In this conversation we speak with Dr. Eileen F. Babbitt – Professor of Practice of International Conflict Management, Director of the Institute for Human Security, and Co-director of the Program on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at The Fletcher School.
The Peace Frequency presents in-depth interviews with ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create a world free of violent conflict. It is produced by the U.S. Institute of Peace Academy.
The booms and busts of the cryptocurrency industry are all over the news. But while the crypto market’s steep decline is a concern for crypto investors, the energy needed to mine cryptocurrency should be what catches the attention of policymakers. As of August 2022, total global electricity usage for crypto assets is estimated to be between 120 and 240 billion kilowatt-hours per year — more than the total used by entire countries such as Australia or Argentina. Amid the global energy crisis and efforts to stem the effects of climate change, the sheer scale of crypto’s electricity usage raises major questions regarding its sustainability.
When Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, NATO was already in the early stages of drafting its 2022 Strategic Concept. The war quickly overshadowed other issues, and NATO quickly adapted its strategic vision to refocus on the alliance’s primary mission of deterrence and collective defense. Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, discusses how solidarity with Ukraine has united NATO in a way that hasn’t been seen in a long time and examines the threat Russia’s expansionist mindset poses to NATO member states.
A growing number of Ukrainians have voiced their support for joining the EU and NATO amid Russia’s all-out war against their country. Given that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stated territorial ambitions stretch beyond Ukraine, international support for a free and democratic Ukraine is not just a matter of charity — it’s an investment in collective values and security. USIP senior advisor and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch discusses Ukraine’s current bid to join the EU and how Ukrainian civil society has managed to mobilize against Russia’s assault on its sovereignty, society and culture.
In the 25 years since it became a full nuclear power, India has expanded its nuclear arsenal as part of its playbook for handling a severe crisis with neighboring Pakistan or China. But with increased nuclear readiness comes the elevated risk that miscommunication between the region’s various nuclear states and armed actors could result in a nuclear escalation. The University at Albany’s Chris Clary, San José State University’s Karthika Sasikumar and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Ashley Tellis discuss the biggest changes to India’s nuclear program, the most worrisome threats to nuclear peace in Southern Asia and how to boost strategic stability in the region.