In conversation: Luca Trenta and Elspeth Van Veeren on secrecy and assassinations

In this week's episode of the SPIN Podcast, Professor Brian Rappert is in conversation with Dr. Elspeth Van Veeren on revelations, secrecy, and his new book project. Inspired by a longstanding interest in thinking through revelation, Brian outlines some of its complex features -- its relationship with secrecy, its involvement in state security special ops, the nuances of revelation associated with authenticity, for example in memoirs and political exposés, at the heard of stage magic to the design of museum spaces. Brian's new book on revelation will be published in the new year, with a SPIN book launch in January 2025.

In the next in our new series of SPIN podcast episodes, Dr. Luca Trenta discusses the history of US government involvement in assassinations and targeted killings from the Cold War era to today. Dr Trenta shares insights from his research and latest book including the evolving justifications around labels like "assassination" versus "targeted killing", the expanding legal interpretations of self-defense to include imminent and continuing threats, and the role of secrecy in both carrying out operations and publicly legitimizing certain covert actions over time. The discussion provides useful context for understanding the normalisation of practices like targeted killings and how this intersects with issues of secrecy, legal precedents, and international relations.Further details about Luca's work at: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/l.trenta/ Read Luca's recently released book, The President's Kill List: Assassination in US foreign policy since 1945: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-president-s-kill-list.html Browse Luca's recent activities: https://secrecyresearch.com/2024/10/29/what-has-spin-ster-luca-trenta-been-up-to/ Stream Luca's book launch, hosted by SPIN: https://youtu.be/tO_mS_I8TtQ SPIN website: https://secrecyresearch.com

Kate Thornton, our first graduate podcaster, reads her entry from SPIN's A-Z series: O is for Omertà. This talk explains how omertà, which literally means silence, has developed into a code of secrecy and loyalty for mafia members. By keeping their criminal activities secret from authorities, the mafia is able to operate freely and influence society. The code of omertà ensures solidarity and cooperation between mafiosi by binding them through shared secrets. Rather than relying on violence, the mafia cultivates deeper loyalty among its members through the mutual dependence created by omertà. This culture of silence has historically woven the mafia's power tightly within Italian communities.Part of SPIN's A-Z Series. Read the A-Z entry here: https://secrecyresearch.com/2024/04/17/a-z-series-o-is-for-omerta/ SPIN website: https://secrecyresearch.com

In this episode, SPIN member Dr. Oliver Kearns presents the findings from his new book, The Covert Colour Line. Oliver argues that postwar Western intelligence represents an emergency response to anti-colonialism. As European empires collapsed, intelligence analysts scrambled to come up with ways of studying new independent governments and populations, while still defending the right of the US and Britain to dictate Middle Eastern affairs.  During this recording, Oliver presents some key ideas from The Covert Colour Line and hears from Dr. Claudia Hillebrand (University of Cardiff) and Dr. Shuk Ying Chan (UCL), who offer their thoughts on the book and its contributions.  There is also a brief Q&A with the author at the end of the recording. 

In this episode, Dr Thomas Leahy, lecturer in British and Irish politics and contemporary history at Cardiff University, talks about how his work on Northern Ireland conflict, peace process and post-1998 politics, interacts with secrecy. 

In this episode, Lisa Graves, Curator of World Cultures at the Bristol Museum talks about the ‘Do you believe in magic?’ exhibition that features over 200 objects and stories that reveal how magic has been used to heal, hunt and harm across the world.

In this episode Rosie Nelson, PhD student at Bristol University  talks about the meaning of secrecy for bisexual people.

In this episode, Mike Bourne, reader at Queen's University Belfast talks about sensing secrecy.

In this episode Prof. Brian Rappert from the University of Exeter talks with Elspeth Van Veeren about his latest project about magic.

In this episode, Prof. Brian Rappert from the University of Exeter talks with Elspeth Van Veeren about his book The Dis-eases of Secrecy.