Speaker

Camila Vergara

Camila Vergara is a critical theorist, historian, and journalist. She is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex.

Camila Vergara is a critical theorist, historian, and journalist. She is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex.

More Videos

A person with short hair, sitting with their head bowed and hands covering their face, expressing deep emotional distress or sorrow in a black and white setting.

Mark Salter,Helen Croydon,John Milbank,Robin Ince

The Shame Game

Why do we fear shame?

A middle-aged man with curly gray hair in a striped tie and gray suit is speaking passionately at an event, gesturing with his hands.

Steven Pinker,Tariq Ali,Elif Sarican,Rana Mitter

The Fires of Progress

Steven Pinker debates violence, ideas and progress

A man with tousled dark hair and a thoughtful expression, dressed in a navy blazer and white shirt, against a black background.

Rory Stewart,Emma Barnet

Rory Stewart in Conversation with Emma Barnett

Former Conservative speaks out on abuses of power

A man with curly hair examines a sculpture of a head depicting different intellectual traits, highlighting the connection between philosophy and psychology.

Rana Mitter,Andrew Copson,Steven Pinker,Roger Bolton,Judith Marquand

Reason and The Decline of Violence

Steven Pinker's Theory Explored

A person holding a fan of US dollar bills, including one, five, twenty, and other denominations, with a focused expression.

Peter Tatchell,Jamie Whyte,Sean Curran,Frances Stewart,Paul Krugman

The Wealth Delusion

Would more equality lead to greater happiness?

A dramatic storm cloud formation with swirling dark clouds, illuminated by a golden sunset, with telephone poles lining a rural road.

Rana Mitter,Stephen D. King,George Galloway

The Gathering Storm

Russia, China and the New World Order

Two men seated on stage engaged in conversation, one wearing glasses and a suit jacket, the other with curly hair and a colorful tie, both smiling.

Steven Pinker,Matt Frei

Why Things Get Better

Steven Pinker on the world's bright future.

Members of the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne, gathered on a balcony to watch an event, smiling and dressed in formal attire.

Adam Swift,Belinda Brown,Yasmin Alibhai-Brown,Yasmin Alibhai-Brown,Victor Adebowale

Monarchy, Caste and Inheritance

Must an equal world abolish all family privilege?

A woman wearing sunglasses and a Minnesota sweatshirt holds a megaphone, leading a protest with a group of demonstrators in the background.

Free Thought

Are universities threatening free speech?

A gold-plated custom bicycle with ornate details and a luxurious design, parked next to a person sitting nearby.

Alex Callinicos,Roger Bolton,Paul Krugman,Stephen Dorrell

Rethinking Capital

Are there alternative economic systems?

A surreal beach scene featuring a partially submerged Statue of Liberty on the shore, with two horses grazing nearby and a colorful sunset sky.

Hilary Lawson,Philip Collins,Kwasi Kwarteng,Gita Sahgal

The Crisis of the West

Is the Age of the West at an end?

A protester holds a large sign reading

Philip Collins,Sean Curran,Lindsey German,Hew Strachan

The Morality of War

Should wealthy countries intervene in wars around the world?

Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with short gray hair, smiling softly, dressed in a black jacket, against a wooden background.

Brian Eno,Anne McElvoy,James Thornton

How to Change the World

Brian Eno and James Thornton on living a good life

Portraits of Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, and an unidentified woman against a blue background.

The Great Economists

How Their Ideas Can Help Us Today | Linda Yueh

A large group of activists marches in a climate change demonstration, holding banners and flags with slogans advocating for collective action.

Alastair McIntosh

Radical Spirituality

Can spiritual activism save the planet?

A surreal beach scene featuring a partially submerged Statue of Liberty on the shore, with two horses grazing nearby and a colorful sunset sky.

Rana Mitter,Stephen King,Will Kymlicka,Clare Short

The End of the West

Should we worry about the fall of Western power?

A man and a woman sit together, discussing in front of various banknotes and currency designs.

Rana Mitter,Vince Cable,Liz Truss,Richard Burgon

The New Politics

Is the market the most important thing?

Explosive ordnance descending from a darkened sky, set against a dramatic orange and red sunset, evoking themes of war and destruction.

Frank Furedi,Natalie Bennett,Patricia Lewis,Matt McAllester

Avoiding Apocalypse

Is a nuclear crisis inevitable?

A sleek F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet flying over a patchwork of farmland, showcasing its advanced design and capabilities against a clear blue sky.

Rana Mitter,Philip Collins,Clare Short

Guns and Butter

Hard and Soft power

Twelve gold stars arranged in a circle on a blue background, representing the flag of the European Union.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown,Roger Bolton,Jonathan Cruddas,Chandran Kukathas

Beyond Borders

Removing vs Strengthening Borders

Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump shake hands in front of North Korean flags during their historic summit.

Mary Ann Sieghart,George Galloway,Mark Leonard

War and Peace

Has Trump made the world more dangerous?

Close-up of Venezuelan currency notes with a prominent face visible, highlighting details of the banknotes' intricate designs and textures.

Gabrielle Walker,Kwasi Kwarteng,John Bird,Peter Tatchell

Rich and Equal

Can a society be equal and prosperous?

A person in a bright red jacket stands in falling snow, surrounded by people walking in a snowy urban setting.

What should we do about poverty?

Big Issue Founder John Bird's Political Manifesto

Anatole Kaletsky,Owen Bennett Jones,Margaret Heffernan,Deirdre McCloskey,Chi Onwurah

Can Facebook Save Itself?

Internet giants between the market and government regulation

A person sitting on a city sidewalk, wearing a red hat, with a sign next to them asking for help, amidst a bustling urban environment at night.

The Struggle for Social Justice

Can we make rich countries fairer? | Angela Eagle

A hand holding several pills, each marked with social media logos like Facebook and Instagram, symbolizing the intersection of technology and health.

David Aaronovitch,Margaret Heffernan,James Williams,Laurence Scott

Out of Control

How dangerous are the tech giants?

A surreal floating house with a brown exterior and a red-tiled roof, adorned with flower boxes under its windows, suspended in the sky by cables.

Zoe Williams,Simon Heffer,Eliane Glaser,Owen Hatherley

Generation Rent: Sharing the Future

Is our obsession with owning property outdated?

A close-up of a smartphone screen displaying various app icons, including social media, music, and messaging applications against a dark background.

Phillip Blond,Anatole Kaletsky,Stephanie Hare,Nicky Morgan

The New Mafia

Is it too late to regulate tech giants?

Chinese President Xi Jinping and former U.S. President Donald Trump greet a crowd of children holding flags during an event.

Deirdre McCloskey,Jeremy Waldron,Yu Jie,Isabel Hilton

Authority, Liberty and Wealth

Is 'The China Model' better than democracy?

A colorful display of national flags including Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Greece, arranged in a striking geometric pattern.

Anatole Kaletsky

After The Crisis

Mapping the road to recovery

A series of gold coins arranged in increasing stacks, depicting a visual representation of growing wealth or accumulation.

Isabel Hilton,Michael Howard,Ann Pettifor,Robert Shiller

The Infinite Boom

Is it wrong for state budgets to focus on growth?

Aerial view of a busy highway interchange surrounded by trees, showing multiple lanes of traffic and various road patterns.

Deirdre McCloskey

Capitalism, Poverty and Progress

Deirdre McCloskey | Free markets empower the poor

A stylized illustration of a globe held by large, expressive hands entwined with vines, flowers, and leaves, symbolizing nature and environmental care.

Barry C. Smith,Natalie Bennett,T!M Freke,Dada Jyotirupananda

Eating to Save the Planet

Is it time to rethink our relationship with food?

Murals depicting Mahatma Gandhi and Che Guevara against a red background, symbolizing their influential roles in peace and revolution.

Finn Mackay,Peter Curran,John Sauven,Neel Mukherjee

Gandhi vs Guevara

Is violence ever a justifiable political strategy?

A person wearing a red cap with the slogan

George Galloway,Philip Collins,Bronwen Maddox

The Tears of the Europeans

Is the US in dangerous decline?

A swirling collection of various antique coins, including gold and silver types, set against a futuristic digital backdrop with abstract shapes and patterns.

Anatole Kaletsky,Owen Bennett Jones,Stephen King,Laura Bear

Beware Bankers Bearing Gifts

Do we need debt?

A vibrant depiction of ships and trade routes within a large Union Jack, illustrating Britain's maritime influence and commerce during the early 20th century.

George Galloway

On Imperialism

George Galloway strikes a blow against imperialism

A desolate urban landscape featuring crumbling skyscrapers and debris, set against an orange-hued sky, evoking a post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

Giles Fraser,Ben Harris-Quinney,Meghnad Desai

After Capitalism

Is it the only viable economic system or can we imagine a post-capitalist world?

A person holds a large, stylized illustration of the Statue of Liberty embracing a child, set against a purple-tinted cityscape.

Lauren Booth,Iain Edgar,Maryam Namazie

Are Islam and Westernism Compatible?

Resisting vs Embracing Islam in the West

A Union Jack-themed mug filled with tea receives a pour of milk, accompanied by cookies on a wooden surface.

Myriam Francois

Decolonising Britain

Creating post-colonial identity | Myriam Francois

A historic photograph of a crowded military hospital ward during a pandemic, showing patients in beds with medical staff attending to them, illustrating the scale of the healthcare crisis.

Anders Sandberg

Securing Our Future

Anders Sandberg | How to avoid global disasters

An abstract depiction featuring stylized faces with exaggerated features and swirls, set against a colorful background of greens, browns, and yellows.

Diversity and Power

Is radical thinking enough to change society?

A small green plant sprouting from a rolled banknote in dark soil, symbolizing growth and financial investment.

Steve Hewlett,Nigel Dodd,Izabella Kaminska,Sarah Bird

The Fantasy of Money

Are there alternatives to currency?

A hand grenade designed to resemble a globe, with a focus on the continents of Africa and Europe, symbolizing global conflict.

Edward Mortimer,George Galloway,Alice Baxter,Richard Shirreff

War and Peace

The politics of conflict

A person in a bathrobe stands by a large window overlooking the ocean, with a freestanding bathtub in the foreground, during sunset.

Felicity Evans,William Cash,Laurie Penny,Peter York,Jonathan Bailey

The Global Aristocracy

Should there be a limit to the power of the global elite?

An open book engulfed in flames, surrounded by scattered, burnt pages and debris on a textured surface.

David Aaronovitch,Nigel Lawson,Ritula Shah,David Blunkett,Jill Kirby

The End of Ideals?

Do we need grand political visions?

A woman with long dark hair smiles while speaking into a microphone, set against a colorful textured backdrop.

Towards A New Humanity

A group of fishermen working on the beach, with two children observing from a distance, as the sun sets over the ocean.

Thangam Debbonaire

Immigration and Identity

Britain, Brexit, and borders

Stacks of coins in varying heights, with some coins spread out in front, against a white background.

Peter Tatchell,Deirdre McCloskey,Guy Standing

Money For Nothing

Guy Standing vs Deirdre McCloskey on Universal Basic Income

Two smiling women with light hair, set against a red background. The first woman has straight blonde hair, while the second has curly, foiled hair.

Mary Ann Sieghart,Anatole Kaletsky,Liz Truss,Leo Panitch

Corporation vs. Nation

Should states aim to contain corporate power?