Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

Our MA Rotary student Hunter Levy, who last semester convened the 'Atlas Film Project' (also known as the 'PSID Movie Club') is currently keeping very busy with his summer internship. For everyone - staff and students - who took part in our Film Club sessions last year, we are delighted to share that the project has inspired a new iteration — this time in Tanzania!

'Katikati ya Mistari' (Between the Lines) is an after-school programme dedicated to engaging Tanzanian secondary school students through the power of storytelling, with film as a primary medium. It is a direct descendant of the Atlas Film Project, a student-led initiative at the University of Bradford built around the core philosophy of bringing a diverse international community together through film.

Over the course of six weeks, more than 200 students across three secondary schools in the Geita region of northwestern Tanzania will engage with a range of Swahili-language stories across different media — including film, books, poetry and music — as catalysts for discussion and reflection.

During the second half of the programme, students will be encouraged to develop their own stories, which will then be performed at an end-of-programme showcase.

Meanwhile, back at University of Bradford, the 'Atlas Film Project' is set to return once classes resume this autumn. Keep an eye out for details of the first screening of the 2026–27 academic year in September!

We are very pleased to see an initiative that began on our campus continuing to evolve and creating new spaces for storytelling, dialogue and connection across borders.

How can ID cards and other bureaucratic tools tell us something about power, governance and everyday life in Colombia?

Drawing on original research in Colombia, our very own, Clara Voyvodic’s new article published in the Journal of Political Power, examines how FARC dissidents use these roadblocks to project the illusion of state-like power in a territory while also revealing their dependence on civilians, state institutions, and direct violence for control.

In her article Clara, shows how roadblock governmentality produces not only a security apparatus but also reproduces the territorial 'citizen' through health requirements and civic obligations.

One particularly striking idea from the paper is the checkpoint as a “theatre of power” — a place where the appearance of state-like authority is produced, but where the limits of that authority are also exposed.

The research provides an interesting perspective to learn more about contemporary Colombia, and about the complex ways governance, mobility and civilian life are intertwined in territories affected by armed conflict.

Well done Clara! And this is a must read for anyone interested in Colombia, rebel governance, conflict and the day to day workings of political power.

Link: https://lnkd.in/eF7qPuQ3

It's always encouraging for the entire team to see our own colleagues sharing their research and contributing to conversations that have real-world impact.

We are especially pleased to see how our colleague, Dr Serag El Hegazi, continues to strengthen our understanding of the MENA region, particularly in relation to post-conflict and post-disaster recovery.

Over the past few weeks, Serag has had plenty to celebrate.

He has secured a research grant from the British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies (BILNAS) for his project, Reconstructing Urban Flow: Memory, Sacred Space, and Post-Conflict Design in Benghazi. The project will explore how culture, collective memory and urban planning can contribute to the sustainable regeneration of post-conflict cities by bringing together local and international partners to develop evidence-based approaches to urban regeneration in Libya.

In addition to this, Serag has published a Springer Nature book chapter that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing the region. The chapter explores how project management can strengthen disaster resilience and support sustainable recovery through case studies from Morocco and Libya, highlighting the importance of community engagement and effective project management in long-term recovery.

Most recently, he has also published further research on Youth Engagement in Post-Disaster Recovery. Here, Serag makes a compelling case that rebuilding cities is about far more than restoring physical infrastructure. He argues that sustainable recovery also depends on investing in people, particularly young people, equipping them to become future leaders, decision-makers and partners in governance, economic development and long-term resilience.

Taken together, these outputs demonstrate that post-conflict and post-disaster recovery cannot be understood as a single event. Rather, they highlight the multiple, interconnected dimensions of rebuilding societies and the importance of developing approaches that are both evidence-based and grounded in local contexts.

Well done, mate! It's great to see your research continuing to develop and, as always, keeping the rest of us thinking—and helping us better understand the complexities of the MENA region.

Daniela Fernandez Campos, our student in the MSc Economics and Finance for Development, is currently undertaking her Rotary internship at ECLAC (the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) in Santiago, Chile, where she works on research supporting digital transformation and technology development policies across Latin America. She has also participated in major regional events, including the Regional Conference on Public Investment, which brought together ministers and government representatives from across the region.

Daniela highlighted that one of the most impactful experiences during her time in Chile was visiting the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. The museum tells the story of the thousands of people who disappeared, were tortured, and lost their lives during the military dictatorship.

In her message to us, Daniela wrote:

"What struck me most, however, is that Chile's story is also one of resilience. The country has managed to grow beyond the fear and build one of the strongest economies in the region. Like we saw during our visit to Rwanda, this brought me back to the importance of institutions, accountability, and democratic governance

Thinking about all that, I wanted to give my big shout-outs to Maria Ambrozy, who led the Rwanda Study Visit this year, and Prof. P.B Anand. Thank you—learning from both of you, I now believe that I understand peace, institutions, and their intersection with my field much better. It has become something that I now carry into everything I do, both professionally and personally.

Summarising it all, this summer has made me reflect on how much my perspective has changed since arriving at the University of Bradford. I came to the University primarily with ideas about economic growth and development, without fully understanding the role that peace plays in shaping those outcomes, or even my own role as a Rotary Peace Fellow. My whole experience in the Peace Studies shifted that perspective. I've come to see that peace is not separate from development; it is foundational to it."

Rotary Peace Centre - University of Bradford University of Bradford

Every so often, it's worth checking in on where our students are taking their learning beyond the classroom.

This July, as part of his Rotary Field Experience, our student Khadim Fayez (MSc Sustainable Development) joined the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) headquarters in Sydney, Australia.

Working closely with the Director of Partnerships and colleagues in New York, Brussels, Mexico City and Nairobi, Khadim is supporting international collaboration through outreach efforts and strategic partnerships. He also assists in the preparation of major events, conferences and training programmes, including presentations of the Global Peace Index, Global Terrorism Index and Mexico Peace Index, as well as Positive Peace workshops.

For us, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do in the department. Our role is not only to explore and teach the complexities of peace and sustainable development, but also to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to addressing those challenges in practice.

Khadim – enjoy the rest of your placement! We look forward to hearing more about your experience when you're back with us in September.

University of Bradford Rotary Peace Centre - University of Bradford

At the moment, we don't have enough time to capture everything that made today so special, but it has truly been an inspirational day filled with hope, happiness and so much positive energy (watch this space – there's much more to come).

We started the day by hearing about the incredible work of our Peace Studies alumna and today's Honorary Doctorate recipient, Rumiko Seya, who spoke about both the challenges and the urgent need for peacebuilding, while reminding us of the hope so many people around the world continue to hold for the values we all cherish – from social justice and human rights to dialogue and inclusion.

It was a truly inspiring way to begin a day that ended with us celebrating this year's graduates and all they have achieved.

We are incredibly proud of you all and want to take this opportunity to say a huge congratulations from everyone in the Department.

As Rumiko said this morning, one of the most important things she took from her time in Bradford was the belief that every one of us can make a difference. Whether through small individual actions or on the international stage, we all have a role to play in building peace in our communities and across the world.

To all of our colleagues, graduates and students who couldn't be with us in person today – we are thinking of you around the world, and these photos are especially for you.

Well done, Class of 2025/26! Enjoy the rest of your day and all the celebrations – you've earned it! 🎓🎉🕊️

認定NPO法人REALs - Reach Alternatives University of Bradford

How do we make decisions when AI, uncertainty and crisis collide?

We are seeking 25 brilliant academic and sector leaders to take part in RAPID Response: Interdisciplinary Rapid Emergency Scenario Systems. Examining governance, accountability and decision-making under crisis conditions generated by disruptive technologies through a range of learning activities.

Workshop 1: Interdisciplinary Design Workshop and Hackathon, Wednesday 22nd July 2026.

Workshop 2: Peace-Game Simulation, Thursday 23rd July 2026

Symposium: Decision-Making for Disruptive Technologies in Crisis, Friday August 28th 2026

Lunch and Light refreshment provided, with limited funding available for external guests requiring financial support to attend.

📣 Please note: We've extended the sign-up deadline to 10 July to give anyone who hasn't yet registered a little more time.

Please see the attached flyer for further details. To register your interest or find out more about the study, please contact one of the organisers: Dr Becky Alexis-Martin [email protected], Professor Christoph Bluth [email protected], or Dr Viktor Doychinov [email protected] to register your interest and find out more about the study.

Distinguished professor, inspiring teacher, and, for many of us, a dear friend, Professor Tom Woodhouse has been awarded the Prize for Outstanding Peace Education, organised by the Schengen Peace Foundation at the 14th Annual Luxembourg Peace Prize Ceremony on 19 June 2026.

For many of us in Bradford, Professor Woodhouse has been at the heart of our Department. He was, and remains, a foundational thinker, educator, and a true changemaker who has shaped and inspired many of us to think and care deeply about peace, conflict resolution, sustainability, and football.

If you would like to read more about the celebration that took place last week, please read the comments on LinkedIn from our colleague, Professor P.B Anand: https://tinyurl.com/muc53vpm

Tom Woodhouse — thank you for being an inspiring role model for all of us, and thank you for your continued support.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 🥳 👏 🤩

University of Bradford

Three of our PSID colleagues presented at the recent conference titled, ‘The Education Track and SoTL in Politics and IR’, co-organized by UCLs Centre for Pedagogy of Politics and the ASPIRE Network.

Dr Maria Ambrozy presented 'Not My Hero' project, demonstrating how rethinking participation, ownership, and learning can empower students to become active co-creators and co-producers of knowledge, rather than passive recipients of education.

Dr Sudhir Selvaraj presented reflections on PSIDs annual Theatre of the Oppressed workshop and how participation can be built into the teaching of politics.

Dr Anisha Samantra presented her project, Dancing Rivers, highlighting the value of embodied practices in teaching and learning.

Forums like this are great reminders of the essential need to continue developing teaching practices to ensure they are relevant and potent for an ever-changing world.

Many thanks to the organisers for bringing us together and hosting such an engaging event.

University of Bradford

In a world of conflict and uncertainty, Peace Studies remains as pertinent as ever, offering valuable insights into some of the most urgent issues of our time.

Despite—or perhaps because of—what is currently happening in the world, it provides us with critical tools for understanding and responding to complex conflicts, and for exploring how societies can resolve them, heal, reconcile, and transform.

In yesterday's article in Times Higher Education, our Head of Department, Dr Rhys Kelly, reflects on why Peace Studies remains vital in an era of conflict, division, and uncertainty. He highlights that Peace Studies is not a niche academic area whose relevance is confined to history. As always, he skilfully links the rich intellectual heritage and complex history of Peace Studies to the global challenges underscoring the enduring relevance of peacebuilding, dialogue, and critical engagement in the pursuit of more peaceful societies.

Read the full article: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/can-peace-studies-thrive-era-strongmen-leaders

Learn more about Dr Rhys Kelly and his work:
https://www.bradford.ac.uk/staff/rhskelly2/

Explore our Peace Studies and International Development programmes:
https://www.bradford.ac.uk/courses/pg/?query=peace