Disrupting Peace

To close out Season 2, we’re talking about the long-term impacts of electing a right-wing populist to office. Silvio Berlusconi transformed Italian government and society, beginning when he was first elected Prime Minister in 1994. In this episode, we’ll explore how Berlusconi legitimized the far-right (even though he himself was a center right politician), why people repeatedly vote for leaders t...

Today we’re talking about academic freedom in higher education. What it is, why it’s at risk, and what’s at stake for democracy when this particular freedom is eroded. We explore why academic freedom is so threatening to existing hierarchies, why it’s so hard to explain academics to a broad audience, and what everyday people are doing to fight for the integrity of higher education. Amy Reid is a s...

What's it like to lead without a military? In this episode, we focus on Costa Rica, and explore what happens when a country abolishes its military, Costa Rica’s approach to domestic security, and the ways that having a military can increase violence and instability in a country…Plus we’ll have our first former president on the show!  Carlos Alvarado Quesada served as President of Costa Rica f...

How does a country rebuild after overthrowing a dictator? On December 8, 2024, armed forces led by Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham overthrew the Assad regime, which had ruled as a corrupt and brutal dictatorship in Syria for over 50 years. For now, the country is in an in-between phase – what was is gone, but it’s not yet clear what’s coming next. In this episode, we explore what it was...

Sustaining a democracy often looks mundane. It includes managing different stakeholders, crafting policy, debating nuances and compromising. Ending a democracy can be dramatic: and it almost happened on December 3, 2024 when the president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, attempted to declare martial law during a televised address.  In this episode, we’ll hear a first-hand account of what happen...

What can we learn about building and sustaining a women’s movement from arguably the world’s leaders: Icelandic feminists? To kick off the season, we’re focusing on Iceland, the country ranked number one for gender equality for 15 years in a row. Together, we explore what makes Iceland unique, how younger generations are pushing the feminist agenda forward, and why limiting freedom around parental...

In Season 2 of Disrupting Peace, we are looking around the world – and here in the US – to learn about how people resist efforts to concentrate political power. In each episode, host Bridget Conley, research director at the World Peace Foundation, speaks with local experts on the history and practicalities of resistance. Together they explore what works, what doesn’t, and why we shouldn’t give up....

Today’s guest will help us explore this question, as well as the current state of immigration in the US, the areas where both Democrats and Republicans are getting things wrong, and why increasing empathy is necessary to create change.   Jason De León is a Professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA, Executive Director of the Undocumented Migration Project , a...

What is prison abolition, and what does it have to do with world peace? Today’s guests help us dig into this question, tackle some common misconceptions about prison abolition, and hear what restorative justice looks like first-hand. Catherine Besteman is the Francis F. Bartlett and Ruth K. Bartlett Professor of Anthropology at Colby College, whose research and activism addresses the intersection...

What if the inequalities and exploitation that are destroying the environment are also driving conflict? Today’s guests help us understand how preventing conflict and responding to the climate crisis actually go hand in hand: Tatiana Garavito Ibañez is a facilitator, organizer, and lifelong student dedicated to exploring the intersections of migration, race, and climate justice. She co-leads care...

Are we already living in the sci fi future where weapons decide who to kill?  In this conversation, we explore how AI and autonomous weapons are being used today, specifically in places like Ukraine and Gaza. Bridget speaks with two leaders in research and activism to find out why they’re concerned, and how we can regain hope. Laura Bruun is a Researcher in the Governance of Artificial Intell...

In this episode, we’re talking about big weapons: bombs and the weapon systems that convey them. We dive deep into the military industrial complex and explore what it will take to rein in both nuclear and conventional weapons on a global scale. Bridget speaks with two of the leading activists and researchers on nuclear and conventional weapons, respectively: Ray Acheson is a writer and organizer a...

When host Bridget Conley was a college student in the 90s, there was this air of optimism. It might sound crazy to say now, but she and her colleagues honestly believed they had solved world peace. In this first episode of Disrupting Peace, Bridget speaks with Yale law professor Sam Moyn and South African activist Mamello about what went wrong in the 90s, and what it would take to turn things arou...

Disrupting Peace explores why peace hasn’t worked, and how it still could. In each episode, Bridget Conley, research director at the World Peace Foundation, speaks with a researcher specializing in one obstacle to peace, and an activist who’s changing systems from the ground up. Together they explore what worked, what didn’t, and why we shouldn’t give up. Episode 1 launches September 24th. Disrupt...