Sustainability Matters

In this episode of Humanities Matter, we explore various aspects of adult education, including the influence of Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy, impact of environmental education on social change, and challenges and opportunities when it comes to decolonizing education. We also discuss inclusivity in educational practices, and explore what adult education for a sustainable future looks like....

It’s pride month! In this episode, we discuss the importance of an intersectional approach to research, the role of adult educators in fostering inclusive learning environments, the power of pop culture in addressing gender and sexuality issues, the homogenisation of the heterogenous trans community, and the rise of rainbow capitalism. We also tackle an important question: When does diversity stop...

In this episode of Humanities Matter, we explore how partnerships among schools, communities, and higher education institutions can help disrupt inequitable social processes. We highlight the unique perspectives that Black educators bring to academic settings, talk about the power of a non-neutral stance in social justice, and understand the crucial role of rest in equity-oriented work.  Listen to...

As global crises have time and time again demonstrated, NGOs play an invaluable role in the protection and promotion of human rights. But what exactly does this role entail? How do NGOs fulfil their responsibilities while adapting to technological, commercial, and legal landscape shifts? And finally, who or what really constitutes a protector? We answer these questions and more with Dr. Bertrand R...

In another special episode on Open Access, Brill’s Head of Open Research Stephanie Veldman speaks with Dr. Anthony Watkinson, author of "Open Access: A publisher's view" by Brill.  Having worked in publishing for nearly five decades, Dr. Watkinson has been seen the Open Access movement unfold since its infancy. How has the movement developed since he wrote his article in 2006? What...

It’s open access week. So, this episode, we break down the concept of open access to research. Is it a basic human right? What’s its role in shaping global development? And how are technologies—both new and old—influencing a movement for it. We speak with Professor John Willinsky, author of “Development and Open Access,” a chapter in Brill’s Critical Perspectives on International Education , and P...

This month on Humanities Matter, we talk about Music!  We wonder why apocalyptic soundtracks have captivated people since Medieval times, we re-discover the beauty and cultural significance of court music, and we explore the ways in which music brings stories to life in Western radio drama. All this featuring the co-editors of Brill’s Music in the Apocalyptic Mode and Word, Sound and Music in Radi...

This month on Humanities Matter, we talk about the need for space laws to include laws governing cybersecurity, data privacy, and war; role of capitalism in the West’s Covid-19 fatalities; and the precarity of certain types of labour in the Global South. All this and more with the Volume Editors of Brill’s Space Law in a Networked World and Global Rupture: Neoliberal Capitalism and the Rise of Inf...

This month, we talk about the ancient world going digital, pedagogy through virtual reality, how open access is changing scholarly publishing, and whether digital tools could make non-Western scholarship more mainstream. Also, is AI the greatest disruption yet to the humanities? All this and more with editors of Brill’s Journal of Digital Islamicate Research , The Ancient World Goes Digital and An...

Global Health, Human Rights and Social Justice —Brill’s upcoming book series—provides multi-disciplinary perspectives on legal strategies across different fields and movements. The series addresses the gaps in writing about specific domains of law and hopes to foster transformative thinking in addressing global challenges of socio-economic inequality, health governance, restricted access to medici...

Wie wurde die bescheidene Tomate zum Symbol der kulinarischen Globalisierung? Die komplexen Interessen und Machtstrukturen, die das Welternährungssystem prägen, sind ein deutlicher Hinweis auf den politischen Charakter von Lebensmitteln. Anhand zahlreicher Fallbeispiele aus Europa, Asien und Afrika stellen die Redakteure Cornelia Reiher und Sarah Ruth Sippel in ihrem Buch " Umkämpftes Essen &...

Der Wert der globalen Fleischindustrie beträgt aktuell ungefähr eine Billiarde Dollar. Fleisch ist überall leicht erhältlich und diese permanente Verfügbarkeit als Konsumartikel ist ein einzigartiges Merkmal des modernen Zeitalters. In seinem Buch: Fleisch: Die Geschichte einer Industrialisierung beschreibt Prof. Dr. Christian Kassung kulturelle Techniken industrieller Schweinefleisch-Produktion,...

Food science is a vast field that encompasses subjects ranging from microbiology to marketing. Considering the present global scenario, with factors such as climate change, war, and recession affecting supply chains worldwide, understanding the different aspects of food science and its connection with other fields is crucial for professionals, researchers, and the community at large.  Edited by Ba...

Esskultur und Essgewohnheiten sind ein prägnanter Teil von Kultur und entwickeln sich permanent weiter. Die Art, wie wir essen, ist nicht biologisch vorgegeben, sondern Ergebnis unserer sozialen und kulturellen Prägung. Warum haben sich bestimmte Gewohnheiten und Verhaltensweisen beim Essen im Laufe der Zeit durchsetzen können? Welche Entstehungsgeschichte steckt etwa hinter Esswerkzeugen und Gesc...

Central Asia—the Eurasian heartland—is home to multiple culturally rich countries such as China, Iran, Mongolia, and Turkey. Naturally, with the advent of trade and globalization, multiple cultural exchanges occurred among these countries along the Silk Route, of which food was an essential aspect. In this episode of Brill’s new Humanities Matter Podcast special series Mahlzeit , Dr. Eugene Anders...

Food security is threatened the world over, with the number of chronically undernourished people increasing from 775 million in 2014 to 821 million in 2017. This situation is likely to worsen by the effects of climate change, which is exacerbating problems in agricultural food supply, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. Under these conditions, will the world community be able to meet...

The European Journal of Jewish Studies (EJJS) is a prominent voice in global Jewish studies, having delivered entirely new directions for research in the field. Recently, a new editorial team took charge of this prestigious journal. With the changing of the guard, the EJJS is all set for a major revamp. In this episode, the editors of EJJS—Marcin Wodziński, a professor of Jewish History & Lite...

The intricacies of imperialism and colonialism within the context of the Bible are nuanced and varied. Understanding the legacy of European Imperialism requires careful reflection of the Bible’s affinity with the empire and concentration of power. In this episode of Humanities Matter, Dr. Steed Vernyl Davidson, author of “ Writing/Reading the Bible in Postcolonial Perspective ”, elaborates on the...

There has been no greater surge in global fashion trends and expressions of personal style than in the contemporary era of social media fashion influencers. But what constitutes “being in fashion” amongst this multiplicity of interpretations?  In this episode of Humanities Matter , Dr. Laura Petican, art historian and curator, and Dr. Jacque Lynn Foltyn, Professor of Sociology, Program Director BA...

The NATO rules of engagement (ROE) are highly important political and strategic laws that determine the circumstances surrounding the use of armed conflict. However, these laws are often ambiguous and confusing. It requires a great deal of situational awareness to assess a hostile act or intent, and to know when it is lawful to participate in direct hostilities. Join us as we talk to Camilla Gulda...

The right to self-determination is, in some respects, the supreme right of rights, without which it is impossible to recognize a host of other human rights. The 2014–2015 crisis of Ukraine that continues with Russia’s invasion in 2022 calls into question whether the case of the secession of Crimea can be justified by the rules of international law on self-determination. Joining us today on Humanit...

The post-World War 2 period saw the emergence of several peace-keeping institutions. The Council of Europe is one such international organization tasked with the responsibility to uphold democracy, human rights, and the rule of law throughout Europe. In times of war, the world bears witness to an overwhelming breach of human rights–Russia’s recent war against Ukraine is a case in point. During the...

In the advanced capitalist nations, a new form of economic hierarchy is emerging, that of the professional class. While the managerial class thrives, the non-managerial workforce is plagued with decreasing job security, overqualified professionals, lesser role in organizational decision making, and increasing underemployment. And to bridge this gap, education is no longer the saving grace.   In th...