The Conflict Tipping Podcast
Episodes
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Peace, Conflict, and the Power of Inclusion: Insights from Dr. Julia Palmiano Federer
What happens if you put two mediation fangirls who also happen to be intersectional feminists together into the same conversation? This episode! Host Laura May and guest Dr. Julia Palmiano Federer dive into critical discussions on peacebuilding and conflict mediation. Highlights include:
Julia's journey from Manila to Vancouver, and her path to becoming a researcher in peace and conflict studies.
Exploration of critical, feminist, and decolonial approaches to peace research and the significance of unofficial peace dialogues.
Insights from Julia's work on NGOs mediating peace in Myanmar, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and local cultures in peace processes.
Discussion on the impact of climate change on conflict, with a focus on Indigenous communities in Turtle Island (North America).
Preview of Julia's forthcoming projects, including a book on mediation process design and an edited volume examining apocalyptic narratives in peacebuilding.
This episode provides a look into the challenges and opportunities within international peace mediation, emphasizing the importance of empathy, inclusivity, and critical self-reflection in addressing modern conflicts.
Links
Julia's academic website - https://juliapalmianofederer.com/
The Power to Protect (Report) - https://ottawadialogue.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/PowertoProtect-Report_IDRC_JDr.-Julia-Palmiano-Federer-Ms.-Lorelei-Higgins-Parker_compressed.pdf
NGOs Mediating Peace (Book) - https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-42174-7
University profile - https://css.ethz.ch/en/center/people/dr-julia-palmiano-federer.html
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliapalmianofederer/
Co-authors mentioned: Samantha Marie Gamez, and Lorelei Higgins Parker.
Julia Palmiano Federer
Dr. Palmiano Federer is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zürich. She is also currently a Senior Fellow at the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. Her research interests include critical, feminist and decolonial approaches to inclusive peace processes, unofficial peace dialogues and the nexus between climate change and conflict. She is the author of NGOs Mediating Peace: Promoting Inclusion in Myanmar’s Nationwide Ceasefire Negotiations, published in Open Access format by Palgrave Macmillan. She is a Laureate of the 2022 Women, Peace and Security Research Awards for her work on women, peace, security, and climate change. She was born in Manila, Philippines, and raised on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations (Vancouver).
Bookmarks
00:00 Meet Dr. Julia Palmiano Federer: A Trailblazer in Peace Research01:25 The Journey to Peace Building: Manila, Geneva, and beyond09:06 Unpacking the Ethical Ick16:21 NGOs in the Peace Process: Mavericks or Cowboys?23:13 Decolonizing Peace: A Critical Look at Norm Spreading27:46 The Future of Peace Mediation: More Caveats, More Care28:28 Unveiling 'The Power to Protect'29:02 Bridging Worldviews: Indigenous and Western Perspectives on Conflict31:11 The Journey of Research: Unlearning and Relearning33:47 Exploring Indigenous Women's Agency in Climate Change37:02 Positionality and Identity: Navigating Research as an Outsider44:50 Mediation Process Design and Apocalyptic Imaginaries48:37 Witches and Peacebuilding: Reclaiming Feminist Imagery52:57 Find out more about Julia's Work
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Ubuntu in practice with Bryony Vince [Ep. 30]
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Exploring Indigenous Approaches to Peacebuilding: The Idea of Ubuntu
In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, host Laura May interviews Bryony Vince, a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield in the UK and an advocate for context-specific indigenous approaches to peace-building. Bryony talks about her PhD focus on Ubuntu, a South African worldview that underscores interconnectedness and mutual dependence, as a tool for peace-building in South Africa. She discusses the challenges and nuances in implementing Ubuntu on the ground and its misinterpretations or misuse by governments and NGOs. In addition, Bryony shares her personal experiences in conducting field work, and her hopes for future research focusing on participatory methods, dialogue, and public space in peace-building.
0:00 Introduction00:56 Why Ubuntu? Why this subject?04:00 Why is this topic important to you?05:06 What is Ubuntu?09:05 The link between Ubuntu and peace-building12:10 Bry speaks IsiXhosa13:35 Back to peace-building and Ubuntu16:42 Do you practice Ubuntu?19:00 What's participatory research?20:58 Ubuntu as a peace 'tool'?26:31 Ubuntu post-Apartheid and structural conflict29:40 The favourite thing you learnt?31:39 Who's doing the unpaid care work? Who is peace building?36:26 What surprised you?39:57 What's next?41:47 How can people find you?
Links:
Twitter: @bryvince
Academic blog
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryonyvince/
University profile
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Nonviolence and Unarmed Civilian Protection with Dr Louise Ridden [Ep. 27]
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
In the latest episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast from Mediate.com, meet Dr Louise Ridden, a specialist in nonviolence and Unarmed Civilian Protection. We talk about:
What is Unarmed Civilian Protection? Where is it used?
How does UCP 'happen' in conflicts?
What is the role for mediation and mediators in UCP?
False binaries in war and peace
The role of peace-keeping and UCP in violent conflicts
Spaces, bodies, and time in conflict
About Louise:
Louise Ridden is a postdoctoral research fellow working on the sustainable security practices project , hosted by the Politics Unit in the Department of Management and Business and Tampere Peach Research Institute (TAPRI). She holds a PhD from Aberystwyth University, UK, where she was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Her thesis 'Making alternative worlds: Unarmed civilian protection and nonviolent imaginaries of conflict' studied nonviolence as a way of knowing, doing, and being in armed conflict through the practice of unarmed civilian protection.
Her current research interests include: principles and practices of unarmed civilian protection, the politics of nonviolence, Feminist IR theory, existentialist theory, knowledge production, and the intersection of nonviolence and political narrations of embodiment, space, and temporality.
Connect with Louise:
Twitter: @louise_ridden
Faculty page: https://www.tuni.fi/en/louise-ridden
Friday Sep 01, 2023
Friday Sep 01, 2023
In this episode, Laura engages in a riveting conversation with Anne Ikiara, the Executive Director of the nonprofit Digital Action. She has a remarkable background directing social enterprises in Global Majority countries and is known as an author, poet, speaker, gender consultant, and social advocate.
We talk about:
Lived Experience of Disinformation and Violence: Anne shares her personal connection to the impacts of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech during the 2007 elections in Kenya, where violence ensued. This experience inspired her to join Digital Action and make a global impact on protecting democracy from digital threats.
Understanding Disinformation and Violence in Elections: We delve into the factors that lead to disinformation and violence in elections, particularly in Kenya, where ethnic divides play a significant role. Anne sheds light on how misinformation and hate speech are propagated online and offline, contributing to social conflicts.
Digital Action's Mission and Initiatives: Anne outlines the role of Digital Action, a nonprofit organization focused on holding tech giants accountable for safeguarding democracy from digital threats. She explains the disparities between investment in Global Majority and Global Minority countries and how Digital Action seeks to bridge that gap.
Challenges and Strategies in Tech Justice: Anne discusses the challenges presented by the ever-evolving social media landscape and the fragmentation of platforms. She elaborates on how Digital Action's coalition is working to ensure that tech companies invest in safeguarding democracy across the globe, not just in certain regions.
Global Campaign for Tech Justice and Protecting Elections: Discover Digital Action's campaign for 2024 to make it the Year of Democracy and Safe Elections. Anne emphasizes the importance of partnering with various organizations to raise awareness about digital harm during elections and compel tech companies to address these issues.
The Power of Context-Specific Safeguards: Anne stresses the significance of context-specific content moderation and safeguards in addressing digital harm. She discusses how tech companies should collaborate with local organizations, governments, and civil society to ensure effective protection.
Anne as an Author and Poet: Learn about Anne's creative side as an author and poet. She shares her passion for writing about justice, equity, human rights, and women's rights. Her forthcoming book sheds light on the nonprofit sector's inequalities for people of color.
Personal Responsibility in Combating Disinformation: Anne provides practical advice for individuals to combat disinformation and hate speech. She emphasizes the importance of verifying information before sharing it and encourages spreading positive messages that promote democracy and human rights.
Don't miss this informative and thought-provoking episode with Anne Ikiara as we explore the complexities of digital threats, democracy, and the power of collective action.
Connect with Anne and Digital Action:
https://digitalaction.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-ikiara-4543265/
https://anneikiara.com/
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
Queering the Colombian conflict with Dr Samuel Ritholtz [Ep. 25]
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
Hear from Dr. Samuel Ritholtz, a Max Weber fellow at the European University Institute and specialist in queer experiences of conflict, crisis, and displacement, as they talk about their research into anti-LGBT violence during Colombia's civil war. We explore the violence's impact on LGBT communities, the dynamics of paramilitaries, and the concept of queer peacebuilding. Let's dive in!
In this episode, we discuss:
The logic behind anti-LGBT violence by paramilitaries during Colombia's civil war.
Paramilitaries' history, including their connection to narco-trafficking and role in the conflict.
The concept of queer peacebuilding and its relevance in post-conflict settings.
The ontology of cruelty in civil war and the perception of different forms of violence.
Thanks to Sam for offering their insights into the intersection of conflict, violence, and queer experiences. Connect with them here:
Samuel.RITHOLTZ@eui.eu
https://www.samuelritholtz.com/
https://twitter.com/SamRitholtz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sritholtz/
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Accents, inclusion, and migration with Dr. Zdena Mtetwa-Middernacht [Ep. 16]
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
In this episode, Laura speaks with Dr. Zdena Mtetwa-Middernacht, whose doctoral research focused on whiteness in migration. Listen if you are interested in:
Why you might need to learn to fake an Australian accent
Colonisation and legacies of privileged whiteness in Zimbabwe
What intersectionality means and how it affects our lives
Transnationalism and living in two places at once
Wearing different identity hats, and living different lives
About Zdena:
Zdena Middernacht began reading for a PhD in International Relations in 2013. Prior to this she earned a Masters in International Relations from the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan (2012),a BA Honours in Organisational Psychology from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in South Africa (2008) and a BA Psychology degree (2007) also from the NMMU.
She has worked for civil society organisations in South Africa and in Belgium, including Khulumani (South Africa), The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples’ Organization (Belgium) and Save the Children (Belgium). She is currently working as a Senior Research Consultant for ODS in Brussels, and as Non-Executive Director for Seefar Enterprise, whose mission is working with vulnerable people to build a better future.
She has also served as a member of the executive committee of the South African Youth for International Diplomacy.
Links to learn more:
Zdena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zdena-mtetwa-middernacht-ph-d-111bb59
Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/zdenamtetwa/
About Laura:
Laura is a former Executive Director of the International Mediation Institute and a negotiation and mediation lecturer. Her doctoral research asked “in what ways does blame make villains in politics” and covered the gamut from literature studies and linguistics to psychology and neuroscience, victimology to political science. Her expertise includes emotions, polarization, blame, and international politics. Feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn or ResearchGate—or even both!
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Gender, conflict, and saving pandas with Brianna Hernandez [Ep. 15]
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
In this episode, Laura speaks with PhD candidate Brianna Hernandez, whose work focuses on gender, conflict, and environmentalism. She is currently at Florida International University, committee member for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and a WWF panda ambassador.
Listen if you want to hear about:
The problem of binaries and black-and-white thinking
Why we can't 'just add women and stir' in peacebuilding processes
'Not all men', gender-based violence, and victim/perpetrator roles
The cross-over between gender inclusion and environmentalism
The problem of empowerment
When we should (and shouldn't!) listen to experts
Links to learn more:
Personal website: https://briannanhernandez.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brihz1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_brihernandez1
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Gender, climate change, and conflict with Laura Aumeer [Ep. 13]
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
In this episode Laura interviews Laura Aumeer, Director of the Europe-Asia Department of Conciliation Resources, overseeing work in the South Caucasus and South Asia regions, as well as cross-regional peacebuilding work.
Laura brings expertise on adaptive peacebuilding management and led our work with the Smart Peace consortium, an innovative consortium integrating research and implementation to address complex conflict problems. She also worked closely with the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth Team, providing secretariat support to the network.
Before Laura joined Conciliation Resources, she set up and managed violence reduction programmes with a focus on learning and innovation, for an international development consultancy, where she managed teams in Nigeria, South Sudan and Malawi. She previously worked in DFID, to support adaptive programming and learning.
Before this, she worked in and with grassroots UK-based charities to advocate for an inclusive approach to tackling gender-based violence, and to increase support for women's organisations. She holds an MSc from LSE in politics and democracy, for which she conducted research with women's organisations and wider civil society organisations in Thailand and Egypt on the changing nature of civil society-state relations.
Laura Aumeer | Conciliation Resources (c-r.org)