Author’s Note: I’d like to apologise for my recent hiatus. I have been running this website while searching for employment and recently, I have accepted an internship abroad which has kept me busy. I am looking to maintain and grow this project, but my commentary pieces will be written on a fortnightly basis and possibly …
Having started this season on Security, Strategy and Defence looking back to history and the Grand Strategists of World War II, we end the season looking to the daily updates from Ukraine that inform contemporary strategic thinking. Our guest this week is the Russia Team Deputy Lead and an Analyst for the Institute for the …
It has been more than three years since Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. In that time, different Prime Ministers, Presidents, and leaders have all tried to grapple with what that means for European security. But security for who? This week’s guest is Dr Jenny Mathers. She began her journey into academia by writing her doctorate thesis …
Earlier this week, Louis Theraux released his latest documentary, The Settlers. While the conflict in Palestine has not left public scrutiny, it had begun to retreat in the face of headlines about Donald Trump, European defence, and local council elections. Nonetheless, the public remains passionate about the issue. In a recent Question Time episode, one …
Read more “Settlement and Heartbreak: The British Response to Gaza”
Over the last week, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy and witness some great conversations with some very interesting people. All of them have, in some way, related security back to young people and made defence relevant to a generation that has largely been the witness to a failing politics. Despite the worrying cause …
Read more “Ukraine, Palestine, and NATO: Three Conversations on Youth and Security”
‘If you want peace, prepare for war’ is a quote often shared from the Roman writer Vegetius. Our guests today use their background working with General Petraeus, the Italian Ministry of Defence, NATO’s Defense College, private military companies, and the US’ National Defense University to debate how the West might prepare for war if it …
Read more “Season 2, Podcast #3: Dr Andrea Gilli x Dr Sean McFate”
When setting out a new path, or the next step in the current path, leaders will often make reference to history. “[insert country] has always…” is the line so often parroted that it can only prompt the rolling of eyes. To take one example, Vladimir Putin’s speech with Tucker Carlson made frequent and incessant references …
General Barrow once said that “War is a man’s work… you have to protect the manliness of war”. But when men are given the exclusive role of protecting their country, there is an implication that they also have authority and responsibility over the protected. In today’s episode, we dive into the field of Feminist Security …
Author’s Note: Welcome back to the BIGA Podcast! This season, we’re focusing on Security, Strategy, and Defence to explore the threats, challenges, and opportunities facing the UK and what it can do to prepare. Let us know what themes you would like us to explore in future seasons! The news is rife with bombastic personalities …
Read more “Season 2, Podcast #1 – Professor Phillips O’Brien”
With the release of the defence season of the podcast, this week’s commentary piece is going to be a review of Professor O’Brien’s latest book The Strategists: How War Made Them and How They Made War. The book focuses on the five key leaders during World War II: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler. The …