War is back on the European Continent. Our safety and security are no longer a certainty. According to the United Nations, a new era of conflict has begun. For NATO that means: a new era of collective defence.

On March 26th, we will have Chair of the NATO Military Committee (CMC) Admiral Rob Bauer joining us for a frank conversation on stage. Recently, Admiral Bauer has called for a more “war-ready society”. What will that mean for our daily lives? How will NATO continue to deter aggression from Russia? What actions do governments and companies need to take to ensure our war readiness? We will discuss these questions and more with Admiral Bauer with Room For Discussion.  

Interviewers:
- Anna Johansson
- Jonathan Kellogg-De Cock Buning

Room for Discussion

Lustrum: Securing Peace, Ensuring Power – A Conversation with NATO’s Chair of the Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer

No one becomes a multi-millionaire on their own merit. This is one of the arguments that Dutch political philosopher Ingrid Robeyns sets forth in her book ‘Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth’. To advocate for a cap on extreme wealth and a global limitarian mindset, Robeyns highlights the repercussions that inequality has for climate change, democracy, and societal welfare. Philanthropy is not the answer, and rising inequality is hurting the rich too. 

We will be interviewing Professor Ingrid Robeyns on March 18th, 13-14 o’clock at the E-Hall of the Roeterseiland Campus. Join us for a conversation about the (un)fairness of the wealth cap, the feasibility of the approach, and the challenges standing in the way of reducing inequality.

Interviewers:
Kaj Hoogeboom
Nayantara Ranganatha

Limitarianism: An interview with Philosopher Ingrid Robeyns

Is the future of KLM only clear blue skies, or is there turbulence ahead? On the 14th of March Marjan Rintel, the CEO of KLM, will be joining Room for Discussion to give her perspective on the airline’s business practices, sustainability goals and many other topics!

The world’s oldest airline is in a precarious position: it does not seem to agree with its biggest shareholder, the Dutch State, on their future. How does the airline plan to resolve these differences, and join the rest of the Netherlands in reaching carbon-zero in 2050? Train tickets, emission offsetting, airport shrinkings, tax benefits, or all of the above? To have the answer, join us for Room for Discussions’s first 15-year Lustrum interview in the E-Hall from 14:00 – 15:00 on Thursday, March 14!

Lustrum: Turbulence Ahead? The Future of Flying with Marjan Rintel, the CEO of KLM

How do the decisions we make influence the world around us? Does everything happen for a reason or do things just happen? Brian Klaas, an American political scientist specializing in democracy and authoritarianism, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and associate professor in global politics at University College London, investigates these topics in his most recent book ‘Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters.’

In a world driven by randomness, our reliance on models and patterns increases systemic risks and reduces our resilience. To hear why we should open ourselves up to uncertainty and how growing interdependence impacts democracy, join us on the 12th of March from 13:00 to 14:00 in the E-Hall at the Roeterseiland Campus.

Interviewers:
- Sean Cotter-Lem
- Nayantara Ranganatha

Embracing Chaos: A Conversation with Brian Klaas about Chance & Democracy

From Deputy PM of the UK to President, Global Affairs, Meta, Sir Nick Clegg has bridged the gap between politics and tech for years. With all of Meta’s businesses, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and now the Metaverse under his purview, he is tasked with overseeing some of the most complex policy issues across the internet. With constant changes in the world of tech and an ever-changing threat landscape ranging from misinformation to deepfakes, it’s fair to say that his job is tough.

As the era of Generative-AI begins, the question remains if society is up for the task of separating the real from the artificial. In 2024, with billions worldwide going to the polls, political tensions and theatre online will put Clegg’s position to the test. On the 11th of March, Room for Discussion will be kicking off its 15-year anniversary with an interview with Sir Clegg from 14:00 – 15:00. Join us, for an eyAI-opening conversation on these issues and more!

Lustrum: Interview with Sir Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs, Meta

Room for Discussion is partnering with ASDV Bonaparte to host a Debate Training followed by an informal Pub Debate session! Sign up for a fun and engaging introduction to the world of debating – improve your argumentation and presentation skills alongside some free beers!

Rhetoric & Pints: Debate Training and Informal Pub Debate

The upcoming European Parliamentary elections are incredibly consequential. These will be the first without the UK, and come at a time of intense turmoil, war at the borders, and rising Euroscepticism. There is no one better to make sense of the current moment than Professor Simon Hix. 

Join us on March 1st from 13:00 – 14:00 in the E-Hall to understand how growing support for populist radical right parties (like the PVV ) could shape the European Parliament and the future of the EU integration project. 

Simon Hix is the Stein Rokkan Chair of Political Science at the European University Institute in Florence and previously served as Vice-President at LSE. Hix is one of the most prominent academics studying EU institutions.

Interviewers:
Nayantara Ranganatha
Jonathan Kellogg-De Cock Buning

Integration or Bust? On European Elections with Simon Hix

Vattenfall, a Swedish state-owned energy company, provides heating for more than 50 000 Amsterdammers. On 29 February, Room for Discussion will host an interview with Vattenfall’s CCO Cindy Kroon to understand who is the company behind your energy bills. They are a leading energy company in shifting towards renewable energy sources and are promising to phase out coal and fossil fuels by 2030. We will uncover the nature of their roadmap to net zero and the limitations Vattenfall faces in implementing changes fairly and accessibly. EU regulations and state infrastructure conditions determine much of the applicability of green policies and the use of network – even with the best case scenario, how much can we really do to prevent the already severe effects of climate change? These difficult questions will be brought to the Room for Discussion stage at the E-hall on Thursday, 29 February at 13:00.

Blue + Yellow = Green? – Investigating the Sustainability of Vattenfall with their CCO, Cindy Kroon

Room for Discussion is pleased to welcome to our stage Marietje Schaake, a leading advocate for internet freedom, cybersecurity, and human rights in the digital age, who has been dubbed “Europe’s most wired politician.” Schaake was an MEP for D66 between 2009-19, and is currently the International Director of Policy at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center. At a time when Big Tech and social media are rewriting the fabric of our societies and institutions, Schaake’s knowledge and experience are invaluable.

In this interview, we will be covering tech’s broken promise as a democratising force, now undermining democratic institutions; Silicon Valley’s ideological shift and Europe’s dilemma in balancing innovation and regulation.

Interviewers:
Sean Cotter-Lem
Naina Jose

Shane Koppers

Rewiring Democracy: Exposing the Tech Coup with Marietje Schaake

What do the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, and Johan Cruijff have in common? All have them have been interviewed by Twan Huys, the most prominent interviewer and journalist in the Netherlands. He has seen the political and social environment change tremendously over the last decades and has talked to some of the most prominent makers and shakers of our current world to make sense of it. 

To get his unique perspective on the world around us, join us in the E-Hall on February 14th, 13:00 – 14:00h! 

Room for Discussion is thrilled to welcome Twan Huys, host of College Tour and Buitenhof. He has interviewed countless of famous guest, held Dutch politicians accountable and shaped the public debate in The Netherlands like no one else. Now he is here to share his perspective on how the public climate has changed and where we go from here. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!

College Tour Turned Around – A Conversation with Twan Huys

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It’s been over 20 years since Guantanamo Bay began its cruel and unjust operations of abuse. Despite promises by Biden and Obama to close the facility, to this day it holds 36 detainees. On October 17th at 13.00 Room for Discussion will host a conversation with human rights advocate, artist, and former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mansoor Adayfi. Mansoor’s book Don’t Forget Us here is a memoir of his 14 years spent in Guantanamo bay. Being wrongly imprisoned at 19 years old he became known as detainee 441. We will speak with Mansoor about art, religion, and how to stay human in a place meant to break you. The interview will be held on the 17th of October at 13.00, in hybrid format, in the E-hall. 

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Humankind in Guantanamo – A Conversation with Ex-Detainee Mansoor Adayfi

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Room for Discussion is the interview platform of the University of Amsterdam & SEFA est. 2008. We organise interviews with professors, entrepreneurs, economists, politicians, philosophers, CEOs and journalists to discuss relevant economic topics and recent events.