Room for Discussion

Geert Wilders’ PVV recent election win is the latest addition to a trend of far-right populists winning big elections. Spanning from Argentina with Javier Melei to Italy with Giorgia Meloni, the Far Right seems to be on rise. There is no one better to talk about these events than Cas Mudde, the preeminent scholar on populism and the Far Right.

Room for Discussion is excited to announce our interview with political jack-of-all-trades, Dutch top diplomat Tom de Bruijn. Having worked as a diplomat, ambassador, government official, minister, and mayor for decades – his extensive experience in navigating politics at a variety of levels from guiding the formation of EU treaties to negotiating the formation of municipal councils informs his br...

What does BMW and the Nazi regime have in common? In what ways is the generational wealth of former Nazi supporters connected to contemporary German politics? How have Nazi Billionaires escaped accountability? Investigative Journalist David de Jong spent four years researching the history of Germany’s wealthiest families. In his book ‘Nazi Billionaires’, he explores 5 families, their hidden hand i...

What do you think of global governance’s failure to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement? What do you think of the court decision that ordered Shell to reduce all emissions by 45% by 2030? And if we live in a world where the Dutch government spends €37.5 billion on fossil subsidies on a yearly basis, does this mean that we need more Climate Activism? And if so, in which way? On October 11th (13...

Beyond the Negotiating Table: An expert’s View on Diplomacy. Kees van Rij is one of the Netherland’s most trusted diplomats, having held ambassadorships in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Brazil. From negotiating with dictators like Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi or Kim Jong-un to helping craft EU policy, Kees van Rij has been trusted with many of the major diplomatic issues over the past decades. He w...

Eurojust, is a prominent legal agency at the forefront of the fight against transnational crime in Europe. From combating organised crime to terrorism, Eurojust is involved in resolving a wide range of cross-border conflicts. To discuss the intricacies of Eurojust’s operations and the significant role it plays in ensuring cross-border justice, we will be joined by Ladislav Hamran, the President of...

Currently, Tata Steel NL is the biggest emitter of CO2 and nitrogen in the Netherlands, and links have been made between their factory’s emissions and higher-than-average cancer rates in communities that live close to their factories. As a response, the company is planning to detox their emissions and pivot to Green Steel production, which they will power with green hydrogen. Still, the future of...

Climate change is one of the most defining challenges of our time, but what’s really the best way to tackle the issue and create a more sustainable future for all? Bjørn Lomborg’s has an answer: an alternative that challenges the mainstream narrative on climate change, which has earned him both praise and criticism. He tries to address the critical trade-offs between climate, sustainability, and w...

Tom Middendorp werd uitgezonden naar Somalië en verwachtte daar te moeten strijden tegen nietsontziende piraten. Het bleken wanhopige vissers die door klimaatverandering steeds minder inkomsten hebben. In Afghanistan zag hij met eigen ogen hoe de taliban waterschaarste inzette als machtsmiddel. Daarom besloot hij na zijn aftreden als commandant der strijdkrachten zich te verdiepen in het klimaatpr...

Julian Assange. Salman Rushdie. Mike Tyson. Lula da Silva. The Wall Street Journal. The New York Times. What do all these have in common? They were defended by Geoffrey Robertson KC. He helped prosecute warlords and dictators like General Pinochet, was the President of the War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone, and fought for human rights everywhere from Armenia to Yugoslavia, Colombia to Czechoslovaki...

From bitter football rivalries to beer preferences, the Dutch and Germans have a long and complicated history. As a Dutchman living and working in Germany, Ambassador Ronald van Roeden knows firsthand about the stereotypes and cliches that surround these two countries. In our interview, he shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing these two countries in a changing geopolitical...

Ingrid Thijssen is the chair of the Dutch Employers lobby, VNO NCW. She has been called the ‘most powerful lobbyist’ in the Netherlands. On behalf of the Dutch Businesses, she has been warning about the business climate of Holland. According to her, this is deteriorating to a point at which many companies are contemplating leaving the Netherlands. Ms. Thijssens career started in NS public transpor...

Ernst Kuipers became a household name during the pandemic: a wise former doctor who helped guide the medical response to COVID-19. Now, he’s no longer just a medical expert: he’s a D66 politician.

The Red Cross is the World’s largest humanitarian network organisation working on helping people in need during emergencies, conflicts and disasters. When we watch the news we see crisis after crisis unfold, the Red Cross is often the organisation working at the scene to help those who need help the most. From emergency response to war aftercare and victim support, the Red Cross does it all. In th...

[Audio is choppy only in the first few minutes, after that it gets better] What is a Status Game? How do people react and cope with losing status games? And how do we win the Status Game? Find this out and much more in our interview with Will Storr! --------------------------------- Do you want to see more interviews and be the first to hear about upcoming guests? Follow us here: * Website: http:/...

Many spent more time on one than with their friends or family. You are probably reading this from one. Smartphones have become an irreplaceable part of our daily life. The production however often involves complex supply chains spanning continents, conflict materials, and child and slave labour in the Congo or China. But change is in your hands! Join us for a discussion about ethical and sustainab...

5 years after the closure of the Yugoslavia tribunal, has it achieved its aim? The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague saw some of the world’s worst war criminals during its 20 years in session. Alphons Orie, as a judge at the tribunal, presided over several cases. Among others, he sentenced Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-Serbian general to life for genocide, war crimes,...

Albert Heijn, Etos, Bol.com: all of these brands are part of Ahold Delhaize's local brands, and this company also has six international brands on the U.S. East Coast that account for the bulk of their sales. This is your chance to get to know the man who manages this international brand on a daily basis. Food retail is a unique industry, characterised by low margins, consumer sensitivity and poten...

Stock exchanges have offered a market for over 600 years. But what influence do politics, technology, and the stock market industry itself have on the price? Does the market, balancing the needs of buyers and sellers, provide a fair foundation? Will Stock Exchanges stand the test of time against Blockchains? Listen in on our interview with the CEO of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange where she talks ab...

Dr. Saville is one of the world’s foremost experts on language-learning, education, and technology. He spearheaded the development of digital technology and computer-based learning with Cambridge English in the 2010s and is now a prominent advocate of Education’s future frontier: AI.

Caecilia Wijgers, the last Dutch Ambassador to Afghanistan. In her career, Wijgers held posts all around the world, from Latvia to Burundi, Cuba to Afghanistan, dealing with the challenges of being a diplomat in an increasingly unstable world.

What do Michael Scott, Jeff Bezos, and Kylie Jenner have in common? All three are successful managers, yet none of them have MBAs! So is business school really worth it? And what is Quiet Quitting? The Great Resignation? And how should companies really think about Corporate Social Responsibility? This interview is with Eric Cornuel, the Director General & CEO of EFMD (European Foundation for Manag...

Room for Discussion Caroline van der Plas op de Universiteit van Amsterdam. Mevrouw van de Plas is actief Twitteraar, oud journalist, stijl icoon, maar bovenal de fractievoorzitter van de tweede partij in ons land, de BoerBurgerBeweging(BBB), tenminste, als we de peilingen mogen geloven. De BBB heeft momenteel 1 zetel in het parlement, maar staat op meerdere peilingen van 15 tot 20 zetels. Met die...