Conflict Tipping Podcast Episode 16: Accents, inclusion, and migration with Dr. Zdena Mtetwa-Middernacht

In this episode, Laura speaks with Dr. Zdena Mtetwa-Middernacht, whose doctoral research focused on whiteness in migration. Listen if you are interested in:

• Why you might need to learn to fake an Australian accent
• Colonisation and legacies of privileged whiteness in Zimbabwe
• What intersectionality means and how it affects our lives
• Transnationalism and living in two places at once
• Wearing different identity hats, and living different lives

About Zdena:

Zdena Middernacht began reading for a PhD in International Relations in 2013. Prior to this she earned a Masters in International Relations from the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan (2012),a BA Honours in Organisational Psychology from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in South Africa (2008) and a BA Psychology degree (2007) also from the NMMU.

She has worked for civil society organisations in South Africa and in Belgium, including Khulumani (South Africa), The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples’ Organization (Belgium) and Save the Children (Belgium). She is currently working as a Senior Research Consultant for ODS in Brussels, and as Non-Executive Director for Seefar Enterprise, whose mission is working with vulnerable people to build a better future.

She has also served as a member of the executive committee of the South African Youth for International Diplomacy.

Links to learn more:

• Zdena’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zdena-mtetwa-middernacht-ph-d-111bb59
• Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/zdenamtetwa/

About Laura:

Laura is a former Executive Director of the International Mediation Institute and a negotiation and mediation lecturer.  Her doctoral research asked “in what ways does blame make villains in politics” and covered the gamut from literature studies and linguistics to psychology and neuroscience, victimology to political science.  Her expertise includes emotions, polarization, blame, and international politics.  Feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn or ResearchGate—or even both!

Laura May, PhD

Laura is a freelancer, former Executive Director of the International Mediation Institute and a negotiation and mediation lecturer.  Her doctoral research asked “in what ways does blame make villains in politics” and covered the gamut from literature studies and linguistics to psychology and neuroscience, victimology to political science.  Her expertise includes emotions,… MORE