Peace Matters - A Podcast on Contemporary Geopolitics and International Relations

The unprovoked and illegal war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine ended the assumption that a conventional war within Europe is a relict of the past. With the European Security Architecture in crisis, if even still existing, the EU member states understood the importance of their neighboring countries in South Eastern Europe and in Eastern Europe for their own security. With the granting of E...

In the upcoming European Union parliamentary elections, a shift towards the conservative and right-wing forces is expected. Why are right-wing populist parties so successful these days and what implications does this have for the foreign policy and enlargement-agenda of the European Union? What is Hungary`s role within the European Union and what relevance does Victor Orbán`s anti-western, anti-wo...

Die EU-Wahlen klopfen an der Tür. Und stehen in dieser Episode von Peace Matters im Mittelpunkt. In einer Zeit, in der Europa mit einem direkten Krieg in seiner Nachbarschaft und zahlreichen anderen Krisen konfrontiert ist, wird die Bedeutung einer feministischen Außenpolitik diskutiert. Lena Schilling, bekannt als Klimaaktivistin und die jüngste Spitzenkandidatin für die Grünen, reflektiert über...

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine entered its 3rd year and an end still seems to be far away. While the destruction of infrastructure is ongoing, millions of people were forced to flee, the population is traumatized and, on the battlefield, there seems to be a stalemate. Yet, the EU - countries are still voicing their support for Ukraine. However, in the US the narrative is slowly shif...

Der zweite Jahrestag der sogenannten „Zeitenwende“, die Rückkehr eines konventionellen Krieges auf europäischen Boden und die damit verbundenen humanitären Folgen, Millionen Flüchtlinge, eine traumatisierte Bevölkerung stellen die Außenpolitik europäischer Staaten und die humanitäre Hilfe im Allgemeinen vor große Herausforderungen. Dazu kommen Kriege im Jemen, im Sudan, in Äthiopien, in Syrien, de...

The episode was recorded on 29 January 2024. In this episode, we discuss the changing international order and areas where these changes appear the most consequential. We talk about the potential role of the UN in a multipolar international system and why it remains an important global actor despite the ongoing stalemate in the Security Council. We also look at international human rights and humani...

The episode was recorded on 28 November 2023 in cooperation with Ponto. Georgia has long been one of the most eager EU-aspirant countries in the European Neighborhood. It has, however, faced a significant setback as a result of an authoritarian turn under its current government – led by the Georgian Dream party. Putting forward twelve conditions related to democracy and the rule of law for the cou...

The episode was recorded on 28 November 2023 in cooperation with Ponto. A new power balance is emerging in the South Caucasus – especially visible after the Second Karabakh War – whereby Turkey and Russia are simultaneously competing and cooperating in the region. Turkey is Azerbaijan’s staunchest ally and has assisted it militarily in its war effort. Russia, on the other hand, spearheads the Coll...

The episode was recorded on 28 November 2023 in cooperation with Ponto Azerbaijan took full control over the Nagorno-Karabakh region this September, choosing to restore its territorial integrity by force and thus ignoring the previous years of negotiations with Armenia. As a result, hardly any ethnic Armenians remain in the region, with the vast majority having fled to Armenia for fear of ethnic c...

Aufgezeichnet am 9. November 2023 Der 12. Dezember ist der internationale Tag der Neutralität. Die Direktorin des IIP, Stephanie Fenkart, hat am 9. November 2023 mit Prof. Heinz Gärnter und mit Ass. Prof. Pascal Lottaz über die Österreichische und Schweizer Neutralität gesprochen. Was bedeutete Neutralität damals und heute. Ist sie angesichts der neuen geopolitischen Entwicklungen noch von Bedeutu...

The episode was recorded on 20 October 2023 in cooperation with Ponto. The state-sanctioned falsification of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus triggered mass protests across the country, resulting in an unprecedented crackdown by the police and the security apparatus on members of the opposition, protestors, civil society, and independent media. Since then, Belarus has remained largely is...

Aufgezeichnet am 27. September 2023 in Kooperation mit Ponto In dieser Episode sprechen wir über „Space Race“, also die Domäne des Weltraums für die irdische Kriegsführung und militärische Machtprojektion sowie die sicherheitspolitischen Implikationen und Antworten auf die neuen Risiken in Österreich und der EU. Gäste: Margit Mischkulnig ist seit 2017 Abteilungsleiterin für Weltraumangelegenheiten...

Recorded on 3 October 2023 in cooperation with Ponto. In recent years, we are more and more witnessing the mainstreaming of radical ideas and nationalism in western liberal democracies. The Covid-Pandemic, climate change and the fight for equal rights – be it for LGBTIQ, Women or other marginalized groups – are only some examples which lead to high polarization, often (mis)used by different politi...

Recorded on June 26, 2023 in cooperation with Ponto. Although the attempted mutiny in Russia on June 24th was short-lived, it may have lasting consequences for Russia’s political regime, its war in Ukraine, and Europe’s overall security situation. The rebellion also put Belarus back in the spotlight, as Aliaksandar Lukashenka helped negotiate the deal heading off the crisis between Vladimir Putin...

Aufgezeichnet am 26. Mai 2023 in Kooperation mit Ponto Dieses Mal beschäftigen wir uns mit feministischer Friedensforschung, der Rolle von Frauen in der Konflikttransformation und im Konfliktmanagement, der Diskussion rund um eine feministische Außenpolitik sowie der praktischen Relevanz kritischer Friedensforschung. Angesichts zunehmender Militarisierung in Europa und in der ganzen Welt gilt es a...

Recorded on 15 May 2023 in cooperation with Ponto In this episode, we delve into the initial outcomes of Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections and examine their significance for both Turkey's internal affairs and its relations with other countries. We closely analyze the election campaigns, the state of media freedom, the intricate obstacles faced by the incoming government, su...

Aufgezeichnet am 11 April 2023 in Kooperation mit Ponto Kosovo und Serbien haben seit langem ein schwieriges Verhältnis zueinander. Im Dezember 2022 kam es zu Straßensperren und Blockaden im Norden des Kosovos durch Teile der serbischen Minderheit. Unter Vermittlung der EU kam es nun im März in Nordmazedonien zu einem Abkommen. Serbien anerkennt die Dokumente der Republik Kosovo (Personalausweise,...

Aufgezeichnet am 3 März 2023 in Kooperation mit Ponto In dieser Episode sprechen wir darüber, welche Bedeutung und Wirkung der Atomwaffensperrvertrag sowie der Atomwaffenverbotsvertrag heute haben, sowie inwiefern der Ukraine-Krieg in diesem Zusammenhang neue Fragen aufwirft und die internationale Gemeinschaft vor neue Herausforderungen stellt. Gäste: Rebecca Jovin ist seit 2019 im Büro der Verein...

Recorded on 13 February 2023 in cooperation with Ponto In this episode we speak about the military developments in Ukraine over the past twelve moths, the upcoming Russian military offensive, the West's help to Ukraine, and why search for a diplomatic solution needs to start now. Guests: Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces is a military expert and a historian. He was repeatedly...