Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

The Long View

Jonathan Freedland presents the series in which stories from the past are compared with current events.

Radio 4,147 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

Criminals on the Loose
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View of presidential candidates who have stood trial.
18 Nov 2025,28 mins
Flags
Jonathan Freedland looks at the flying of flags now and opposite parliament in 1780.
02 Sep 2025,28 mins
Minerals and Violence
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View of conflict over valuable resources.
24 Jun 2025,28 mins
The media, young men and violence
Have innovations in media been seen as causing young men to be violent in previous eras?
22 Apr 2025,28 mins
Trade Tariffs
Jonathan Freedland and guests make historical comparisons with current events
11 Feb 2025,27 mins
Trade Tariffs
Jonathan Freedland and guests make historical comparisons with current events.
11 Feb 2025,28 mins
The Politics of Natural Disasters
Jonathan Freedland and guests compare floods in Valencia with events in China in 1931.
19 Nov 2024,28 mins
Small Boats, Refugees and Migrants
Jonathan Freedland and guests make historical comparisons with current events.
01 Oct 2024,28 mins
Race Riots in Britain
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View of riots and race in the UK.
13 Aug 2024,28 mins
French Political Gambles
Jonathan Freedland and guests discuss historical parallels.
18 Jun 2024,28 mins
Presidential Candidates on Trial
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View of presidential candidates who have stood trial.
30 Apr 2024,28 mins
The Drama of Scandal
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View on storytelling, drama and public injustices
05 Mar 2024,28 mins
Aged Premiers
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View on elderly leaders.
27 Dec 2023,28 mins
The Long Shadows of Dominant Leaders
.Jonathan Freedland takes The Long View of the vacuum left by once-dominant leaders.
24 Oct 2023,28 mins
Plutocrats Playing Politics
Jonathan Freedland takes the long view of plutocrats playing politics.
26 Sep 2023,28 mins
Marches of Mutiny
Jonathan Freedland takes the long view of mutinous marches.
04 Jul 2023,28 mins
State-sponsored Assassination Attempts
Jonathan Freedland and guests make historical comparisons with current events.
16 May 2023,28 mins
Spring Offensives
Jonathan Freedland takes The Long View of Spring Offensives.
14 Feb 2023,28 mins
Political Comebacks
Jonathan Freedland takes the long view of political leaders making a comeback.
29 Nov 2022,28 mins
Short-Lived Leaders
Jonathan Freedland sheds light on current events through stories from the past.
25 Oct 2022,28 mins
Strikes and the Labour Party
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View of trade union strikes and the Labour Party.
09 Aug 2022,28 mins
Removing and Replacing Prime Ministers
Jonathan Freedland finds historical comparisons for the current Tory leadership contest.
12 Jul 2022,28 mins
Inflation and the cost of living crisis
Jonathan Freedland explores today's inflation alongside historic inflation spikes.
17 May 2022,28 mins
When Things Fall Apart
Jonathan Freedland explores the past behind the present. How do things fall apart?
22 Feb 2022,28 mins
Cancel Culture
Jonathan Freedland takes the Long View of cancel culture.
15 Feb 2022,28 mins
Energy Transitions
Jonathan Freedland explores the history of energy adaptation.
08 Feb 2022,28 mins
The Long View of the Future
The Rise of China
Jonathan Freedland explores historical parallels to the rise of China today.
25 Jan 2022,28 mins
The Long View of the Future
The Harms of Social Media
Jonathan Freedland explores historical parallels to the concerns around social media today
01 Feb 2022,28 mins
This Union
Jonathan Freedland explores the past behind the present.
13 Jul 2021,28 mins
Air Hijacking
Jonathan Freedland explores the history of state sponsored air-hijacking.
29 Jun 2021,28 mins