Conflict of Interest Imperial War Museums

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the world. But what is the history behind this devastating war, and where did it all begin? In this special episode of Conflict of Interest, we explored Ukraine’s recent past, from the collapse of the Soviet Union to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Guests in this episode were comedian Sophie Duker, Ukrainian journalist, expert and activist Olga Tokariuk, academic and historian Samir Puri and senior IWM curator Carl Warner.
———
CLIPS:
Bird's-Eye View Of 'Euromaidan' Protests In Kyiv - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nNFrvGOb9o&ab_channel=RadioFreeEurope%2FRadioLiberty
Ukraine: 'Full scale invasion' by Russia under way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzfxkbGtCbY&ab_channel=CNN
Ruslana - Wild Dances (Ukraine) - LIVE - 2004 Eurovision Song Contest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10XR67NQcAc&ab_channel=EurovisionSongContest
Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution | Flashback | NBC News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nYAM-Jbfh4&ab_channel=NBCNews
Ukraine gun battle caught on camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgoHI9A36u4&ab_channel=SkyNews

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. But why did the United Kingdom, steered by Margaret Thatcher, send its Navy to defend the Falklands, a tiny group of islands over 8,000 miles from Britain? Why were the islands so important to Argentina and its government? And what are the prospects for reconciliation forty years later?
In this episode we were joined by actor and comedian Katherine Parkinson.

The Vietnam War is one of the twentieth century’s most well-known conflicts. It has become a buzzword for military failure, synonymous with the most horrific aspects of irregular warfare between states and guerilla forces, and has had a profound impact on politics and popular culture in the United States and around the world.

But why did America get involved in the first place? Who were the Viet Cong and the Viet Minh? Why were there mass peace protests back in the US? And what lessons, if any, can be learned from the conflict? 

In this episode we were joined by Cerys Matthews - singer, songwriter, author, and BBC Radio 6 broadcaster, alongside Phan Thi Kim Phuc, better known as the ‘Napalm Girl’, and renowned photographer Don McCullin. 

—------
CREDITS: 

Excerpt from ‘Eisenhower Two Vietnams’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPet4zFh4sI&ab_channel=M.D.Jones
 
Excerpt from Lyndon B. Johnson-Speech on Vietnam (September 29, 1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tf2xGb5Nsg&ab_channel=MCamericanpresident
 
Excerpt from Kennedy Speaks On Vietnam (1962): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iph_KkKLfcA&ab_channel=BritishPath%C3%A9
 
Excerpt from Behind The Viet Cong Lines (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6sPC1YLIdM&ab_channel=NuclearVault

Excerpt from NBC News Special Report, January 31, 1968 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8n114eYXc&ab_channel=NewsActive3
 
Excerpt from President Richard Nixon Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam, November 3, 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPpOBu2LNCo&ab_channel=RichardNixonPresidentialLibrary
 
Exerpt from 50 years ago: Walter Cronkite calls for the U.S. to get out of Vietnam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn2RjahTi3M&ab_channel=CBSEveningNews

Why is Korea divided between North and South? Who was Kim Jong Un’s grandfather Kim Il Sun, and what did he want? Why did the United Nations intervene in Korea? And did the Korean War really almost go nuclear?
In this episode we were joined by celebrated stand up comedian, writer, actor and activist Eddie Izzard, in a special recording that took place on the ship HMS Belfast.

---- 
 

Excerpt from Combat footage, Korean war - newsreel (1950): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF_Ts_6oSi8&ab_channel=MilitaryPublicDomain
 

Excerpt from Korean War: President Truman Reports - June 1950: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWWiMS1E3nQ&ab_channel=JosephHewes
 
Excerpt from Inchon Landings - First Pictures (1950) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORilghHW0UQ&ab_channel=BritishPath%C3%A9
 

The Mau Mau Uprising was another lesser-known conflict that took place during the end of the British Empire between Kenyan insurgents and British forces. We ask questions like, What does Mau Mau actually mean? What happened in Britain’s detention camps? What was decolonisation? And what is the legacy of the conflict today? In this episode we were joined by renowned poet and writer Nikita Gill.
This episode contains references to racism and sexual violence in conflict. Some listeners may find descriptions distressing.
-----
CLIPS:
Excerpts from CNN ‘UK settles with Mau Mau victims in Kenya’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izo4JSaQeWY&ab_channel=CNN

Excerpts from 'Mau-Mau (1955) | Early Grindhouse Exploitation Documentary' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT-cJC4EKAo&t=2188s&ab_channel=reelblack

 

Few are aware of the secretive conflict that took place in the jungles of Malaysia in the 1940s and 1950s between British colonial forces and communist guerillas. So what tactics were used by both sides? Why was it called an Emergency and not a War? What happened to ordinary civilians caught in the crossfire? And why did this conflict become so important for future counterinsurgency campaigns?  In this episode we were joined by stand up comedian Phil Wang. --------------
CREDITS: 
Excerpt from "Malayan Jungle Patrol Aka Malaya Report (1953)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo6W2s1_AfY&ab_channel=BritishPath%C3%A9
Excerpt from "Malayan jungle fighting in 1952"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0PzaBY8-58&ab_channel=MichaelRogge
Excerpt from "Sir Eden introduces new Malaya High Commissioner (1952)"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h1zqqttu3c&ab_channel=BritishPath%C3%A9