Podcast of the Month – Migration, Conflict and Crisis

When conflict suddenly erupts, the decisions people make can be life changing. Do you stay in your home, protecting what you know, or do you leave in search of safety and stability elsewhere? What factors shape these choices, and what happens next for those who flee, those who stay, and those who return? This month’s featured podcast, Migration, Conflict & Crisis, explores these urgent and deeply human questions with clarity, depth, and compassion.

Hosted by Professor Lucinda Platt from the London School of Economics and Political Science, the series delves into the complex realities of migration linked to the war in Ukraine. Working alongside Dr Tymofii Brik of the Kyiv School of Economics, Professor Platt brings together a range of global migration experts to unpack what drives movement during conflict and how countries respond to displaced populations.

Throughout the podcast, listeners are taken behind the headlines to explore the personal, political, and social forces at play when people make the decision to leave or stay during times of war. The conversations are grounded in cutting-edge research, offering valuable insights into who migrates, why they do so, and what influences those who eventually return home.

The series also goes beyond the moment of displacement to consider what happens once people arrive in new countries. How are migrants from Ukraine and other conflict-affected regions being received? What challenges do they face in navigating life in a new place, from employment and housing to community integration and support services? And how do different governments design and implement policies that shape these experiences?

By drawing on the expertise of researchers across the globe, Migration, Conflict & Crisis paints a nuanced picture of migration as both a personal journey and a broader social phenomenon. It highlights the resilience of individuals caught in crisis, the pressures facing host communities, and the ongoing need for informed, compassionate, and effective policy responses.

Thoughtful, evidence-based, and deeply engaging, Migration, Conflict & Crisis is essential listening for anyone interested in migration, conflict studies, humanitarian policy, or the lived experience of displaced communities.

Tune in today to explore the realities behind the choices people make in times of conflict – and the world they encounter on the other side:

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Lauren White, Assistant Producer