Author: Lord Alderdice
There has not been a time in many decades when a book about Ending Wars was more timely. People across the world are rightly terrified that the rules-based international order that brought a degree of peace to much of the world, is rapidly dissolving and we are descending into international antagonism, with a mixture of authoritarian governments and failing states – the result being unending war and chaos. This new multi-author volume, co-published by The Concord Foundation and ARTIS (Europe) Ltd, in collaboration with the New England Journal of Public Policy, addresses these existential dangers. Why do we have wars?…
The 5th Annual Gala of New York-based psychoanalytic journal ROOM, which was held on July 17, 2025, gave special attention to five individuals who have shown unusual courage in the world, and who have contributed to ROOM – a unique psychoanalytically-informed publication, described as a ‘Sketchbook for Analytic Action’ that presents challenging cultural and intellectual papers and artistic insights. Since its inception, ROOM has been a home for those who give voice to difficult issues, and is described by Editor-in-Chief, Dr Hattie Myers as “a space for people who must speak, who dare to think and feel out loud, even…
Speaking on Friday 18 July 2025 in the House of Lords debate on the recently published UK Strategic Defence Review, Lord Alderdice welcomed the report and the positive response by the Government, but warned that strategic defence did not only mean having the weapons that may deter aggressors, but also developing improved diplomatic capacities to de-escalate crises. My Lords, in our debate on 9 October 2024 on the very welcome Strategic Defence Review being undertaken by the noble Lord, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, I appealed to the noble Lord – as I had done previously in your Lordships’ House…
Lord Alderdice, speaking in the House of Lords on Thursday 21 November 2024 on the motion moved by Lord Ricketts “That this House takes note of the Report from the European Affairs Committee The Ukraine Effect: The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the UK-EU relationship (1st Report, Session 2023-24, HL Paper 48)” Lord Alderdice said – “My Lords, I start my comments by identifying with the tribute and appreciation paid by the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, to the noble Lord, Lord Levene of Portsoken. He has been a great public servant, and that is the best that can…
On Wednesday 9th October Lord Alderdice spoke in a House of Lords debate on the UK Strategic Defence Review instituted by Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and headed by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, a former UK Minister of Defence in the Blair administration and from 1999 to 2003 the Secretary-General of NATO. Until accepting this new responsibility he was, as is Lord Alderdice, a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on International Relations and Defence Committee. The debate on the Strategic Defence Review was conducted in Grand Committee and was obtained by Lord Robertson to give an…
Speaking on Thursday 25th July 2024 in the House of Lords during the Foreign Affairs and Defence day of the Debate on the King’s Speech (Hansard Volume 839, Col 646), Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat) appealed for a focus on the defence of people, country and the rule of law and criticized the political leaders who had led the world into unwinnable and unjustifiable wars. Lord Alderdice said: “My Lords, how to address in five minutes the range of foreign affairs and defence issues in a fast-changing world, and in the context of deepening global conflict? Since 1964—fully 60 years ago—we…
CRIC 2024, our annual conference, will be held from 23rd – 25th September 2024 in Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. This will be our 11th Annual Conference and it is taking place amid deepening concerns about the deteriorating geo-political climate. It is not just the worsening violence in the Russia/Ukraine war and between Israel and the Palestinians, but also the conflicts that are spreading more widely in the Middle East, in Sudan and other parts of Africa, Asia and indeed right across the world. There is a real danger not only that the current wars will spread and merge,…
I am delighted to have been elected an Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College at the University of Oxford, especially in this its 400th Anniversary year. I have very much enjoyed working at the College in recent years, especially with colleagues in the Changing Character of War Centre and the Quill Project and I look forward to a long association with this wonderful academic community.
Addressing the Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine at a meeting last night at the Spring Conference of the Party in York, Lord Alderdice drew on his experience, not only of the Irish Peace Process but of work in many other areas of conflict including in the Middle East and called for a block on the supply of arms to both sides in the conflict and the release from prison of the leading Palestinian figure, Marwan Barghouthi, who has spent many years behind bars in Israel since the second Intifada including very extended periods in solitary confinement. Lord Alderdice said: “The…
When reading Exodus 20 v 1-17 (the Ten Commandments) and John 2 v 13-22 (Jesus clears the Temple Courts), which are the passages set down for our study in the lectionary this week, I found myself thinking about Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader and political prisoner who met his death a couple of weeks ago in the freezing conditions of a Siberian jail. Later I will say why I thought about Navalny but first let us turn to today’s reading from the Gospel according to John. The Scottish theologian, William Barclay writes that it has been said that ‘John…