ConTrust Podcast

The Podcast that deals with Trust and Conflict

In a world where conflicts seem to escalate repeatedly – whether in the Middle East, Ukraine, or the rising tensions between China and the USA – finding peaceful solutions often appears more challenging than ever. The rise of right-wing populist parties and extremist groups in Europe and beyond is also contributing to an increase in conflicts. But do conflicts necessarily have to be destructive?

ConTrust the podcast is dedicated to the central themes of trust and conflict, exploring how we, as a society, can address the challenges of today’s world. How can we prevent conflicts from escalating into violence and destruction? What alternative, more productive paths are there for conflictual developments and outcomes? And most importantly, how can we ensure that institutions protect us and that society remains stable?

In each episode, we tackle these questions and offer perspectives for a more constructive approach to conflicts and the trust-building mechanisms that can help keep us united during difficult times.


Episode #1 / A Critical Theory of Trust


With Prof Rainer Forst (Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at Goethe University, Director of the Research Centre Normative Orders, Co-Director of the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“) and Prof Thomas Biebricher (Moderation, Heisenberg Professor for Political Science at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“)


Episode #2 / Knowledge and Trust


With Dr Regina Schidel (Lecturer at the chair for Political Theory and Philosophy (Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst) at Goethe University, Postdoc at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“ and Prof Thomas Biebricher (Moderation, Heisenberg Professor for Political Science at Goethe at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“)


Episode #3 / Terrorism and Voting

With Prof Guido Friebel, Ph.D. (Chair for Human Resources at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“) and Prof Thomas Biebricher (Moderation, Heisenberg Professor for Political Science at Goethe at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“)


Episode #4 / Trust under Conditions of Extreme Uncertainty


With Dr Irene Weipert-Fenner (Senior Researcher, Project Director of the Research Depart­ment Intra­state Conflict at PRIF, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“) and Prof Thomas Biebricher (Moderation, Heisenberg Professor for Political Science at Goethe at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“)


Episode #5 / The Deconstruction and Reproduction of Mistrust


With Prof Dr Jonas Wolff (Professor of Political Science with a focus on Transformation Studies and Latin America at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“) and Prof Thomas Biebricher (Moderation, Heisenberg Professor for Political Science at Goethe at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“)


Episode #6 / Can we trust documentaries?


With Dr Laliv Melamed (Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of Groningen, Associate Member at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“), Prof Vinzenz Hediger (Professor of Cinema Studies at Goethe University, Principal Investigator at the Cluster Initiative „ConTrust – Trust in Conflict“) and Ra’anan Alexandrowicz (Israeli filmmaker and writer)