When U.S. Senator Arthur Vandenberg famously told President Harry Truman that he’d have to “scare the hell out of the American people” to secure support for the coming Cold War, Vandenburg was tapping into a tried-and-true tradition of strategically cultivating fear to influence attitudes and change behavior. While this tactic has a long history of use, strikingly little has been written on precisely how, why, and when it actually works. In this talk, Greenhill offers just such an explanation.

The Oxford Conservative Thought (OCT) Reading Group is a non-partisan group devoted to academic exploration of small-c conservative political thought. We welcome, and actively encourage, viewpoint diversity and constructive engagement across ideological divides (all good-willed participants are welcome!)

Each week we read one assigned text, and we recommend more for anyone who is very keen!

The OCT meets weekly in term time on Fridays from 4-5:30pm.

Week 6 explores the question of whether conservatism is an 'ideology', with a reading from Michael Freeden.

The relationship between the United States and China is one of the most consequential for global stability and prosperity. As tensions continue to shape international politics, questions remain about whether the two great powers can find a path toward sustainable and cooperative relations. Join the Oxford University International Relations Society for a fireside chat with Professor Jeffrey Sachs as he explores the future of US-China relations, the economic and geopolitical forces at play, and the possibilities for peaceful coexistence in an era of great-power competition.

Japan’s integration into the Janus-faced international society has long been shaped by processes of state socialization, where norms, rules, and expectations influence its diplomatic conduct. From the 19th century onwards, how has Japan navigated pressures to conform to the international society? What lessons can be drawn from Japan’s experience for broader discussions on international political reconciliation?

The Horn of Africa not only remains one of the most crucial bottlenecks for international trade but has been subject to fierce and relentless civil conflict. The European Union has, along with the UN and NATO, aimed to create humanitarian relief and facilitate piece in the region. Yet, resource competition in Ethiopia or humanitarian crises in Somalia and the Sudan still dominate the political realities at the Horn.

In this talk, *Professor Stefanie Middendorf* will scrutinize experiences of crisis and disorder in historical and comparative perspectives. The talk will reveal how states perceived ‘states of emergency’ which were both made visible or hidden by different political systems throughout the 20th century. It will also question whether this approach helps us to better understand liminalities of democratic and dictatorial rule.

There is growing awareness of the importance of addressing the interwoven crises of climate change, inequality and biodiversity loss. Education, as always, is seen as a critical component in addressing these challenges. The Green Templeton Lecture series 2025 will explore the topic of sustainability education with speakers reflecting, in dialogue, on three critical and central issues.

In this talk anthropologist Munira Khayyat revisits the South Lebanon borderland, where she has conducted longterm fieldwork in the wake of its almost total destruction after the latest season of war there. This talk reflects on ecologies of resistance and survival through storms of war and the steadfastness of life after the end of the world.