Academy of Ideas

#PodcastOfIdeas: UK general election - episode 2

As the UK general election gets into full swing, Adam Rawcliffe is joined by Geoff Kidder, Izzy Lyons and Fraser Myers to talk about the latest developments.
Are the local election results any guide to how the country will vote on 8 June? Why are the Conservatives riding high in the polls? Can the Labour Party - or Jeremy Corbyn at least - survive a heavy defeat? And what should we make of the 'progressive alliance' of Labour, Lib Dems, Greens and Scottish Nationalists? Does it amount to anything and can it stop the Tories?

#PodcastOfIdeas: UK general election - episode 1

In the first of a series of podcasts in the run-up to June's general election in the UK, Adam Rawcliffe introduces a discussion with Claire Fox, Alastair Donald and Geoff Kidder.
What do the team think about the decision to call an election? What are the key debates in Election 2017? Are traditional party political considerations relevant at the moment? Indeed, as suggested by the first round of voting in the French presidential election, are the old parties in terminal decline?

Book Launch: Phil Mullan’s Creative Destruction - how to start an economic renaissance

Phil Mullan discusses his latest book, Creative Destruction: How to Start an Economic Renaissance (Policy Press), with Austin Williams, director of the Future Cities Project. This was the official launch of the book.
While governments talk of rebalancing the economy, Mullan talks about a fourth industrial revolution - a revolution that doesn't prioritise holding onto jobs, but "lets the low-productivity parts of the economy go". Discuss.
As Mullan puts it, we have "a zombie economy that is being propped up to ensure the semblance of life". So is it time to turn off the life support, or continue CPR?

#BattleFest2016: Cosmopolitanism and sovereignty - what next for Europe?

According to Jean-Claude Juncker, ‘borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians’. For the president of the European Commission, transnational institutions like the EU are champions of cosmopolitanism. But is there really a contradiction between national sovereignty and internationalism? The cosmopolitan ideal, first conceptualised by Immanuel Kant, emerged in parallel with the rise of the nation state. Looking to the future of Europe, Frank Furedi explores the changing meaning of cosmopolitanism for European identity today, and asks how we might find a way to be European, openminded and outward-looking beyond the borders of the EU.
PROFESSOR FRANK FUREDIsociologist and social commentator; author, What’s Happened to the University?, Power of Reading: from Socrates to Twitter, and Authority: a sociological history
CHAIR: ANGUS KENNEDYconvenor, The Academy; author, Being Cultured: in defence of discrimination

#PodcastOfIdeas: What next for Brexit?

Parliament has given the government the power to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and the formal process of the UK’s departure from the EU should begin before the end of this month. What should British negotiators be seeking from the talks? What should any deal mean for immigration, trade and wider cooperation? Are the difficulties of getting out so great that we should reconsider our decision to leave?
Earlier this week, Rob Lyons was joined by Ian Dunt and Luke Gittos for a lively and passionate discussion of the issues. Ian Dunt is editor of Politics.co.uk and author of Brexit: what the hell happens now? Luke Gittos is law editor for spiked, an author and a regular speaker at the Battle of Ideas festival.

#BattleFest2016: Tax wars and inequality

Arguments over tax and inequality have moved centre stage in politics in recent years. Erstwhile Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders declared: ‘The issue of wealth and income inequality is the great moral issue of our time, it is the great economic issue of our time, and it is the great political issue of our time.’ The World Economic Forum argues ‘A growing body of research suggests that rising income inequality is the cause of economic and social ills, ranging from low consumption to social and political unrest, and is damaging to our future economic well-being.’
Then there's the question of paying a 'fair share' of tax. The furore around the Panama Papers, which revealed the tax-avoiding strategies of many wealthy people, recalled Leona Helmsley’s infamous quote ‘We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.’
Should we be worried about inequality as well as poverty? Does inequality have effects on society that go beyond material disadvantage? Why have politicians become so keen on talking up inequality today? Is inequality inevitable – or even beneficial?
SPEAKERS
Daniel Ben-Amijournalist and author, Ferraris for All: in defence of economic progress and Cowardly Capitalism
Dr Yaron Brookexecutive director, Ayn Rand Institute; co-author, Equal is Unfair: America’s misguided fight against income inequality
Dr Faiza Shaheeneconomist, writer, activist; director of CLASS (Centre for Labour and Social Studies); former head of inequality and sustainable development, Save the Children
Stefan Sterndirector, High Pay Centre

#BattleFest2016: Who are we? Identity politics dissected

Listen to the debate from the Battle of Ideas 2016.
In recent years, more and more political and cultural discussions have been conducted through the prism of identity. Who we are, rather than what we do or believe, has become ever more important. But why has this happened and what are the implications?
The shift from the idea of a universal human outlook, born in the Enlightenment, appears to have become badly degraded. This historical trend is the focus of The Academy 2017, the Institute’s residential weekend of study and debate on 15 & 16 July at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire. Early Bird discounted tickets for the event are available until Monday 6 March. Find out more about the event and how to get tickets at The Academy 2017 page.
This Battle of Ideas debate from 2016 offers a flavour of some of the issues we’ll be discussing at The Academy.
SPEAKERSDr Julian Bagginifounding editor, the Philosophers’ Magazine; author, Freedom Regained: the possibility of free will and The Edge of Reason: A Rational Skeptic in an Irrational World
Ivan Hewettchief music critic, Daily Telegraph; professor, Royal College of Music; broadcaster; author, Music: healing the rift
Sunder Katwaladirector, British Future; former general secretary, Fabian Society
Professor Michele Moody-AdamsJoseph Strauss professor of political philosophy and legal theory, Columbia University; author, Fieldwork in Familiar Places: Morality, culture and philosophy

#BattleFest2016: Immigration - what is the future of free movement?

Immigration was a key issue during Britain’s EU referendum. The success of the Leave campaign owed much to the belief that the UK has lost control over its borders. Many British citizens are resentful that their communities have undergone dramatic changes as a result of immigration policies about which they were not consulted. At the same time, there are humane, economic and political arguments for welcoming migrants. So why do we have borders at all? If the EU can manage with porous internal borders, why can’t the whole world? Do open borders really threaten the integrity of a democratic nation state?
NICK CATERexecutive director, Menzies Research Centre, Australia; columnist, The Australian
JON HOLBROOKbarrister; writer on legal issues; regular contributor to spiked
KENAN MALIKwriter and broadcaster; author, The Quest for a Moral Compass: a global history of ethics and From Fatwa to Jihad
CHAIR: CLAIRE FOXdirector, Institute of Ideas; panellist, BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze; author, I Find That Offensive