rape in wartime.
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Remembering War from 2014-04-01T13:07:40
Marking the anniversary of the first world war, Professor Cecile Fabre considers why we remember war,
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Generals, Politicians and Mandarins: the Malfunctioning Political-Military Relationship in Britain from 2014-04-01T12:34:40
Drawing on his 2013 report, James de Waal discusses civil-military relations in Britain following the conflicts in recent years and considers what lessons could be learnt.
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Post-COIN : The Future of Conventional Warfare from 2014-04-01T12:32:21
Lt Col Alexandre Vautravers, Associate Professor at Webster University looks at the future of armed conflict and the role of conventional forces, post-COIN.
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Searching for Reflective Armed Forces: A Lithuanian Civil-Military Relations Perspective from 2014-04-01T12:27:53
CCW Visiting Fellow, Deividas Slekys analyses civil-military relations, using Lithuania as a case study.
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An Uncommon Point of View: Military Diplomacy in an Active Theatre from 2014-04-01T12:24
Brigadier Matthew Overton draws on his own professional experience to discuss the role of diplomacy in active conflict.
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Religious and Nationalist Motivations in Insurgency: Evidence from the Caucasus from 2014-04-01T12:21:05
Professor Monica Toft explores religious motivations in insurgency.
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Planning Future War from 2014-04-01T12:17:13
The Director of CCW outlines the future of armed conflict and how we should be preparing for it.
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Hassan Rohani's Strategy to Avoid War from 2013-11-13T12:27:58
Thomas Flichy reflects on the current politics of Iran and its role in the wider region. Thomas Flichy de la Neuville is Professor of Intelligence Studies at the Saint-Cyr military academy, and a s...
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The Morality of Private War from 2013-11-05T15:03:22
The Challenge of Private Military and Security Companies. The private military industry has been growing rapidly since the end of the Cold War. Given its extent, the increased reliance on private m...
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Men at War: What Fiction Tells Us About War from 2013-10-28T11:32:12
Professor Christopher Coker looks at the presentation of war in fiction, focussing in particular on the different character types commonly portrayed.
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War Crimes, Character, and Responsibility from 2013-05-24T15:26:12
A discussion of military ethics and war crimes. A philosophical approach to the question of war crimes and military ethics.
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"Europe Nothing Left to Die for?"NATO's European Allies, Military Capabilities and Political Will from 2013-05-17T12:35:31
Drawing on her recent book, Janne Matlary addresses the question of burden-sharing in NATO and the role of the US's European allies. Addressing the question of burden-sharing in Europe, Janne Matla...
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Insurgencies: The Challenges of Intervention from 2013-05-09T14:45:29
Professor Beatrice Heuser looks at the systemic challenges of intervening in insurgency. A survey of the causes of insurgencies and how to resolve them.
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How to Clear a Room: Towards a Sociology of Contemporary Urban Combat from 2013-05-09T13:19:28
A discussion of the sociology of contemporary urban combat and professionalism in the military. Professor Anthony King looks at the nature of urban combat and the development of close quarter battl...
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Political-Military Strategy-Making in Regional Command South Afghanistan from 2013-04-19T11:49:49
Drawing from his own experience, Todd Greentree discusses political-military strategy-making in regional Command South Afghanistan. Todd Greentree previously served as a U.S. Foreign Service Office...
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Legitimate Targets? The Partial Effectiveness of International Law in US Air Warfare from 2013-03-04T14:59:07
Dr Janina Dill, Department of International Relations, Oxford University, gives a talk about US Air Warfare and International Law, organised by the Changing Character of War programme, Oxford Unive...
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'Careful What you Wish For': Peace, Military Literacy, and the Future of the Use of Force in G-8 Countries from 2013-03-04T14:41:13
Professor Ivan Arreguin-Toft, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University, gives a talk about the future of Military force in G-8 countries, organised by the Changing Character of War program...
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Private Maritime Security and the Introduction of an International Regulatory Structure from 2013-03-04T14:36:47
Peter Cook, Founder and Security Director of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), gives a talk on Maritime Security, organised by the Changing Character of War programme, Oxfo...
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