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Robin Niblett discusses the difficulty of balancing national interest with human rights concerns, arguing that a Chinese state visit to the UK is arguably not the time for the UK to raise its objections, but that the Chancellor's trip to Xinjiang could have sent a stronger message about British human rights values.    

UK-China relations: Balancing national interest and human rights

Victor Asal currently serves as Chair of the Department of Public Administration and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science. He received his PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park.  He is also, along with R. Karl Rethemeyer,  the co-director of the Project on Violent Conflict.  Dr. Asal is affiliated with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. Dr. Asal’s   research focuses on the choice of violence by nonstate organizational actors as well as the causes of political discrimination by states against different groups such as sexual minorities, women and ethnic groups. In addition, Prof. Asal has done research on the impact of nuclear proliferation and on the pedagogy of simulations.  Asal has been involved in research projects funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, The Department of Homeland Security, The National Science Foundation, and The Office of Naval Research.   

Some research that influenced Victor's career.


Martha Crenshaw (1981). The Causes of Terrorism.

Mark Juergensmeyer (2003). Terror in the mind of God: The global rise of religious violence.

Ted Robert Gurr (2000). People vs. states.

Some of Victor's key research

The nature of the beast: Organizational structures and the lethality of terrorist attacks. With R. Karl Rethemeyer (2008)

Gender ideologies and forms of contentious mobilization in the Middle East. With Richard Legault, Ora Szeleky, and Jonathan Wilkenfeld (2013)

A Shot Not Taken: Teaching About the Ethics of Political Violence 1, 2. With Marcus Schulzke (2012)

Victor Asal: Teaching about Political Violence

Poet, visual artist, oral historian and licensed electrician Susan Eisenberg joins us to talk about her new collection of poetry, Stanley's Girl. 

Susan Eisenberg is Resident Artist/Scholar at the Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center. Visit susaneisenberg.com for more information.

Use code 09POD to save 30% on her books when you order direct from Cornell University Press: http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140106652980&fa=author&person_id=846#content

1869, Episode 34 with Susan Eisenberg, author of Stanley's Girl & We'll Call You If We Need You

Alistair Burt MP is Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office. In a recent speech at Chatham House he launched a new report from the government's Stabilisation Unit on new approaches to resolving armed conflicts. Drawing on examples from conflicts as diverse as Libya and Colombia, the report explores how deal making and peace building can reduce conflicts around the world. Agnes spoke with Alistair after the speech to find out more. Despite the success and acclaim garnered by movements such as Time's Up and #MeToo, women's access to the global economy is still a major issue. From gender pay gaps to the lack of affordable childcare, in the majority of countries women are still greatly disadvantaged. The Gender and Growth Initiative at Chatham House seeks to develop policies for combatting these problems. In their first joint interview Agnes and Ben caught up with Stephane Dubois and Roxanne Bildan to discuss how the initiative is working with the G20 to drive change in this area.&nbsp; Read the speech:  Deal Making and Peace Building: a New Approach to Reducing Conflict Find out more:  Chatham House 2018 International Policy Forum on Gender-Inclusive Growth &nbsp;

Episode 11: New Approaches to Peace Building, and Gender-Inclusive Growth at the G20

Undercurrents is back for a second season!&nbsp; This week Agnes and Ben interview two leading academics from the worlds of International Relations and History. John Mearsheimer (University of Chicago) discusses his new book,  The Great Delusion, on the rise and fall of liberal foreign policy. With China's rise and Russia's resurgence the world has returned to a zero-sum balance of power political system. John explains why he's glad to see the back of an era of western interventions, and how the US should respond to the new geopolitical reality.&nbsp; Margaret MacMillan (University of Toronto) is a renowned historian of the First World War, who gave the BBC Reith Lectures in 2018. A new special issue of International Affairs, guest-edited by Margaret, looks at the state of world politics today in comparison to the aftermath of the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles. Ben and Agnes met with her to discuss why these comparisons can be useful, and how history is used and abused by politicians in the present.&nbsp; Find the book:  The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities Read the International Affairs special issue: World Politics 100 Years After the Paris Peace Conference Listen to the 2018 Reith Lectures: The Mark of Cain: War and Humanity &nbsp; Credits: Hosts: Ben Horton and Agnes Frimston Editors: Ben Horton and Agnes Frimston Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Record and produced at Chatham House, London

Episode 25: The End of Liberal Foreign Policy, and the Legacy of the Paris Peace Conference

This week Agnes and Ben meet with experts on China's economy and the history of UK relations with the gulf states.&nbsp; Yu Jie joins Ben to explain what's happening to the Chinese economy in 2019, and what's really driving the US-China trade war.&nbsp; Then Agnes discusses UK foreign policy in the Middle East with  David Wearing, drawing on his new book, Anglo Arabia.&nbsp; Read The World Today article: Marx and spenders Find the book:  Anglo Arabia: Why Gulf Wealth Matters to Britain

Episode 26: China's Economy, and UK Relations with Saudi Arabia

This week Ben takes a deep dive into the US-China economic competition over technology, and then discusses intelligence agencies in the Global South.&nbsp; Marianne Schneider-Petsinger from the Americas Programme and Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme explain their recent co-authored report on US-China strategic competition, and  Zakia Shiraz from the University of Leicester draws on her recent article in International Affairs to explore the culture and practice of intelligence agencies beyond the 'Five Eyes' alliance.&nbsp; Read the Chatham House Research Paper:  US-China Strategic Competition: The Quest for Global Technological Leadership Read the International Affairs article: Secrecy, spies and the global South: intelligence studies beyond the 'Five eyes' alliance

Episode 42: The US-China Tech War, and Spying in the Global South

Talking Terror is a podcast series presented and produced by  Dr. John F. Morrison, from the School of Law and Criminology at Maynooth University, Ireland. In the episodes John talks to world leading experts of terrorism and extremism about their research findings and its impact. These conversations will allow the listener to get an in-depth insight into some of the best research on terrorism, from the researchers themselves. Within the episodes the guests will discuss their own research, as well as the research by others who have influenced them. 

It is our aim that this podcast series will be worthwhile and interesting for a wide ranging audience. From students to professors, practitioners to those with a passing interest in understanding terrorism and counter-terrorism, we believe that there will be something for everyone within each episode.

For the most up to date information about the show be sure to follow us on Twitter @Terror_podcast using #TalkingTerror

This podcast was originally established while John was director of the Terrorism and Extremism Research Centre at the University of East London.

Victor Asal: Teaching about Political Violence

Talking Terror

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