Archive 1976-2012 Podcast
Series of annual radio lectures on significant contemporary issues, delivered by leading figures from the relevant fields
Episodes to download
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Civil and Uncivil Societies—Niall Ferguson - The Rule of Law and Its Enemies
Sat 14 Jul 2012
4/4Niall Ferguson asks what constitutes a vibrant and independent civil society.
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The Landscape of the Law—Niall Ferguson - The Rule of Law and Its Enemies
Tue 3 Jul 2012
3/4Niall Ferguson asks if different systems of law are key to economic success.
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The Darwinian Economy—Niall Ferguson - The Rule of Law and Its Enemies
Tue 26 Jun 2012
2/4Niall Ferguson reflects on the causes and lessons of the global financial crisis.
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The Human Hive—Niall Ferguson - The Rule of Law and Its Enemies
Tue 19 Jun 2012
1/4Niall Ferguson argues that institutions determine the success or failure of nations.
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Eliza Manningham-Buller: Freedom—Securing Freedom
Tue 20 Sep 2011
5/5Ex-M15 boss Eliza Manningham-Buller discusses foreign policy in her third Reith Lecture.
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Eliza Manningham-Buller: Security—Securing Freedom
Tue 13 Sep 2011
4/5Assessing the role of security and intelligence services in a democracy.
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Eliza Manningham-Buller: Terror—Securing Freedom
Tue 6 Sep 2011
3/5Eliza Manningham-Buller reflects on 9/11 in the first of her Reith Lectures 2011.
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Aung San Suu Kyi: Dissent—Securing Freedom
Tue 5 Jul 2011
2/5Aung San Suu Kyi examines what drives people to dissent in the second Reith Lecture 2011.
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Aung San Suu Kyi: Liberty—Securing Freedom
Tue 28 Jun 2011
1/5Aung San Suu Kyi explores what freedom means in the first of the 2011 Reith Lectures.
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The Runaway World—Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons
Tue 22 Jun 2010
4/4Prof Rees calls for the UK to stay at the forefront of scientific research and discovery.
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What We'll Never Know—Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons
Tue 15 Jun 2010
3/4Professor Martin Rees explains where the limits of our scientific knowledge lie.
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Surviving the Century—Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons
Tue 8 Jun 2010
2/4Does science have the answers to help us save our planet?
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The Scientific Citizen—Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons
Tue 1 Jun 2010
1/4Prof Martin Rees asks who we should trust to explain the risks we face.
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A New Politics of the Common Good—Michael Sandel - A New Citizenship
Tue 30 Jun 2009
4/4Professor Sandel makes the case for a moral and civic renewal in democratic politics.
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Genetics and Morality—Michael Sandel - A New Citizenship
Tue 23 Jun 2009
3/4Professor Sandel considers how we should use our ever-increasing scientific knowledge.
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Morality in Politics—Michael Sandel - A New Citizenship
Tue 16 Jun 2009
2/4Michael Sandel asks what role, if any, there is for moral argument in politics.
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Markets and Morals—Michael Sandel - A New Citizenship
Tue 9 Jun 2009
1/4Prof Michael Sandel considers the expansion and moral limits of markets.
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The Body Beautiful—Jonathan Spence - Chinese Vistas
Tue 24 Jun 2008
4/4Spence discusses how Chinese ideas of sport and athleticism have slowly evolved.
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American Dreams—Jonathan Spence - Chinese Vistas
Tue 17 Jun 2008
3/4Spence explores the relationship between China and the US over two centuries.
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English Lessons—Jonathan Spence - Chinese Vistas
Tue 10 Jun 2008
2/4Spence examines China's relations with the United Kingdom through three centuries.
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Confucian Ways—Jonathan Spence - Chinese Vistas
Tue 3 Jun 2008
1/4Spence reflects on China's most enduring thinker, Confucius.
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Global Politics in a Complex Age—Jeffrey Sachs - Bursting at the Seams
Wed 9 May 2007
5/5Jeffrey Sachs calls for a new Enlightenment to help make globalisation work for all.
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Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet—Jeffrey Sachs - Bursting at the Seams
Wed 2 May 2007
4/5Jeffrey Sachs delivers the fourth of five lectures. He considers the challenges of poverty
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The Great Convergence—Jeffrey Sachs - Bursting at the Seams
Wed 25 Apr 2007
3/5Jeffrey Sachs talks about the need for international cooperation to achieve peace.
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Survival in the Anthropocene—Jeffrey Sachs - Bursting at the Seams
Wed 18 Apr 2007
2/5Sachs discusses China's emergence as an economic superpower and the effect on climate.
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Bursting at the Seams—Jeffrey Sachs - Bursting at the Seams
Wed 11 Apr 2007
1/5Jeffrey Sachs delivers the first of five lectures, recorded at The Royal Society in London
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The Power of Music—Daniel Barenboim - In the Beginning was Sound
Fri 5 May 2006
5/5Daniel Barenboim considers the difference between power and strength in music and in life.
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Meeting in Music—Daniel Barenboim - In the Beginning was Sound
Fri 28 Apr 2006
4/5Daniel Barenboim examines how music has the power to bring people together.
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The Magic of Music—Daniel Barenboim - In the Beginning was Sound
Fri 21 Apr 2006
3/5Daniel Barenboim argues that classical music can and should be accessible to all.
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The Neglected Sense—Daniel Barenboim - In the Beginning was Sound
Fri 14 Apr 2006
2/5Daniel Barenboim examines what he calls 'the neglected sense'; the ear.
New to the Reith Lectures? Here’s where to start
Four lectures recommended by the series producer.
