This seminar offers a fresh perspective on the roles and potential of youth within non-state armed groups, exploring both micro-level dynamics and broader implications for global peacebuilding. Based on field experiences across regions like Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, Indonesia, and Colombia, combined with insights from recent research, the presentation will challenge traditional narratives surrounding non-state armed groups and youth associated with non-state armed groups (YANSAG).

Deborah is Sky News' security and defence editor. She covers the biggest foreign stories around the world and carries out her own investigations. She has reported from Europe on Brexit the United States on Donald Trump, and broken stories on suspected Russian disinformation operations and suspected cyber attacks in the UK.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan was the Minister of State for AUKUS in His Majesty's Government and this is her account of the multiple benefits of the new strategic alignment for the three powers. She lays out the domestic UK advantages this initiative is producing, and has the potential to produce in the future, for the regeneration of the North-East of England, technological acceleration for UK businesses, and a new era of deterrence against aggression in the region which is such an important strategic and commercial partner for the UK.

Postgraduate students, fellows, staff and faculty from any discipline are welcome. This group aims to foster frequent interdisciplinary critical dialogue across Oxford and beyond about the political impacts of emerging technologies.
Please contact Elisabeth Siegel at elisabeth.siegel@politics.ox.ac.uk in advance to participate or with any questions. Remote attendance is possible, but in-person attendance is prioritized (and provided refreshment).

We consider the threat posed by Commercially-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) civilian UAV platforms, modified for hostile non-state actor use in civilian, and urban warfare environments. Potential aggressors possess small-scale conflict ‘skills’ gained in Syria and Iraq by various Islamist groups, including Al Qaeda and ISIS, with ‘gamer’ first person view technology, alongside innovations markedly increased during COVID, with modified UAVs operated in various novel ways.