Recording of an Academy of Ideas debate on Tuesday 28 June 2022. INTRODUCTION Around the world, prices of a wide range of goods and commodities have been rising sharply for the past few months. In particular, the wholesale cost of energy has been rising fast as the world economy recovered from the pandemic restrictions. Petrol prices have risen by almost a third in the past 12 months. The UK domestic energy ‘price cap’, which hit a low of £1,042 in 2020, is expected to rise to £2,800 in October....
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 244
This is a recording of United we stand? Ukraine and the future of the West, which took place on 20 April 2022: academyofideas.org.uk/event/united-we-stand-ukraine-and-the-future-of-the-west/ At first glance, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seems to have led to an unexpected moment of unity among Western nations. After years of disagreements and talk of decline, Western countries responded to the invasion with tough sanctions and a unified front. Germany has announced a dramatic increase in military...
Apr 25, 2022•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 243
This is a recording from the Scotland Salon - a panel discussion on the roots of the war in Ukraine and whether it offers any lessons for Scotland - held on Wednesday 13 April 2022: academyofideas.org.uk/event/solidarity-with-ukraine/ Scotland’s public debate on the war in Ukraine has been very low key. We have set up charity hubs for refugees, but we haven’t really engaged in a public discussion about the causes of the war or the right to national self-determination. The possibility of nuclear ...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 242
Recording of the Academy of Ideas Economy Forum discussion on Monday 4 April 2022. INTRODUCTION There have been many obituaries to globalisation since the big financial crisis of 2008. The dislocations caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the tough sanctions imposed upon Moscow have spawned another batch of them. Beneath this formulaic contemplation of “globalisation” versus “deglobalisation”, what sort of developments might unfold on the international economic front as a result of this...
Apr 05, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 241
This is a recording from the Belfast Battle of Ideas, an event that took place in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast on the 26 March 2022 in partnership with Imagine! Belfast Festival and the Academy of Ideas. Misinformation: Ukraine, Big Tech and online censorship As war rages in Ukraine, the limits of what we can say about such a major, epoch-defining event appear to be determined by a handful of Californian social-media giants. Facebook’s parent company, Meta has already announced the bannin...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 240
This is a recording from the Belfast Battle of Ideas, an event that took place in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast on the 26 March 2022 in partnership with Imagine! Belfast Festival and the Academy of Ideas. Snowflakes Or Revolutionaries? Free Speech On Campus From decolonising the curriculum to gender-identity codes of conduct, free-speech controversies are a frequent feature of campus life. But while students are often lampooned as ‘over-sensitive’ or ‘snowflakes’, many believe that these s...
Apr 01, 2022•59 min•Ep. 240
This is a recording from the Belfast Battle of Ideas, an event that took place in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast on the 26 March 2022 in partnership with Imagine! Belfast Festival and the Academy of Ideas. Can Culture Survive The Culture Wars? Culture-wars divisions increasingly frame how we judge artistic works. Statues of slave traders have been ripped from pedestals, accusations of ‘transphobia’ result in the work of artists such as Jess de Wahls being removed from galleries, while books...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 240
This event was held on 17 March 2022 hosted by the Academy of Ideas and the Free Speech Union: academyofideas.org.uk/event/free-speech-a-global-history-from-socrates-to-social-media/ Free speech is often hailed as the ‘first freedom’ and the bedrock of democracy. Free exchange of ideas underlies all intellectual achievement and has enabled the advancement of both freedom and equality worldwide. But free speech is also a challenging and even contentious principle that today is often considered to...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 239
This meeting was held live at the Royal National Hotel on the 14 March 2022: academyofideas.org.uk/event/ukraine-in-the-crosshairs-of-history A famous old Russian once said: ‘There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.’ The past week feels exactly like that since Russia’s appalling decision to invade Ukraine. Not only will there be enormous bloodshed, but a nation’s independence and sovereignty is under threat. It feels like an earthquake has taken place in...
Mar 15, 2022•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 238
As war breaks out in Ukraine, the Academy of Ideas team is joined by Professor Frank Furedi and international affairs correspondent Mary Dejevsky to discuss Vladimir Putin's invasion and the fallout among Western nations. Articles discussed in the podcast: Patrick Cockburn in the Independent / Tom McTague in the Atlantic / Brendan O'Neill in spiked...
Feb 25, 2022•46 min•Ep. 237
Panel discussion organised by the Academy of Ideas Education Forum on 21 February 2022. INTRODUCTION As the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) approaches its 30th birthday, many are increasingly concerned that Ofsted is becoming overly political and moralistic and insufficiently educational in its approach. The anniversary of Ofsted’s creation seems a good moment to take stock. Ofsted employs more than a thousand people and has an annual budget of close to £130 million. For this, it take...
Feb 22, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 236
Recording of the Academy of Ideas International Salon panel discussion on 3 February 2022. https://academyofideas.org.uk/event/boiling-point-russia-and-the-west/ INTRODUCTION: Russian troops on the border of Ukraine, riots in Kazakhstan, brutal suppression of recent protests in Belarus, talk of a new Cold War, threats of catastrophic sanctions from America, and demands from Russia for new security guarantees. As negotiations begin between Russia and the West, how do we make sense of the confusin...
Feb 04, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 235
This is a recording from the Arts & Society Forum event - What’s in store for the arts in 2022? - that took place on 10 January 2022: https://fb.me/e/7cT8pWcle What can we expect of the arts in 2022? On the one hand, the measures taken to protect us against COVID19 have imposed onerous restrictions on the arts, closing down theatres, museums, galleries and most other venues. But the arts seem to be returning to life with renewed (if somewhat cautious) energy. On the other hand, controversy c...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 234
For our first Sportscast of Ideas of 2022, Geoff Kidder is joined by Academy of Ideas colleagues Alastair Donald and Rob Lyons, with special guest and Aussie, Charlie Pearson.
Jan 11, 2022•39 min•Ep. 233
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. WHAT ARE WESTERN VALUES - AND SHOULD WE DEFEND THEM? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/what-are-western-values-and-should-we-defend-them/ The recent abandonment of Afghanistan by the UK and the US is widely seen as a humiliatin...
Jan 07, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 232
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. THE POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY: HOW IS IT GOING? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/the-post-pandemic-recovery-how-is-it-going/ Will the post-pandemic recovery continue? Why has the UK economy experienced such a long period of relat...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 231
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. CAN SPORT SURVIVE THE CULTURE WARS? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/can-sport-survive-the-culture-wars/ Is sport in danger of being consumed by these wider cultural issues or is it part of a healthy cleansing process? Is the ...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. CARE FOR THE ELDERLY: THE FORGOTTEN MINORITY? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/care-for-the-elderly-the-forgotten-minority/ Negative attitudes to the elderly go far beyond financial support. Long before COVID, social policy ha...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. FROM GB NEWS TO BEN & JERRY’S: BOYCOTTS OR CENSORSHIP? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/from-gb-news-to-ben-jerrys-boycotts-or-censorship/ If boycotts are simply legitimate expressions of preference or political opinion, c...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. THE FSU FILES: HOW TO FIGHT CANCEL CULTURE AND WIN A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/the-fsu-files-how-to-fight-cancel-culture-and-win/ What is it like to be publicly shamed for your views or beliefs, to have your words scrutin...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. GIRL, BOY, OTHER: HOW DO WE TALK TO KIDS ABOUT GENDER? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/girl-boy-other-how-do-we-talk-to-kids-about-gender/ How should we talk to kids about gender – if at all? Is it small-minded to feel uncomf...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. IS IT TIME TO RETHINK THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/is-it-time-to-rethink-the-precautionary-principle/ Can we treat decisions about something like a pandemic in the same way as those to do with ...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. IS LEVELLING UP REALLY LEVELLING DOWN? THE GREAT INEQUALITY DEBATE A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/is-levelling-up-really-levelling-down-the-great-inequality-debate/ This debate was run in partnership with the Ayn Rand Centre...
Jan 03, 2022•42 min•Ep. 230
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. RACISM AND HOW TO FIGHT IT A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/racism-and-how-to-fight-it/ What does racism in the UK look like today, and how can we fight it? Is the contemporary anti-racist route of exposing white privilege the...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 229
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. THE STATUS OF SCIENCE AFTER THE PANDEMIC A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/the-status-of-science-after-the-pandemic/ As we emerge from the impacts of Covid, what should we conclude about scientific authority and accountability?...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 229
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. THE IRISH BORDER QUESTION: CAN THE UNION SURVIVE? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/the-irish-border-question-can-the-union-survive/ Is it time for Unionists to accept a border poll as a democratic resolution and prepare their ...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 229
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. WILL GREEN JOBS SAVE US? A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/will-green-jobs-save-us/ Will a shift to a green economy revive the UK economy? Is the ‘green economy’ just the latest Big Idea to boost growth that will ultimately pro...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 229
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. CAN OUR DATA BE USED FOR GOOD? THE ETHICS OF RESEARCH A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/can-our-data-be-used-for-good-the-ethics-of-research/ This debate was run in partnership with ADRUK. When there is such extensive scope to ...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 229
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. PROTECTION FOR ME BUT NOT FOR THEE? THE EQUALITY CONUNDRUM A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/protection-for-me-but-not-for-thee-the-equality-conundrum/ Do we need to be recognised in law to feel secure about ourselves? Is there...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 229
Thanks for listening to the BattleFest podcast - you can support us by subscribing, sharing and leaving us a review. Check back next week for more recordings from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021. HATE, HERESY AND THE FIGHT FOR FREE SPEECH A new #BattleFest recording from the Battle of Ideas festival 2021: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/hate-heresy-and-the-fight-for-free-speech/ Would a public square that embraced free expression be a dangerous thing? Can words be as dangerous as phys...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 229
