The lecture will put forward the argument that ‘new wars’ represent a long-term social condition characterised by violent political and economic fragmentation. The Putin regime exhibits many of the characteristics to be found in regimes where new wars take place; indeed Putin has been fighting new wars ever since he came to power. The lecture will ask whether Putin’s aim is turning Ukraine into a ‘new war’ – winning may not mean military victory but long-term chaos.

Mary Kaldor is Professor Emeritus of Global Governance and Director of the Conflict Research Programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has pioneered the concepts of new wars and global civil society. Her elaboration of the real-world implementation of human security has directly influenced European and national governments. She is the author of many books and articles including New and Old Wars: Organised Violence in a Global Era (3rd edition, 2012), International Law and New Wars (with Christine Chinkin, 2017) and Global Security Cultures (2018).