Changing Character of War

May 31 2022 2.3k
Changing Character of War Podcast artwork

The Changing Character of War Centre (CCW) is an Interdisciplinary research centre for the study of current armed conflict. We are part of the University of Oxford, based at Pembroke College and the Department of Politics and International Relations. We bring together scholars from several disciplines and build connections with many institutions around the world. In addition to a number of research projects, we offer bespoke policy advice and react to events in real time.

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Reflexive Control Theory: a Soviet perspective on influence and why it matters in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

May 31 2022 37 mins  
Maria de Goeij provides a brilliant introduction to reflexive control theory, a Soviet theory of influence. Listen to learn more and appreciate how it can help us better understand today's world, including strategic decision making in hybrid warfare. Reflexive control theory is a theory of influence that was developed in the 1960s, in Soviet Russia. During this lecture Maria will t

Nation-Building in the Borderlands of a Borderland: A Cartographical Examination of the Russia-Ukraine War

May 24 2022 30 mins  
Dr Marnie Howlett presents an engaging and thought-provoking look at the cartographical causes and consequences of the war. She looks at Ukraine's position between East and West and the implications of its long history of shifting borders with Russia. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, much attention within political and military circles has been devoted to e

Responsible Stakeholder or Challenger? Assessing India’s Foreign Policy Orientation via Leadership Travel

May 17 2022 46 mins  
Dr Walter Ladwig III presents on his excellent research project which seeks to explain India's foreign policy orientation by analysing the foreign travel patterns of Indian government leaders. Will a rising India seek to uphold the existing conventions and standards that regulate the international system or is it likely to challenge an international order which is seen to have been

International Law, Politics and Ethics of Humanitarian Military Intervention

May 17 2022 45 mins  
Dr Iacovos Kareklas, Visiting Fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre (CCW), presents a strongly argued thesis that there is a legal and moral right to unilateral humanitarian intervention which dates back to the Peloponnesian War. The presented paper adopts a fresh approach on unilateral humanitarian intervention, and purports to demonstrate that, in certain cases, not only

The Strategies of Small States: Safeguarding Autonomy and Influencing Great Powers

Apr 12 2022 44 mins  
Dr Hillary Briffa looks at what characterises small states, their challenges, and the strategies they utilise to overcome these. She argues that small states can very successfully protect their autonomy and security, and exert considerable influence. When major powers clash, or grow more competitive, the historical record shows that small states are the first to be buffeted by the

Russian Perceptions of Conflict with Discussion of War in Ukraine

Mar 16 2022 48 mins  
Mark Galeotti discusses Russian perceptions of war and conflict. The differences between what is considered "war" vs "conflict" and how this changes between the military and civilian security establishments. In addition, the war in Ukraine is discussed. Discussion of Russian notions of future warfare tend, for understandable reasons, to focus on the debates within the military, whi

The UN and the changing character of peacemaking: new tools and new thinking

Feb 16 2022 50 mins  
A discussion on the need for the UN to refocus its mission and retool itself to address increased incidence of intra-State conflict. Raja Karthikeya is a Political Affairs Officer in the United Nations Secretariat supporting the General Assembly's deliberations on the Middle East. He has previously served with UN special political missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and led the Globa

Illusions of Autonomy: why Europe cannot provide for its security if the United States pulls back

Feb 08 2022 51 mins  
How would Europe fare if the United States completely withdrew its security assurances and assistance? Dr Hugo Meijer argues that Europe would struggle to mount a collective, autonomous defence capacity vis-a-vis a resurgent Russia. Europe’s security landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade amid Russia’s resurgence, mounting European doubts about the long-term reli

Russian Strategy in the Social Media Battlefield

Jan 26 2022 40 mins  
What strategies do states and nonstate actors use when engaging in disinformation and malign manipulation of the information environment? What do they do and why, and how successful is it? And what can be done to combat it? Malign manipulation of the information environment is an urgent security threat facing western democracies. This talk examines why and how state and nonstate ac

Military Strategy in the 21st Century: The Challenge for NATO

Dec 14 2021 37 mins  
Hear from Professor Janne Matlary, co-editor of this recent publication, as well as two contributing authors: Steiner Torset and Anders Sookermany Dr Rob Johnson will chair a panel discussion with contributors to Military Strategy in the 21St Century What is military strategy today? In an era when European states seek to de-escalate and avoid armed conflict, and where politicians f