Best Sierra Pierre Podcasts (2025)

1
Paths to Reconciliation | Sergio Jaramillo Caro 52:08

9d ago52:08

52:08

This episode explores strategies for finding consensus between the government and rebel insurgencies. We spoke with Sergio Jaramillo Caro, former High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia, who led the secret negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas, culminating in the Final Agreement in 2016. He discusses strategies for p…

1
From Vision to Action | John Marks 37:40

1M ago37:40

37:40

How can social entrepreneurship help end violent conflict? In this episode, John Marks, founder of “Search for Common Ground”, an international NGO dedicated to resolving global conflicts, shares insights from over 40 years of experience in peacebuilding. Marks discusses key lessons from his extensive career, highlights core concepts from his lates…

1
A Possible Path for Haiti | Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis 54:56

2M ago54:56

54:56

Karl Popper once said, “Open societies are their own worst enemies.” In this episode, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, former prime minister of Haiti and president of the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation, reflects on this idea. She shares her perspective on Haiti’s development challenges and paths to peace. Michèle emphasizes the importance of negoti…

1
Does Counterterrorism work? | Richard English 39:15

3M ago39:15

39:15

Defining successful antiterrorism strategies is challenging. With groundbreaking research in the history of political violence, terrorism, and nationalism, Professor Richard English guides us through the main concepts and structures to understand valid approaches for countering terror. Richard English is a Professor of Politics at Queen's Universit…

1
Wealth in People | James Robinson 50:01

5M ago50:01

50:01

How can the West learn from Africa? Professor James Robinson, director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, highlights the richness of development in the African region. Robinson has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, and is …

1
Speaking Law to War | Kathleen Cavanaugh 54:03

5M ago54:03

54:03

What are the key legal principles that govern the conduct of war and protect human rights? In this episode, we speak with Professor Kathleen Cavanaugh, the Executive Director of the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights, and Senior Instructional Professor in the College at UChicago. Professor Cavanaugh’s scholarship, like her academic training, is i…

1
Amnesties, Law, and Peace | Louise Mallinder 56:02

6M ago56:02

56:02

How is law understood and used by different actors during political transitions to achieve peace? In this episode, we speak with Professor Louise Mallinder, a Professor in the School of Law at Queen's University Belfast and Faculty Affiliate of the Pearson Institute. She has a longstanding and internationally recognized expertise in amnesty laws th…

1
Human Rights in North Korea | Ambassador Julie Turner 35:34

7M ago35:34

35:34

How does the United States coordinate with regional partners to promote human rights in North Korea? In this episode, we speak with Ambassador Julie Turner, the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights at the Department of State. Ambassador Turner is globally recognized as an expert in human rights and democracy and has worked over the past…

1
A War Later | Juanita Velez 53:20

8M ago53:20

53:20

How do stories give new perspectives to conflict and peace? In this episode, we speak with Juanita Vélez, a journalist and political scientist. She was the editor of La Silla Sur, a regional subsidiary of Colombian news website La Silla Vacía, focused on covering the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement in southern Colombia. She researches an…

1
Power & Development | Raul Sanchez de la Sierra 1:11:09

9M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

What is the role of narratives within the political economy of development? In this episode, we speak with Professor Raul Sanchez de la Sierra, an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Faculty Affiliate of the Pearson Institute. His research tackles problems in the economics of development, political …

1
Polarization in a Region of Turmoil | Daniel Brumberg 59:31

10M ago59:31

59:31

What factors hindered Tunisia's democratic transition after the Arab Spring? In this episode, we speak with Professor Daniel Brumberg, a Professor in the Department of Government at Georgetown University and co-founder of its Democracy and Governance Master’s program. We discuss Tunisia’s political landscape and how polarization impacted its own de…

1
Colonizing Kashmir | Hafsa Kanjwal 40:53

12M ago40:53

40:53

What is the history of Kashmir’s path to self-determination? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Hafsa Kanjwal, an assistant professor of South Asian History at Lafayette College. We talk about Dr. Kanjwal’s new book Colonizing Kashmir: State-building Under Indian Occupation. The book interrogates how Kashmir was made "integral" to India through a s…

1
Philosophies of Research | Austin Wright 1:33:12

1y ago1:33:12

1:33:12

What kind of ethical concerns should researchers think about when deciding to take on a project? In this episode, we speak with Professor Austin Wright, an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at The University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and a faculty affiliate of the Pearson Institute and Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. We …

1
Gendered Dimensions of Conflict | Maliha Chishti 55:25

1y ago55:25

55:25

How do war and conflict give rise to gender-based violence? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Maliha Chishti, an assistant instructional professor at the Divinity School and an associate of The Pearson Institute. Her core research interests are international peacebuilding, security, and development, as well as gender and human rights in post-confl…

1
Mothers and Peacebuilding | Amal Hamada 43:55

1y ago43:55

43:55

What is the role of mothers in counterterrorism efforts? Within conflict, women have traditionally been viewed as victims that need protecting; however, their involvement is much more nuanced than that. In this episode, we speak with Professor Amal Hamada, a professor of political science and gender studies at Cairo University. We talk about the ro…

1
After Authoritarianism | Monika Nalepa 36:46

1+ y ago36:46

36:46

How are authoritarian elites and their collaborators handled in the aftermath of democratic transitions? The modern discipline of documenting transitional justice began with the Nuremberg trials for Nazi perpetrators. The trials shifted the way the international community thinks about accountability for human rights violations committed by authorit…

1
Kurdish Women and Resistance | Rez Gardi 59:51

1+ y ago59:51

59:51

What role did Kurdish women play in Iran's protests last year? The death of Jina Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iranian authorities sparked mass demonstrations for women’s rights under the rallying cry of "Women, Life, Freedom." But the Kurdish minorities behind this resistance have largely been erased—and their movements co-opted before the internati…

1
Lives Amid Violence | Mareike Schomerus 57:35

1+ y ago57:35

57:35

What mental models underpin international development? And how do they hold back actors working in conflict-affected countries? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mareike Schomerus, author of Lives Amid Violence and Vice President of the Busara Center, one of the first behavioral science research labs in the Global South. Drawing from ten years of …

1
Sudan’s Political Transition | Ibrahim Elbadawi 1:14:04

1+ y ago1:14:04

1:14:04

What does an interrupted democratic transition look like? In this episode, we speak to Dr. Ibrahim Elbadawi, managing director of the Economic Research Forum and former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the Republic of Sudan. In May of 2023, Dr. Elbadawi joined us in Chicago at the sixth annual Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Lecture to …

1
Precarious Protections | Chiara Galli 1:14:54

1+ y ago1:14:54

1:14:54

What is the human toll of the U.S. immigration bureaucracy? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Chiara Galli, a sociologist at the University of Chicago. Her latest book, “Precarious Protections,” chronicles the experiences and perspectives of Central American unaccompanied minors and their immigration attorneys as they navigate the asylum process a…

1
Geography is Destiny | Ian Morris 59:00

2y ago59:00

59:00

How can geography explain Brexit and Britain’s changing relationship with the rest of the world? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ian Morris, a historian and archeologist at Stanford University. His latest book, “Geography is Destiny,” chronicles the ten-thousand-year history of Britain’s relationship with Europe and how it has adapted in a globa…

1
Decolonizing Palestine | Somdeep Sen 1:00:48

2y ago1:00:48

1:00:48

How can we imagine liberation under colonial rule? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Somdeep Sen, a post-colonial studies professor at Roskilde University. His book, "Decolonizing Palestine," draws on his ethnographic research in the region to study how Israeli occupation shapes life and politics in the Palestinian territories. He documents how li…

1
The Troubles | Jon McCourt 1:13:27

2y ago1:13:27

1:13:27

When does the force of argument become stronger than the argument of force? In this episode, we speak with Jon McCourt, a community peace activist for over forty years in the City of Derry, North of Ireland. As a young man, he marched on the first civil rights demonstration in Derry in 1968. Witnessing the murder of friends and neighbors on Bloody …

1
Everyday War | Greta Uehling 57:31

2y ago57:31

57:31

How do civilians cope while living in a country at war? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Greta Uehling, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Michigan. Her forthcoming book, “Everyday War,” draws on her ethnographic research in Ukraine after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea. She documents how the conflict disrupted lives and reshaped peo…

1
Somaliland's Independence | Bashir Goth 49:45

2y ago49:45

49:45

The Republic of Somaliland is a de facto sovereign state in the Horn of Africa. Declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland is a self-governing country, with democratic elections and a distinct history, but it’s still considered part of Somalia by the international community. In this episode, we speak with Bashir Goth, the Head of the S…

1
Trust After Betrayal | Erin McFee 1:04:28

2y ago1:04:28

1:04:28

How do ex-combatants transition back into society after conflict? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Erin McFee, a political anthropologist and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the London School of Economics. Focusing on Colombia and the reintegration of the FARC, her team studies reconciliation in post-conflict societies—the interventions that create…

1
Gender and Conflict | Lina Haddad Kreidie 1:03:02

2+ y ago1:03:02

1:03:02

How do war and displacement disproportionately impact women? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lina Haddad Kreidie, a political psychologist and Academic Director of Gender Studies at the Lebanese American University. Her research centers marginalized communities, mainly displaced and refugee women in the Middle East. We discuss her work with the …

1
African Political Philosophy | Francis Njoku 49:05

2+ y ago49:05

49:05

How does African philosophy shape African political institutions? And how have they evolved separately from European models of statehood and development? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Francis Njoku, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a visiting scholar at the Harris School. We talk about his research and how homeg…

1
The American War in Afghanistan | Carter Malkasian 55:45

2+ y ago55:45

55:45

What should we learn from the aftermath of the US War in Afghanistan? And what decisions could’ve brought a better outcome? The fall of Kabul to the Taliban last year marked the end of America’s longest war in history, with former Afghan government unable to retain control of the country. In this episode, we speak with Carter Malkasian, a historian…

1
Political Resistance in Myanmar | Jason Gelbort 30:34

2+ y ago30:34

30:34

How is the Myanmar military exacerbating human rights abuse in the country? In February 2021, the Myanmar military initiated a coup – throwing the country back into its long history of authoritarian rule. As the military has taken control, public resistance has become unprecedented. In this episode, we speak with Jason Gelbort, an international law…

1
African Solutions to African Challenges | Martin Kimani 43:35

2+ y ago43:35

43:35

What are African solutions to African challenges? And how can African agency act as a counterpoint to the divisions and legacy of colonialism? In this episode, we speak with Ambassador Martin Kimani, the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations, about his recent speech criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the failures of Western…

1
Global Impact and Philanthropy | Liz Drew 36:20

2+ y ago36:20

36:20

How do non-profits navigate changes in humanitarian aid policy? And how is the philanthropic sector evolving? In this episode, we speak with Liz Drew, a Chicago-based strategist with nearly two decades of leadership in advancing human rights, gender equity, and social justice. From working as a U.S. State Department and White House advisor in the O…

1
Why We Fight | Chris Blattman 41:23

3y ago41:23

41:23

What makes conflict win out over compromise? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Chris Blattman, an acclaimed expert on violence and conflict. His recent book, “Why We Fight,” draws on economics, political science, and psychology to examine the root causes of war and the paths to peace. In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the other ongoi…

1
Disinformation and Democracy | Nina Jankowicz 51:52

3y ago51:52

51:52

How does disinformation fuel modern conflict? In this episode, we speak with Nina Jankowicz, an expert on disinformation and a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center. We talk about her debut book, "How to Lose the Information War," which takes the reader through several case studies of how Western governments are impacted by Russian disinformation tact…

1
Quantifying Global Peace | Steve Killelea 38:15

3y ago38:15

38:15

How can we build more peaceful, resilient societies? In this episode, we speak with Steve Killelea, a global philanthropist focused on peace and sustainable development and author of “Peace in the Age of Chaos.” He is the founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace and the Global Peace Index, which measures and ranks the peacefulness of 163 di…

1
Human Rights in Yemen | Afrah Nasser 37:36

3y ago37:36

37:36

What are the prospects for peace in Yemen and how do we hold international actors accountable? In this episode, we speak with Afrah Nasser, a researcher with Human Rights Watch investigating humanitarian law violations and human rights abuses in Yemen. A former activist and independent journalist in Sana’a, Nasser has been advocating for human righ…

1
Social Cohesion After Conflict | Salma Mousa 21:30

3y ago21:30

21:30

Can intergroup contact build social cohesion after conflict? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Salma Mousa, a political scientist studying social cohesion after conflict and what policies can build trust between groups. She talks about her latest study on building social cohesion between Christian and Muslim youth soccer players in post-ISIS Iraq …

1
Refugee Mental Health | Aimee Hilado 18:11

3y ago18:11

18:11

Refugee populations face unique challenges to mental health and overcoming trauma in resettlement. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Aimee Hilado, a clinical social worker and researcher specializing in immigrant and refugee mental health and Associate Professor of Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Hilado is the founder and dire…

1
Evaluating Peacebuilding Interventions | Ada Sonnenfeld 29:58

3+ y ago29:58

29:58

How do researchers assess the impact of peacebuilding interventions? And what can we learn from examining existing literature as a whole? In this episode, we speak with Ada Sonnenfeld, a former Evaluation Specialist with the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). She talks about her work managing systematic reviews and evidence gap m…

1
Corruption and the War in Afghanistan | Gretchen Peters 27:24

4y ago27:24

27:24

The relationship between illegal financial flows and state-level violence is present in conflicts around the world, and is especially pronounced in Afghanistan. In particular, the country’s thriving drug market based on the opium trade has proven to be a major economic factor that has been fueling the ongoing conflict. In this episode of Root of Co…

1
The Afghan Peace Process | Laurel Miller 27:39

4y ago27:39

27:39

The War in Afghanistan following the US invasion in 2001 is almost two decades old. In recent years there’s been a growing appetite for a non-military resolution to the conflict. We speak with Laurel Miller — the Asia Program Director at International Crisis Group and a former state department official working on Afghanistan and Pakistan — about th…

1
Climate Change and Conflict | Amir Jina 28:45

4y ago28:45

28:45

Climate change will affect rich and poor countries — but poorer countries are predicted to pay the greatest human and economic cost. In this episode we interview Amir Jina, an Assistant Professor at University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, researching how economic and social development is shaped by the environment. He uses economics…

1
COVID-19 and Peacebuilding in Nigeria | Rebecca Wolfe and Maurice Amollo 39:40

4+ y ago39:40

39:40

In this episode of Root of Conflict, Pearson Fellows Daniella Choi (MPP ‘20) and Daniel Vallejo (MPP ‘21) speak with Dr. Rebecca Wolfe and Maurice Amollo. Dr. Wolfe is a Lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy and is an expert on political violence, conflict, and humanitarian policy, and Maurice Amollo is the Chief of Party for Mercy Corps i…

1
COVID-19 in Conflict Afflicted States | Frances Brown 31:07

4+ y ago31:07

31:07

Frances Z. Brown is a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She recently co-authored a report titled “Coronavirus in Conflict Zones: A Sobering Landscape”, which examines how the COVID-19 pandemic is playing out in 12 different conflict-affected states, and how efforts to contain the virus increase the likelihood of aggra…

1
Autonomy and Kashmir | Salwa Shameem and Rohool 30:30

4+ y ago30:30

30:30

The Citizenship Amendment Act and Article 370 was abrogated late in 2019 in the Kashmir, which further restricted autonomy in the region and increased unrest in the state. In this episode, we speak to Salwa Shameem, who is a film maker and strategy consultant, and Rohool, a local activist in Kashmir, about the conflict and its broader implications.…

1
Preventing Conflict in Fragile States | Liz Hume 31:02

4+ y ago31:02

31:02

The Global Fragility Act (GFA) was passed by Congress as part of the 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act and was signed into law on December 20, 2019. The bill represented a historic victory for the peacebuilding field, which has long advocated for the GFA as a way forward to prevent violent conflict. The Alliance for Peacebuilding, a non-partisan…

1
Coping With the Global Refugee Crisis | Cindy Huang 42:53

4+ y ago42:53

42:53

There are currently over 70 million people displaced by war, conflict, and persecution worldwide (more than the population of Thailand). The vast majority of them are in low- and middle-income countries without adequate resources to support and resettle them. We spoke to Dr. Cindy Huang, vice president of strategic outreach at Refugees Internationa…

1
Police Violence in America | Sam Sinyangwe 38:26

5y ago38:26

38:26

For the last several years, police violence in America has come to the forefront of public consciousness. It is an issue that can polarize the country but for years, there lacked a data-driven analysis of police violence on a national level, and concrete policy recommendations on the issue were hard to come by. On this episode of Root of Conflict, …

1
Future of Defense: Big Data and Cyber Warfare | Liam Collins 38:03

5y ago38:03

38:03

What is the role of big data in modern-day conflict? How prepared are defense leaders in interpreting data and effectively leveraging its use on the battlefield? How has cyber warfare evolved over the past decade, and what lessons can we draw from the Russian example in Crimea? We attempt to address these questions in this episode of Root of Confli…

1
The Wars of Queens | Oeindrila Dube 32:36

5y ago32:36

32:36

Are female leaders more likely to engage in warfare than male leaders? In this episode of “Root of Conflict” we spoke with Dr. Oeindrila Dube, the Philip K. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the Harris School of Public Policy to help answer this question. Dr. Dube recently co-authored a paper titled “Queens”, which examines Europe fro…

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