Join Professor Nicholas Wheeler in discussing how interpersonal interactions of state leaders can transform adversarial relationships into cooperative ones in international relations.

When: June 9th 2023 at 18:00

Where: Medieval Kitchen, Brasenose College

Nicholas Wheeler, currently Professor of International Relations at the University of Birmingham, specializes in security studies. He is well-known for his work on humanitarian interventions and the security dilemma.

This lecture puts forward the highly important claim, namely, that the interpersonal interactions of state leaders can transform adversarial relationships into cooperative ones in world politics. Based on the theory set out in my 2018 book Trusting Enemies: Interpersonal Relationships in International Conflict (OUP) and subsequent work with Marcus Holmes (William and Mary), I argue that the interpersonal level of analysis opens up new possibilities for trust-building in adversarial relationships. The lecture will explore the conditions under which interpersonal trust can develop in adversarial relations and consider how important face-to-face interaction is to the development of trust. The lecture will briefly reflect on the implications of the theory for contemporary adversarial relations, focusing on the US-Russian relationship.

Register soon as space is limited. Hope to see you there!

~ Oxford International Relations Society Team