Turning a ‘problem’ into global strength: Peace Studies leads 60th anniversary lectures
A remark reportedly made by Margaret Thatcher; ‘Has that Peace Studies problem been dealt with yet?’ is now inspiring a forward-looking conversation as the University of Bradford launches its 60th anniversary lecture series.
The lecture’s title, inspired by the 1984 quote, shows how far the University has come since those early questions about whether a School of Peace Studies could ever be taken seriously.
Today, the University’s Department of Peace and International Development is a globally recognised centre of excellence in peace, conflict and security research, contributing to UK and international policymaking and preparing the next generation for a world of peacebuilding as global conflicts continue.
The event, held on Wednesday 15 April, is the first in the University’s ‘6 Decades’ lecture series, with experts celebrating the institution’s strengths, and innovative research. Later lectures, held throughout 2026, will explore themes including health and wellbeing, AI, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Engineering.
Professor Adam Curle, who was the inaugural Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, and the first Peace Studies staff photograph after it was founded in 1973. Images credit: University of Bradford
More on the Peace School
The Department of Peace Studies and International Development, the UK’s first Peace School, was founded in 1973 through a partnership between the University and Quaker Peace Studies Trust.
Over the past five decades it has contributed expertise to the UK Government, United Nations Peacekeeping and NATO, and engaged directly with peacebuilding efforts in conflicts including Israel-Palestine, the Balkans and Iraq.
Helping to make the world a safer place
Professor Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies, said: “Peace Studies has been running at Bradford for more than 50 years, and is one of the best-known university departments in its field in Britain and wider than that.
“The pressure peaked in the mid-1980s when the department had been up and running for a decade and had acquired a reputation for independent analysis on nuclear and related security issues.
“We had nearly 2,000 students through the department already and it’s a question of trying to do our very best to help in a very small way to make the world a safer place.”
Professor Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies. Images credit: University of Bradford
How to attend
‘Has That Peace Studies Problem Been Dealt With Yet?’ will be held at the Norcroft Centre at the University of Bradford on Wednesday 15 April from 18:00 to 19:30.
Professor Rogers and panellists, Professor Fiona Macaulay, Emeritus Professor, Gender, Peace and Development, and Professor Prathivadi (PB) Anand, Professor of Public Policy and Sustainable Development, from the Peace Studies department, will look back at the department’s history and analyse the conflicts affecting people today.
Professor PB Anand said: “For me the 60 years of the University remind me of the importance of peace and sustainable development together as Nelson Mandela remarked in 2004 in his message to global conference on peace in New Delhi: ‘Development and peace are indivisible. Without peace and international security, nations cannot focus on the upliftment of the most underprivileged of their citizens.’”
Go to bradford.ac.uk/events to reserve your place either in person or online.
Professor Prathivadi (PB) Anand, the University’s Professor of Public Policy and Sustainable Development. Images credit: University of Bradford