Power to the people
27 January 2025 - 1 hour 26 minsContributor(s): Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Lysa John, Jo Swinson | In 2024, two billion people headed to the polls in some 50 countries around the world. But the drama of these elections risks obscuring just how fragile the foundations of democracy have become. A political system that is geared towards short-term wins, run by politicians that few of us trust, is failing to address complex global problems. Many of us feel disempowered, disillusioned and distrustful.
Hear Danny Sriskandarajah discuss his new book Power to the People. Drawing on his extensive experience in leading civil society organisations around the globe, he sets out his radical blueprint for change. From giving democracy a...
Series Episodes
The ecological continuation of empire in the Arab world
This lecture by Marwa Daoudy, held in honour of the renowned scholar Fred Halliday, will explore the entanglement of colonialism, capitalism, and environmental exploitation that has shaped the modern global order in ways that continue to structure global inequality.
1 hour 32 mins
11 June Finished
Reading wars: the story (so far) of Western literacy and the future of free speech
Who gets access to books? And, to what extent does the act of reading shape our humanity?
1 hour 31 mins
9 June Finished
Ten years on: Brexit and Britain’s political future
In June 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that reshaped British politics, society, and the economy in profound and lasting ways. Ten years on, this event brings together leading voices from politics, journalism, and academia to reflect on how Brexit has transformed political identities, party competition, public trust, and Britain’s place in the world.
1 hour 31 mins
8 June Finished
How to win a trade war
In this public event, Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown discuss their new book, How to Win a Trade War.
1 hour 24 mins
4 June Finished
The everywhere millionaire: who is really rich in America and how they got there
The story of wealth in America isn’t just about Wall Street or Silicon Valley—it’s also about the quiet fortunes of Main Street business owners, whose growing economic and political power often escapes the spotlight.
1 hour 23 mins
2 June Finished
The halted march of the European left: lessons from history
In the 1970s, the European left was thriving. Across the continent, numerous groups emerged to defend the working‑class in all its diversity. New waves of organising—led by women, migrants, and young workers—pointed to the vitality of the labour movement. And then... the left’s progress came to a sharp halt. What brought about such decline? What lessons must we take away from this historical turning point?
1 hour 22 mins
1 June Finished
