A discussion with Dr.-Ing. Mohammad Assem Mayar, a leading expert on climate, conflict and post conflict recovery, whose research and field experience in Afghanistan, in Syria and in Iraq offer vital insights for practitioners and policy makers worldwide. In conversation with Janani Vivekananda, he discusses the dual challenge of rebuilding in the face of both recurring violence and intensifying climate impacts as countries emerge from conflict. Dr Mayar's recent paper can be found here: Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis: A Call for Decentralised and Inclusive Finance https://toda.org/policy-briefs-and-resources/policy-briefs/afghanistans-climate-crisis-a-call-for-decentralised-and-inclusive-finance.html

A discussion with Ambika Vishwanath, the Director of the Kubernein Initiative in India. Ambika is a renowned expert on foreign policy, water security and peace building with deep expertise across South Asia and beyond. In conversation with Janani Vivekananda, she discusses the value and practical potential of trilateral policy exchange, and broader policy exchange on the topic of climate, peace, and security, bringing in India which to date has not played a big part in the climate, peace and security discourse.

A public conversation on current challenges to democracy, and in particular challenges to democracy in America, with Professors Stephan Haggard and Bob Kaufman, with Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. The last jointly authored book by Professor Haggard and Professor Kaufman was Backsliding: Democratic Regress in the Contemporary World. The primary focus of the conversation is what's happening to democracy in America under the second Trump administration.

Interview recorded 9 May 2025