9 January 2024

'How might the lessons of history inform our choices in the present? Does a rules-based world order risk concealing informed discussions, potentially blurring the line between assumptions and reality? 

In a world shadowed by its history, Gilbert Achcar, professor at SOAS Development Studies as he discusses his latest book with Karabekir Akkoyunlu, lecturer at SOAS, he urges us to transcend the rhetoric and slogans of blame when examining contemporary issues - from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine to the tense Taiwan standoff with China, and the evolving power dynamics between the US, Russia and China in between. Instead Achcar’s analysis of the present political tensions challenged us to transcend the ‘black and white debate’, and unravel the nuances of policy decisions taken at critical junctions, dynamics present in the global structure, and the psychological dimensions shaping this social fabric. By offering us a manual crafted by past lessons, Achcar’s “New Cold War” is a call to take inspiration from how existing institutions like the UN were forged and wield this knowledge to navigate the complex political landscape for a more sustainable path. Achcar’s hopefulness resonates throughout, taking a firm belief that another world was and still is possible.'

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30 June 2023

Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate in Development Studies at SOAS discusses his latest book, “The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea” with  Chris Cramer, Professor at SOAS, highlighting the role of corporates in prioritising profits over planet, and de-commoning our seas.

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19 May 2023

The latest conversation in the DevTraC Podcast Series is part two of the Afghan podcast where Bismellah Alizada, Reza Hussaini, Rabia Khan, and Zarifa Hosseini discuss the struggles encountered by Afghan migrants seeking a new home, both as individuals and as a group on the move. Through personal anecdotes and insightful analysis, the group investigates the impact of language on inter-group relations and how it adds to the 'us' versus 'them' mentality in political discourse. This harsh reality has the potential to hinder migrants' prospects for a "better life" and upward mobility. The ultimate goal of this discussion is to advance a more inclusive and cooperative social order, grounded in ideas rooted in equal civility and shared citizenship, both in the UK and internationally.

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