In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, Laura May speaks with political neuroscientist and psychologist Dr Leor Zmigrod, author of incredible new book The Ideological Brain. Leor’s groundbreaking research explores what makes our brains susceptible to rigid beliefs, ideological extremism, and group identity—drawing from cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience.

Key Highlights:

• Why This Research? Leor shares what drew her to study ideological extremism, including her initial interest in understanding why some young people in Europe were drawn to join ISIS.

• What She Found From the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test to creative uses for a cup, Leor explains how unconscious cognitive patterns can predict a person’s openness—or vulnerability—to extreme ideologies.

• Intelligence vs. Rigidity Cognitive rigidity is distinct from intelligence. Flexible thinkers are more adaptable and less drawn to simplified worldviews.

• The Role of Culture and Stress Our brains react to environmental stress—and even mild discomfort—by narrowing perception and reducing openness. Scarcity and insecurity can make us more rigid, more tribal, and more susceptible to dehumanising others.

• Emotional Impulsivity and Extremism People drawn to ideological extremism tend to be more emotionally impulsive and reactive—highlighting the importance of emotion regulation and broader psychological support.

• So What? Practical Takeaways Why cognitive flexibility matters—for individuals and societies. How we can better design counter-extremism approaches, and what you can do to cultivate more flexible thinking.

Note from Laura May: due to circumstances beyond our control, a chunk of the recording where we talked about the brain on social media, and about even more findings from Leor's fantastic book, was lost—so I insist you buy a copy of her book!

About the Book

Leor’s new book, The Ideological Brain, takes readers on a journey through the psychology and neuroscience of belief, showing how dogmatic ideologies can shape not just our thinking, but our biology—and why this matters now more than ever.

Where to Find Leor:

• Website: www.leorzmigrod.com

• Twitter/X: @LeorZmigrod

• Instagram: @LeorZmigrod

• Book available at your favourite independent bookstore or online. Find a store using Leor's LinkTree: http://linktr.ee/leorzmigrod

Inside Conflict Transformation with MBBI's Prabha Sankaranarayan

Host Laura May speaks with Prabha Sankaranarayan, president and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders International, on her journey spanning child advocacy to conflict mediation. Recorded in June 2024 and including discussion of societal conflict in the United States, this episode has become even more relevant today.

The episode starts with an exploration of Prabha's transition from therapy to mediation, her commitment to creating spaces for transformation, and the formation of the Trust Network to build a peace infrastructure in the U.S. Prabha emphasizes the importance of community, ongoing self-awareness, and the global shift towards pluralistic cultures. The conversation concludes with an invitations for listeners to get involved in transformative conflict work.

Useful links:

• mediatorsbeyondborders.org
• thetrustnetwork.net
• Prabha's LinkedIn

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction 01:15 Prabha's Career Journey 10:45 Personal Influences and Family Background 14:16 Activism and Early Influences 19:03 The Importance of Community and Collective Efforts 26:00 Self-Awareness and Continuous Practice 33:18 Building a National Peace Infrastructure 42:02 How to Get Involved

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast we welcome Fleur Ravensbergen, mediator, author, and co-founder of the Dialogue Advisory Group. Fleur shares stories and lessons from her work mediating violent armed conflicts in some of the world’s most challenging regions, including Northern Ireland, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her book Disarmed, newly available in English, provides a rare glimpse into the important work of facilitating dialogue in violent conflict zones.

Highlights:

• Why Fleur decided to write a book about her experiences in peace mediation and the challenges of maintaining confidentiality while telling these stories.
• The story of a surprising act of cooperation during a dialogue in Iraq and how it saved lives, illustrating the hidden impacts of mediation.
• How gender norms can shape the opportunities and challenges of being a mediator
• The differences between facilitating dialogues in violent conflict zones and mediating workplace or political disputes.
• Fleur’s perspective on the current challenges facing the peacebuilding field, including funding issues and shifts in global dynamics.
• Practical and inspiring guidance for those looking to contribute to the field of conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Links:

• Disarmed: From IRA to IS: My Life as a Peace Negotiator by Fleur Ravensbergen is available in English and in Dutch, on Amazon or wherever you buy good books.
• Fleur's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleur-ravensbergen/

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:16] Writing Disarmed
• [00:05:34] A moment of generosity during dialogue in Iraq
• [00:16:19] Mediating violent conflict and gender norms
• [00:27:08] Public and political mediations vs armed conflict mediation
• [00:34:21] Is peacebuilding in crisis?
• [00:46:02] Advice for aspiring peacemakers
• [00:53:00] Where to buy Disarmed

This episode offers insights into the often unseen work of peace mediation and the transformative power of dialogue in violent conflict.

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, host Laura May welcomes Dr Rachel Adams, founder and CEO of the Global Center on AI Governance and author of The New Empire of AI: The Future of Global Inequality. Rachel’s book explores how AI is reshaping global inequalities and examines its historical ties to colonialism. Together, Laura and Rachel explore the complexities of AI governance, the AI divide, and the ethical challenges facing emerging technologies.

Key Highlights:

• [00:00:00] Rachel’s journey into AI and governance: From her PhD on transparency and surveillance to becoming a global thought leader on AI governance, Rachel shares her professional journey.

• [00:05:10] Why isn't AI transparent?: What makes AI systems so complex and why transparency in AI remains a critical and elusive goal.

• [00:08:16] AI, inequality, and colonialism: How AI’s development and supply chains echo historical patterns of extraction and exploitation, and its disproportionate impact on the Global South.

• [00:18:21] The AI divide: Examining the stark disparities in access to AI technologies and their benefits, and the resulting social and economic inequalities.

• [00:23:26] Who does the work, and where?: Exploring the human cost of AI production, from data labelling to e-waste, and the economic challenges for workers in the Global South.

• [00:28:36] AI governance and policy-makers: The need for international regulation, capacity-building in the Global South/Global Majority Countries, and empowering oversight institutions to create fairer systems.

• [00:36:35] What can we do to help?: Concrete steps for individuals to support more equitable AI development and the importance of raising awareness about AI’s impact on global inequality.

• [00:40:53] Where to learn more?: Connect with Rachel--and buy her book!

Links:

• The New Empire of AI: The Future of Global Inequality by Rachel Adams (Polity Press): Available Here (Polity Press), Amazon US (hardback releasing January 2025, Kindle already available), Amazon UK (hardback releasing November 22), Waterstones
• Global Center on AI Governance: globalcenter.ai
• African Observatory on Responsible AI: africanobservatory.ai
• Follow Rachel on LinkedIn and Twitter/X

Key Takeaway: Dr Rachel Adams argues that AI’s inequalities cannot be fully understood without recognising their roots in colonialism. Her book challenges us to rethink AI’s role in society and invites us to join the conversation about building a more equitable future.

"Making Friends Among the Taliban" with Ankur Delight

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, host Laura May is joined by returning guest Ankur Delight, mediator and founder of a funk collective, to discuss Making Friends Among the Taliban by Jonathan Larson. The book tells the story of Dan Terry, a Methodist missionary who dedicated his life to development work, building relationships and trust in Afghanistan.

Highlights:

• Learn how Dan's lack of judgment and dedication to finding common ground allowed him to build bridges with communities that held vastly different beliefs, all in pursuit of shared goals like clean water access.

• Ankur reflects on the deep lessons of perseverance, optimism, and non-judgment that come from Terry’s life and work, and how these lessons have inspired him in his own journey.

Links:

• Ankur's podcast, 10k heroes: http://10kh.show/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurdelight/
• His website: https://tenthousandheroes.club/

Rwanda’s Gacaca Courts and Gender-Based Violence with Dr Judith Rafferty

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, host Laura May speaks with Dr Judith Rafferty, an expert mediator and researcher, about the complex role of Rwanda’s Gacaca courts in addressing sexual violence in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide. Dr Rafferty draws on her extensive experience and research to explore how these community-based justice mechanisms handled gender-based violence cases and whether they met the justice needs of survivors.

Key Highlights:

• Dr Rafferty’s Journey into Sexual Violence Research: Discover what led Dr Rafferty to focus on conflict-related sexual violence, beginning with her work in the Central African Republic and her exposure to informal justice systems.

• Understanding the Gacaca Courts: Learn about the history and purpose of Rwanda’s Gacaca courts, traditional community-based justice processes that were reimagined to address the aftermath of the genocide.

• Sexual Violence in the Gacaca Courts: Dr Rafferty explains how sexual violence cases were eventually incorporated into the Gacaca system, and the challenges this brought for victim-survivors.

• Justice Needs of Survivors: Explore the justice needs identified in Dr Rafferty’s research, including safety, validation, and perpetrator accountability, and how the Gacaca courts succeeded or fell short in meeting these needs.

• Social Cohesion and Healing: A discussion on whether the Gacaca courts were able to foster societal healing and reintegration for survivors of sexual violence, and the ongoing challenges faced by survivors today.

This episode provides valuable insights into the intersection of traditional justice systems, gender-based violence, and post-conflict recovery in Rwanda.

Links:

• TEDx Talk: When Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word. But I Don’t Care | Judith Herrmann
• 3-Minute Thesis: Judith Rafferty for Conflict Management and Resolution
• Policy Brief: Sexual Violence After Genocide
• Journal Article: Justice Interests of Female Victim-Survivors of Sexual Violence in Gacaca
• Article: Interviewing Rwandan Survivors of Sexual Violence
• Critical Analysis: Transitional Justice Measures in Gacaca

Full Citations:

• Herrmann, J. (2017). When sorry seems to be the hardest word, but I don’t care. TEDxJCUCairns. Link to TEDx Talk
• Rafferty, J., & Fox, N. (2023). Sexual violence after genocide. Policy Brief. International Association of Genocide Scholars. Link to Policy Brief
• Rafferty, J. (2018). "I wanted them to be punished or at least ask us for forgiveness”: Justice interests of female victim-survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and their experiences with Gacaca. Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal, 12(3), 95–118. Link to Article
• Herrmann, J. (2017). Experiences, challenges, and lessons learned; interviewing Rwandan survivors of sexual violence. Griffith Journal of Law & Human Dignity, 5(1), 165–188. Link to Article
• Herrmann, J. (2012). A critical analysis of the transitional justice measures incorporated by Rwandan Gacaca and their effectiveness. James Cook University Law Review, 19, 90–112. Link to Article

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:08] What drew Judith to study sexual violence?
• [00:08:35] What were the Gacaca Courts?
• [00:14:31] Rape and the Gacaca trials
• [00:19:28] Protecting victims in Gacaca
• [00:23:50] Outcomes for victims?
• [00:29:19] Justice and outcome needs of victim-survivors
• [00:34:55] Did Gacaca repair victims (enough)?
• [00:41:42] Coping with the research
• [00:44:22] Where to learn more about Judith's work

Reframing Peace Mediation with Dr Owen Frazer: A Deep Dive into Conflict Transformation

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, host Laura May engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr Owen Frazer, a seasoned conflict resolution expert and Senior Advisor for Conflict Transformation at Helvetas. Dr Frazer, with over two decades of experience and a new book titled Reframing Peace Mediation, shares invaluable insights into the art and science of mediation in conflict settings.

Key Highlights:

• Dr Frazer's Journey and Motivation: From Belfast to becoming a leading voice in peace mediation, explore Owen's motivations and how his experiences shaped his approach to conflict resolution.

• The Gaps in Mediation Literature: A critical look at the disconnect between academic research on mediation and practical, on-the-ground conflict resolution. Discover why Dr Frazer embarked on his PhD to bridge these gaps.

• The El Salvador Peace Process: An in-depth exploration of Dr Frazer’s research on the 1989-1992 peace negotiations in El Salvador, focusing on the complexities of facilitative mediation and the power dynamics at play.

• Framing in Mediation: Uncover Dr Frazer's innovative framework that explains how mediators can effectively influence outcomes through strategic framing actions—naming, claiming, and gaming.

• The Role of Pragmatism in Peacebuilding: A discussion on how pragmatic decision-making impacts the longevity and acceptance of peace agreements, particularly in the context of political mediation.

• Dr Frazer's Current Work: Insights into Owen’s current role at Helvetas, where he advises on conflict transformation across various contexts, from grassroots peacebuilding to navigating complex political landscapes.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the evolving practice of peace mediation and the intricate dance of framing that underpins successful conflict resolution.

Links:

• Reframing Peace Mediation by Dr Owen Frazer: Routledge
• Helvetas: Helvetas Official Site
• Dr Owen Frazer's LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

Timestamps:

• Introduction and Welcome - [00:00:00]
• Owen's Journey into Peace Mediation - [00:01:00]
• Gaps in Mediation Literature - [00:02:00]
• The El Salvador Peace Process - [00:06:00]
• Framing in Mediation - [00:10:30]
• Pragmatism in Peacebuilding - [00:30:00]
• Dr Frazer’s Current Work at Helvetas - [00:35:33]
• How to Get Involved in Conflict Transformation - [00:40:42]
• Conclusion and Contact Information - [00:44:00]

Innovating Peace with Stephen Gray: Embracing Inclusive and Adaptive Strategies

Join host Laura May in this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast as we explore the world of inclusive peacebuilding with Stephen Gray, Director of Adapt Peacebuilding and Doctoral Researcher at the University of Sussex. With 18 years of experience in developing non-violent solutions for conflict zones, Stephen shares his journey and insights on transformative approaches to peace. Highlights include:

• Stephen's journey from New Zealand to various global conflict zones, exploring his motivations and experiences.
• The impact of the 2021 Myanmar coup on local peace processes and the role of social movements in challenging power dynamics.
• An in-depth discussion on the crucial role of women in peace processes, highlighting how their inclusion transforms power structures and outcomes.
• Stephen’s current PhD research on the differences between structured peace processes and broad-based social movements.
• Innovative methodologies used by Adapt Peacebuilding to empower local communities to create their own conflict solutions.

This episode offers a profound look at the evolving landscape of international peacebuilding, emphasising the need for innovative, inclusive, and adaptive strategies in addressing modern conflicts.

Links

• Adapt Peacebuilding: https://adaptpeacebuilding.org/
• Adapt Peacebuilding podcast: https://adaptpeacebuilding.org/podcast/
• Stephen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-the-gray/

Bookmarks

• Introduction to the Conflict Tipping Podcast - [00:00:00]
• Stephen's Journey into Peacebuilding - [00:01:04]
• PhD Research and Myanmar's Peace Process - [00:06:07]
• The Role of Women in Peace Processes - [00:12:56]
• Defining Peace and Its Challenges - [00:18:07]
• Challenges in Peacebuilding Funding - [00:22:05]
• Adapt Peacebuilding's Approach - [00:28:43]
• Innovations in Peacebuilding - [00:30:10]
• Personal Reflections and Inspirations - [00:32:16]
• Conclusion and Contact Information - [00:39:04]