Room for Discussion

Premier van Nederland

With the elections in mind, this interview focuses on planning: priorities for affordable housing, European cooperation, and the SP's security policy. Will the SP succeed in governing for the first time?

Op 29 oktober gaat Nederland naar de stembus, zo ook de 30.000 stemgerechtigde UvA-studenten. Daarom ontvangen we op 9 oktober Ines Kostić, Tweede Kamerlid van de Partij voor de Dieren. ️Met het oog op de verkiezingen gaan we langs onderwerpen zoals dierenwelzijn, wonen, defensie, moreel leiderschap en verantwoordelijkheid. ️Zoals altijd bij Room for Discussion kunnen studenten tijdens het gesprek...

Why did the centre of power shift across the world throughout human history, and why did it settle in the West after the 18th century? Did wars only serve to create a winner and a loser, or did they help spur the developments necessary for the safer, richer societies we enjoy today? Historian Ian Morris, author of  War! What is It Good for? And Why the West Rules–For Now, argues that geography and...

On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Room for Discussion will host an exclusive morning interview with former Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren. With war on Europe’s doorstep, uncertainty in Washington, and rising ambitions for European defense, NATO stands at a crossroads. How will the Alliance respond to today’s geopolitical shocks? What will Europe’s role be in shaping tomo...

Join us for an exclusive interview with Alle Dorhout, the Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine and former Director of Intelligence at the AIVD. With valuable insights into the intersection of diplomacy and intelligence, Alle offers a firsthand perspective on navigating the complex political landscape during the war in Ukraine.  In this conversation, we dive deep into the history of the conflict, explore ho...

CSR Election Debate - University of Amsterdam From looming budget cuts in higher education to government directives on de-internationalisation, from defending the right to protest to safeguarding the mental well-being of students – this year, the university faces major decisions that will shape its future. In the midst of these challenges, the Central Student Council (CSR) plays a crucial role. As...

As cyberattacks grow in scale and sophistication, the lines between cybercrime, state-sponsored hacking, and digital warfare are becoming increasingly blurred. How can we protect individuals, and democratic institutions from the rising tide of cyber threats? Who should be held accountable for cyberattacks, and how can the international community step up its game? Join us for a conversation with St...

When the newspapers are full of horrifying stories, international law sometimes feels impotent. Why is it still important? In what way is the term “genocide” political? Is our international system failing if world powers don’t subscribe to it? And why would we need a fifth international crime of “Ecocide”? Philippe Sands is a specialist in international law, with over 40 years of experience in adv...

On the 9th of April, 13:00-14:00, in the E-Hall, Room for Discussion welcomed Steve Keen – outspoken critic of mainstream economics, author of “The New Economics: A Manifesto” , and one of today’s most rebellious economic thinkers. Keen has made it his mission to dismantle the neoclassical foundations of the discipline. With climate collapse accelerating, inequality deepening, and debt-driven cris...

New York City was once just a small Dutch outpost called New Amsterdam. How did a modest trading colony become the global icon it is today? Join us for a deep dive with acclaimed historian  Russell Shorto , who has spent decades uncovering the Dutch origins of America’s financial and cultural capital. From Manhattan’s first skyscrapers to Wall Street’s earliest deals, we’ll connect the dots betwee...

How can the UN uphold its humanitarian mission in an increasingly polarized world? Has it ever truly fulfilled its purpose of protecting human rights, and what role does diplomacy play as global tensions rise? Join us for a hybrid conversation with Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly, drawing on a lifetime of diplomacy and mediation. Eliasson will...

Martin Wolf is one of the most prominent voices in the world of politics and economics of our times. In an era of inequality, political polarisation, and global power shifts, he asks the uncomfortable questions: Has capitalism betrayed democracy? Is rising authoritarianism a failure of the market—or the system itself? And most importantly, can we turn the tide before it’s too late?

Room for Discussion is proud to announce a new interview series. ❗Disclaimer: Room for Discussion is a journalistic student-led interview platform which encourages open dialogue and the sharing of diverse perspectives. The opinions expressed by individual guests and audience members in our interviews are solely their own and do not reflect the views, opinions, or positions of Room for Discussion....

Join us for a powerful discussion with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition and a global symbol of the fight for democracy. We'll delve into her journey from presidential candidate to exile, the ongoing struggle against authoritarianism in Belarus, and the challenges of rallying international support for democratic change. Gain unique insights into the resilience of th...

Ever wondered how €186 billion in EU spending is scrutinized to ensure every euro counts?  On  14th January, from 13:00 to 14:00, at the REC E-Hall , we’ll dive into the world of the  European Court of Auditors (ECA)  with its  President, Tony Murphy .  As the leader of the EU’s financial watchdog, Murphy ensures that the Union’s finances are transparent, efficient, and accountable—essential for a...

The way events unfolded on our platform today once again is deeply unfortunate. While we believe that protest is an integral part of a democratic society, we are dissapointed that the way it was carried out today hindered a free exchange of ideas. We are a platform run by students, for students which always strives to create a democratic environment, in which different perspectives and criticisms...

Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Karel Hendriks. He has worked with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for over a decade and is now the Deputy General of the organisation and the Director of the Dutch branch, providing immediate life-saving care for people in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics. What is the meaning of assistance provided by medical humanitaria...

Is wealth inequality the defining economic issue of our time? How has quantitative easing deepened the divide between the rich and the poor? What can be done to fix a broken economic system? Gary Stevenson, former Citibank trader turned economic activist, predicted the widening inequality post-2008 crisis and has been a vocal advocate for economic reform ever since. With his unique insights from i...

How to make finance a force for sustainability? Are there enough incentives in our system to balance short-term profits and the protection of the environment? And what is the role of PwC and Rabo Carbon Bank in shaping the discussion on sustainable growth? Our guest has been at the center of discussions about green finance for her entire career. From academia through commercial and central banking...

Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome  Guy Standing, a British Labour economist, co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) and professor of Development Studies at the University of London . It will be a conversation offering insights into the changing dynamics of work, inequality, and social justice in today’s world. Is neoliberalism fundamentally shortsighted? What is the ‘precaria...

What role does morality play in communication? How are moral messages cognitively processed, how are they represented in the neural realm, and in what way do they motivate behavior? For our first episode of 'The Ivory Tower', we will be speaking to Dr. Frederic Hopp. Frederic is Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam's School of Communication Research. During this episode we discuss an...

What do the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, and Johan Cruijff have in common? All have them have been interviewed by Twan Huys, the most prominent interviewer and journalist in the Netherlands. He has seen the political and social environment change tremendously over the last decades and has talked to some of the most prominent makers and shakers of our current world to make sense of it. Room for Discussi...

In 1969 the Dutch security services opened a file on a 17 year old boy. His name was Derk Sauer. Later he founded his own publishing firm with Crown Jewel the Moscow Times, and to this day one of the few independent russian media outlets. The question now is: How will independent Russian media survive?