Room for Discussion interviews in February!
Dear Room for Discussion Community,
We’re excited to be back after a brief hiatus with our newsletter! Did you miss us? :)
With everyone returning to campus, we want to warmly welcome you all back with a truly packed newsletter from Room for Discussion.
We’ll look back at the conclusion of our Israel-Palestine Series and share highlights from the remarkable interviews we had in January, to then give you the scoop on the no less thrilling events coming up in February. Enjoy!
Past Interviews: What happened in December & January?
Taghreed El-Khodary on Journalism, 3rd of December
Whether it was about her own experience growing up in Gaza, her work as a journalist there or about the unprecedented situation in Gaza, Taghreed El-Khodary very intensely and powerfully described her perspective on the reality Palestinians face throughout this conflict.
Together with the interviewers Saskia and Elisabeth, El-Khodary discussed the challenges she faced as a reporter and the impossible task of journalists who are currently in Gaza. Sharing stories from people she knows herself, she hauntingly described the grave suffering Palestinians are currently undergoing.
Yossi Klein Halevi on Narratives, 6th of December
The discussion with Yossi Klein Halevi laid bare the deep wound which October 7th has opened in Israeli society. Reflecting on his 2018 book “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor”, Halevi described his past work trying to reach out to Palestinians, aspiring peaceful coexistence.
He described how October 7th changed not only his own, but many Israelis’ ability to engage in this endeavor. Discussing the cleavages in Israeli society about the government, and expressing his concern about rising anti-Semitism all around the world, Halevi painted a picture of a deeply hurt Israeli society.
Nadim Rouhana on Israel/Palestine after the War on Gaza, 21st of January
Professor Nadim Rouhana’s own experience as a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship served as a starting point from which he put into context Israel’s devastating war on Gaza. He vividly explained how the exclusionary claim of the land for the Jewish people results in Israel’s structural unequal treatment and oppression of Palestinians both within the state itself and in the West Bank and Gaza.
Together with the interviewers Gabe and Elisabeth, Rouhana vividly illustrated the hidden dynamics that characterize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such as power asymmetry and settler colonialism. Based on years of research and painful experience with the conflict, he also shared his thought-provoking vision for how to move towards a more equitable and peaceful future in Israel/Palestine.
Hillel Cohen on History, Truth and Fabrication, 24th of January
Hillel Cohen is one of the few Israeli historians who aims to look at the conflict from both the Israeli and Palestinian perspective. An example of his research looking at 1929, the year Cohen describes as the starting point of the conflict, led us into a thought-provoking, genuine discussion about the way history is told in Israel and Palestine and how this is shaped by narratives, power and illusions.
During this interview, Cohen expressed his genuine concern about the radicalization that characterizes the region and beyond, especially right now. But he also shared his hope that even within periods of violence and pain, human agency can he an enabler for change.
Toppling “Europe’s Last Dictator”: A Conversation with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
On 14th February, Room for Discussion hosted Sviatlana Tshikhanouskaya, the elected leader of the Belarusian democratic movement. Following her husband's imprisonment, she made the unexpected decision to enter the political arena. In 2020, she became a presidential candidate and the voice of the Belarusian people's fight for freedom.
In this interview, Mrs. Tsikhanouskaya opened up about her personal journey, her vision for the future of Belarus, and the broader dynamics in the region. She shed a light on the brutal tactics used by authoritarian leaders, who poison minds with their distorted narratives. In the light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Mrs. Tsikhanouskaya urged us not to forget about the story of Belarus. By sharing her own experiences, Mrs. Tsikhanouskaya demonstrated the fragility of democracy and the peril of taking our freedom for granted.
Show Me the Money! with Tony Murphy, President of the European Court of Auditors
On the 14th of January, we also had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Tony Murphy, President of the European Court of Auditors, on our couches. In this interview, we first looked at the practicalities regarding the audit in the European Union conducted by the ECA. Next, at the upcoming challenges and how the ECA can ensure transparency and effectiveness of the EU projects in three key areas: economic competitiveness, sustainability and security spending.
Finally, we investigated the broad definition of the European values and how they play a role in the day-to-day operations of the ECA. There was also time to focus on euroscepticism and how that is taken into account in the workings of the court.
Ruben Brekelmans: Dutch Minister of Defence
On the 5th of February, Room for Discussion hosted the Dutch Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans. Due to escalating protests, we were unable to conduct the interview as planned and decided to move it to a separate location.
In the interview, we discussed the increasing uncertainty of today’s geopolitical landscape, the tensions between pragmatism and principles and how a future with a more transactional transatlantic relationship might influence potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and the broader European security landscape. We touched upon why migration and energy can be framed as security priorities and how defence policy can be strengthened through European industrial integration.
The way events unfolded on our platform once again is deeply unfortunate. While we believe that protesting is an integral right in democratic societies, we are disappointed that the way they took place during this interview hindered a free exchange of ideas. We are a journalistic platform which always strives to create an environment in which different perspectives and points of critique are valued. We remain committed to our mission to foster open and critical dialogue and contribute to societal debate.
Future Interviews: What’s Coming Up in February
Trouble in Paradise: On the Crisis of Democratic Capitalism with Martin Wolf
On the 12th of February, our platform will have the pleasure of hosting Martin Wolf - the Chief Economic Commentator of the Financial Times, widely perceived to be one of the most influential economic commentators of our time. In the interview, we will dive into the origins of Wolf’s hope for Democratic Capitalism and his ideas for urgently needed reform.
What is at the core of the loss of trust in ruling elites and governing bodies? Why is trust foundational to Democratic Capitalism to begin with? Can our ‘paradise’ be saved or are we doomed to live under plutocracy, a shift towards which is currently happening in the US, or the Chinese model of a socialist market economy? The global political landscape becomes more frightening by the minute. It appears we have taken democracy, and more importantly values of peace and freedom, for granted.
We therefore invite you for the interview with Martin Wolf in hopes it will shed more light on why what we have assumed to be rock-solid is crumbling in front of our eyes, and how to fix it.
Rewiring Democracy: Unwiring the Tech Coup with Marietje Schaake
This month, Room for Discussion will have the pleasure of talking to Marietje Schaake! A former Dutch MEP and International Policy Director of Stanford’s Cyber Policy Centre, Schaake is a leading advocate for cybersecurity and technological innovation that does not compromise on fundamental democratic principles. A few months ago, she wrote The Tech Coup, uncovering the threat of BigTech to democracy as we know it.
Join us in a conversation that will uncover the transformation in the overarching understanding of tech as a democratising force to one that can undermine democratic institutions. We’ll dive into the recent ideological shift in Silicon Valley that poses clear implications for the future of democracy and question the future of Europe’s position in the tech race - does Europe risk falling behind, or is it setting the global standard for tech governance?
For answers to these questions and more, come by the E-hall on the 19th of February from 13:00-14:00!
We’re really looking forward to the new semester - we promise that our newsletter will guide you through and keep you posted about all the fantastic interviews and events that RfD has planned.
We can’t wait to see you at many of them. Wishing you all the best for the new semester in Amsterdam,
Room for Discussion Team