Maastricht Diplomat

On this 4th of February 2023, Sri Lanka is celebrating 75 years of independence from the British Empire. But while the Sri Lankan government is spending millions of rupees on a military show, the island-nation is experiencing its worst economic crisis in history. This new series of podcasts present several perspectives on how Lankans are living through these uncertain times. In this first episode,...

In this episode Brendan and Charelle take a look at the changing global trade order, while also trying to understand what the World Trade Organisation (WTO) actually is. To this end, they are joined by Clara Weinhardt, Assistant Professor of International Relations at FASoS. Whose recent research explores this topic, specifically the strategies that Brazil, India, and China have adopted when respo...

There are various different forms of government in the world: there’s democracy. aristocracy, technocracy…and crooktocracy, the government of crooks. In Crooktocracy, her first series with the MD, Chiara tells us the stories of the biggest corruption scandals in the world and of how shedding a light on these crooktocracies, changed these countries, their image and their future forever. Join Chiara...

In this episode Leen explores the hype behind analogue and vintage products like paperback books, vinyls and analogue cameras. Why do we choose these options that contradict the rapid development of technology? And what implications does this have on the future of creative industries? Sources mentioned: - Rise in LP sales . - Why Vinyl Records and Other 'Old' Technologies Die Hard . - Demand For V...

Digital Sovereignty is an elusive term which can be defined in various ways. In this episode, Brendan and Charelle sat down with Dr. Mariëlle Wijermars, an expert in the field, to discuss the term Digital Sovereignty and the wider ramifications the concept has on the world. Link to sources: Interview with EVP Commissioner Margrethe Vestager Secondary sources: Laura DeNardis (2014) The global war f...

A major aspect of the climate transition in the EU has been the idea of a ‘Just Transition’, but this leaves us questioning what that actually means. In this episode, Brendan and Charelle explore what the Just Transition means and how it is applied internally in the EU. With the help of CERiM experts Francesca Colli and Toon van Overbeke, they also explore the role of the Just Transition philosoph...

Understanding Europe is a new podcast series produced by the Maastricht Diplomat, in collaboration with CERiM. Throughout the 10 episodes, Charelle and Brendan will interview experts from CERiM to dig deeper into the various research done on the EU, but also on Europe at large.  The monthly podcast series aims to contextualize and unpack local dynamics within EU member states but also interna...

In the third and final episode of Roo & Simon's series Abducted Art & Cultural Theft, they are joined by Neil Curtis the Head of Museums and Special Collections at the University of Aberdeen. Neil discusses his expertise and experience of the process to repatriate a Benin Bronzes back to its ancestral home in the Benin City, located in present day Nigeria as well as the importance of learn...

In this episode, Victoria and Jane discuss Hollywoods perpetuation of the fear mongering propaganda against an already marginalised group… SHARKS. Together they outline current laws on the protection of marine biodiversity while simultaneously arguing over Victoria’s rational fears of alligators. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel  Follow us on Instagram @thediplomatunsa

Building on the themes of power and authority from previous episodes, Victoria and Lucrezia present the third episode in their series The Red Line. Together they discuss the potential factors which lead to persistent cases of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, from hierarchy and access to the debate regarding the doctrine of strict clerical celibacy. Check out Lucrezia's article on the blue...

In the second episode of Roo & Simon's series Abducted Art & Cultural Theft, they are joined by police expert Leonie Bouwknegt to discuss her efforts to tackle art organised crime here in Limburg, as well as how these lucrative pieces of art are used as pawns in the illegal drug trade. Leonie discusses her operations to police the illicit trading of stolen cultural artefacts at TEFAF, the...

In this episode, Jonathan reports live from France where the people are choosing a new President and new Members of Parliament. They are joined by Professor Bruno de Witte to give their take on how the French constitution works and discuss how the 2022 elections can reshape French politics. After five years of centrist rule, France is at a turning point: the far-right is stronger than ever, and th...

In this special episode, guest hosts Alexander Safi and Ginevra Figini from the UNSA's Development Committee are joined by Dragomir Radoytsev, a policy officer at an EU energy organisation, to shed light on the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 7: affordable and clean energy. Together they discuss what the EU is currently doing to make the EU carbon neutral through the Green Deal, the role of ener...

This is the second episode in Victoria & Lucrezia's series The Red Line. Together they discuss the institutional role of the Church from the international and European Union perspective. A distinction is made between the temporal state power exercised by the Vatican City and the spiritual sphere of influence enjoyed by the Holy See. This discussion forms part of a larger conversation revolving...

In this special episode Paula is joined by Professor Elissaveta Radulova , an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Maastricht University, and Emili Stefanova , Head of Marketing at the UNSA, to discuss how and why their home country Bulgaria is currently experiencing a transformation process. By exploring their first-hand experiences, political insights and explanations, t...

In this episode Roo and Simon launch their new series “Abducted Art & Cultural Theft” where they will be interviewing experts to discuss the modern fight for the restitution of cultural artefacts and the illicit trafficking of looted objects. In their first episode they will be joined by Professor Donna Yates, an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology at Maastric...

In this episode Victoria and Lucrezia launch their new series “The Red Line,” a special project done in collaboration with the blue & yellow blog of the European Career Association (ECA). This series aims to better understand the red line of power and authority that runs beneath and perpetuates instances of abuse within the institution of the Catholic Church. In their first episode Victoria &a...

This is the third installment of Gloria and Charelle's series Don't Forget About Us. In this episode Gloria and Julia have a discussion with a couple of representatives from Collective Aid Calais in order to shed a light on the situation of people on the move in Calais. They discuss their reality enduring constant hardship and violation of their human rights. More on Collective Aid Calais: https:/...

This episode is the second in the series called Don't Forget About Us by Gloria and Charelle. Together with a representative from the NGO This is Lebanon, they shed a light on the plight of foreign domestic workers in Lebanon and the Arab world at large. Focusing on the structure of the Kafala system and how the Covid-19 crisis, Lebanon's economic woes, and the recent explosion of the Beirut harbo...

In this episode Gloria and Charelle launch their new series called "don't forget about us", in their first episode they focus on the ongoing health crisis in Venezuela. To gain a deeper understanding they interview Cinzia De Santis the CEO and founder of Healing Venezuela, an NGO which aims to help Venezuelans through its various programs. Our Instagram: thediplomatunsa Healing Venezuela: www.heal...

In this live episode, the Editor in chief of the Maastricht Diplomat and the student politics correspondent join us to talk about the student politics debate hosted a couple of days prior. The elections start today 17th of May and end on the 20th. Go vote!

Gender-based violence and femicide in Turkey have seen a massive rise over the last few years. The government's much-contested decision to leave the Istanbul Convention on the 20th of March 2021 has left the women of Turkey at the most vulnerable they have been in decades. Learn more about the mechanics at play behind this decision as well as the socio-cultural reasons behind the rise in violence...

In this episode, the team jumps into the first of three episodes, where they discuss the realities of abortion and reproductive rights. This episode focuses on the legal and historical facts that have shaped abortion rights across Europe.

Ahmad Rifai joins us today for our very first live recording @withloveradio. Ahmad is Syrian a graduate of FASoS, now in Leiden, and is a passionate storyteller. In this episode, he dissects the Arab Spring and brings the perspective of the everyday Arab caught up in a maelstrom of geopolitical turmoil. Songs: Ya Tair by Fairuz Arrabi al arabe by Mariem Hassan Mawtini by Aia Younan

This is the first collaborative episode with people outside the podcast team! Not only this but we are joined by two guests, who are representatives of different initiatives in the realm of fair fashion. Together with them and a member of the UNSA external affairs committee, we discuss what fair fashion is and what agency we and individuals have in working towards a world where fair fashion is the...