Podcasts by The Reith Lectures

2. The Future of Security from 2023-12-06T09:00

This year's BBC Reith Lecturer is Ben Ansell, Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions at Nuffield College, Oxford University. He will deliver four lectures called “Our Democratic Futur...

1. The Future of Democracy from 2023-12-01T16:10

This year's BBC Reith Lecturer is Ben Ansell, Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions at Nuffield College, Oxford University. He will deliver four lectures called “Our Democratic Futur...

4. Freedom from Fear from 2022-12-21T13:26

In the last in a series of four lectures examining what freedom means, the foreign affairs and intelligence expert Dr Fiona Hill gives her BBC Reith Lecture on Freedom from Fear. Dr Hill is one ...

3. Freedom from Want from 2022-12-14T10:00

Author and musician Darren McGarvey gives the third of four BBC Reith Lectures on the theme of liberty, addressing "Freedom from Want." McGarvey argues that the present system isn't working for ...

2. Rhyddid i Addoli from 2022-12-07T10:30

Rowan Williams cyn Archesgob Cymru a Chaergaint yn traddodi ei ddarlith Reith i'r BBC yn y Gymraeg gan drafod ffydd a rhyddid. Yn ôl yr Arglwydd Acton, yr awdur ar ryddid o'r 19 ganrif a ddyfy...

2. Freedom of Worship from 2022-12-07T10:00

Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, gives the second of the 2022 Reith Lectures, discussing faith and liberty. In his lecture, he cites Lord Acton, the 19th Century thinker on ...

1. Freedom of Speech from 2022-11-30T10:00

Best-selling Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gives the first of four 2022 Reith Lectures, discussing freedom of speech. She argues that it feels like freedom of speech is under attack....

AI: A Future for Humans from 2021-12-22T10:00

Stuart Russell suggests a way forward for human control over super-powerful artificial intelligence. He argues for the abandonment of the current “standard model” of AI, proposing instead a new ...

AI in the economy from 2021-12-15T10:00

Professor Stuart Russell explores the future of work and one of the most concerning issues raised by Artificial Intelligence: the threat to jobs. How will the economy adapt as work is increasin...

AI in warfare from 2021-12-08T10:00

Stuart Russell warns of the dangers of developing autonomous weapon systems - arguing for a system of global control. Weapons that locate, select, and engage human targets without human supervis...

The Biggest Event in Human History from 2021-12-01T10:00

Stuart Russell explores the future of Artificial Intelligence and asks; how can we get our relationship with it right? Professor Russell is founder of the Centre for Human-Compatible Artificial ...

From Climate Crisis to Real Prosperity from 2020-12-23T09:02

Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, argues that the roots of the climate change threat lie in a deeper crisis of values. He suggests that we can create an ecosystem in whic...

From Covid Crisis to Renaissance from 2020-12-16T09:02

Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, observes that the pandemic has forced states to confront how we value health, wealth and opportunity. During the first few months of the ...

From Credit Crisis to Resilience from 2020-12-09T11:00

Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, takes us back to the high drama of the financial crisis of 2008, which ended a period when bankers saw themselves as unassailable Masters...

From Moral to Market Sentiments from 2020-12-02T14:21

Mark Carney’s Reith 2020 Lectures chart how we have come to esteem financial value over human value and how we have gone from market economies to market societies. He argues that this has contri...

Shifting the Foundations from 2019-06-18T09:00

Jonathan Sumption argues against Britain adopting a written constitution as a response to political alienation. The former UK Supreme Court Justice has argued that politics is in decline partly...

Shifting the Foundations from 2019-06-18T09:00

Jonathan Sumption argues against Britain adopting a written constitution as a response to political alienation. The former UK Supreme Court Justice has argued that politics is in decline partly, a...

Rights and the Ideal Constitution from 2019-06-11T09:00

Jonathan Sumption assesses the US and UK’s constitutional models. He describes Britain's unwritten constitution as a political institution. The US Constitution is by contrast essentially a legal...

Rights and the Ideal Constitution from 2019-06-11T09:00

Jonathan Sumption assesses the US and UK’s constitutional models. He describes Britain's unwritten constitution as a political institution. The US Constitution is by contrast essentially a legal do...

Human Rights and Wrongs from 2019-06-04T08:45

Jonathan Sumption argues that judges - especially those of the European Court of Human Rights - have usurped power by expanding the interpretation of human rights law. Lord Sumption argues that ...

Human Rights and Wrongs from 2019-06-04T08:45

Jonathan Sumption argues that judges - especially those of the European Court of Human Rights - have usurped power by expanding the interpretation of human rights law. Lord Sumption argues that con...

In Praise of Politics from 2019-05-28T08:45

Jonathan Sumption explains how democratic processes have the power to accommodate opposition opinions and interests. But he argues that in recent years that politics has shied away from legislat...

In Praise of Politics from 2019-05-28T08:45

Jonathan Sumption explains how democratic processes have the power to accommodate opposition opinions and interests. But he argues that in recent years that politics has shied away from legislating...

Law's Expanding Empire from 2019-05-21T15:05

Jonathan Sumption argues that the law is taking over the space once occupied by politics. Lord Sumption was until recently a justice of the UK’s Supreme Court, as well as being a distinguished h...

Law's Expanding Empire from 2019-05-21T15:05

Jonathan Sumption argues that the law is taking over the space once occupied by politics. Lord Sumption was until recently a justice of the UK’s Supreme Court, as well as being a distinguished hist...

War's Fatal Attraction from 2018-07-24T08:30

Historian Margaret MacMillan looks at representations of war: can we really create beauty from horror and death? Speaking at the Canadian War Museum, she discusses the paradox of commemoration. ...

Managing the Unmanageable from 2018-07-17T09:00

Historian Margaret MacMillan assesses how the law and international agreements have attempted to address conflict. Speaking to an audience at the Northern Irish Parliament Buildings at Stormont ...

Civilians and War from 2018-07-10T09:00

Historian Margaret MacMillan dissects the relationship between war and the civilian. Speaking to an audience in Beirut, she looks back at the city's violent past and discusses the impact of conf...

Fearing and Loving: Making Sense of the Warrior from 2018-07-03T09:00

Historian Margaret MacMillan asks why both men and women go to war. "We are both fascinated and repulsed by war and those who fight," she says. In this lecture, recorded at York University, she ...

War and Humanity from 2018-06-26T08:45

Is war an essential part of being human? Are we destined to fight? That is the central question that historian Professor Margaret Macmillan addresses in five lectures recorded in the UK, Lebanon...

Reith Revisited: Angela Stent on George Kennan from 2017-09-29T13:33

Professor Angela Stent examines the lessons to be learnt from the 1957 Reith Lectures by the legendary American diplomat George Kennan, titled "Russia, the Atom and the West". Kennan, the architect...

Reith Revisited: Angela Stent on George Kennan from 2017-09-29T13:33

Professor Angela Stent examines the lessons to be learnt from the 1957 Reith Lectures by the legendary American diplomat George Kennan, titled "Russia, the Atom and the West". Kennan, the archit...

Reith Revisited: Grayson Perry on Nikolaus Pevsner from 2017-09-28T14:22

'The Englishness of English Art' was the theme of the 1955 BBC Reith lectures by art historian Nikolaus Pevsner. Sarah Montague discusses them with Grayson Perry, the artist who himself was a Reith...

Reith Revisited: Grayson Perry on Nikolaus Pevsner from 2017-09-28T14:22

'The Englishness of English Art' was the theme of the 1955 BBC Reith lectures by art historian Nikolaus Pevsner. Sarah Montague discusses them with Grayson Perry, the artist who himself was a Re...

Reith Revisited: Brian Cox on Robert Oppenheimer from 2017-09-27T13:33

Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb, gave the BBC's Reith lectures in 1953. Sarah Montague and Professor Brian Cox consider the lessons to be learnt from them today.

The Reith Le...

Reith Revisited: Brian Cox on Robert Oppenheimer from 2017-09-27T13:33

Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb, gave the BBC's Reith lectures in 1953. Sarah Montague and Professor Brian Cox consider the lessons to be learnt from them today.

The Reith Le...

Reith Revisited: Anand Menon on Robert Birley from 2017-09-27T10:40

Robert Birley's 1949 Reith Lectures series, "Britain in Europe", remain urgently topical today. Sarah Montague discusses the lectures with Professor Anand Menon.

The Reith Lectures began i...

Reith Revisited: Anand Menon on Robert Birley from 2017-09-27T10:40

Robert Birley's 1949 Reith Lectures series, "Britain in Europe", remain urgently topical today. Sarah Montague discusses the lectures with Professor Anand Menon.

The Reith Lectures began i...

Reith Revisited: Michael Sandel on Bertrand Russell from 2017-09-27T10:37

Sarah Montague and Michael Sandel look back at the inaugural Reith Lectures given in 1948 and 1949 by the philosopher Bertrand Russell.

In Reith Revisited, Radio 4 assesses the contributio...

Reith Revisited: Michael Sandel on Bertrand Russell from 2017-09-27T10:37

Sarah Montague and Michael Sandel look back at the inaugural Reith Lectures given in 1948 and 1949 by the philosopher Bertrand Russell.

In Reith Revisited, Radio 4 assesses the contributio...

Adaptation from 2017-07-11T08:50

Hilary Mantel on how fiction changes when adapted for stage or screen. Each medium, she says, draws a different potential from the original. She argues that fiction, if written well, doesn't bet...

Can These Bones Live? from 2017-07-04T08:50

Hilary Mantel analyses how historical fiction can make the past come to life. She says her task is to take history out of the archive and relocate it in a body. "It's the novelist's job: to put ...

Silence Grips the Town from 2017-06-27T08:45

The story of how an obsessive relationship with history killed the young Polish writer Stanislawa Przybyszewska, told by best-selling author, Hilary Mantel. The brilliant Przybyszewska wrote gar...

The Iron Maiden from 2017-06-20T08:50

How do we construct our pictures of the past, including both truth and myth, asks best-selling author Hilary Mantel. Where do we get our evidence? She warns of two familiar errors: either romant...

The Day Is for the Living from 2017-06-13T08:50

Art can bring the dead back to life, argues the late novelist Hilary Mantel, starting with the story of her own great-grandmother. 'We sense the dead have a vital force still,' she says. 'They h...

Culture from 2016-11-08T09:10

The philosopher and cultural theorist Kwame Anthony Appiah says the idea of "Western civilization" or "Western culture" is a mistaken one and that we should abandon it.

He uncovers the his...

Colour from 2016-11-01T09:30

The philosopher and cultural theorist Kwame Anthony Appiah argues for a world free of racial fixations.

He tells the story of Anton Wilhelm Amo Afer. He was five years old when he was bro...

Country from 2016-10-25T08:45

The philosopher and cultural theorist Kwame Anthony Appiah argues against a mythical, romantic view of nationhood, saying instead it should rest on a commitment to shared values.

He explor...

Creed from 2016-10-18T10:24

Philosopher and cultural theorist Kwame Anthony Appiah argues that when considering religion we overestimate the importance of scripture and underestimate the importance of practice.

He be...

Black holes ain't as black as they are painted from 2016-02-02T09:01

The Cambridge cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking delivers the second of his BBC Reith Lectures on black holes.

Professor Hawking examines scientific thinking about black holes and chal...

Do black holes have no hair? from 2016-01-26T16:56

Professor Stephen Hawking delivers the first of his two BBC Reith Lectures on black holes.

These collapsed stars challenge the very nature of space and time, as they contain a singularity...

The Idea of Wellbeing from 2014-12-16T09:45

The surgeon and writer Atul Gawande calls for a new focus on medical systems to ensure doctors work more effectively, alongside far greater transparency about their performance.

Speaking t...

The Problem of Hubris from 2014-12-09T09:45

Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande calls for a new approach to the two great unfixable problems in life and healthcare - ageing and death. He tells the story of how his daughter's piano teacher fac...

The Century of the System from 2014-12-02T09:45

The surgeon and writer Atul Gawande argues that better systems can transform global healthcare by radically reducing the chance of mistakes and increasing the chance of successful outcomes.

Why Do Doctors Fail? from 2014-11-25T09:45

Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande explores the nature of fallibility and suggests that preventing avoidable mistakes is a key challenge for the future of medicine.

Through the story of a lif...

I Found Myself in the Art World from 2013-11-05T09:40

In the last of his four Reith Lectures, recorded in front of an audience at Central St Martins School of Art in London, the artist Grayson Perry discusses his life in the art world; the journey ...

Nice Rebellion, Welcome In! from 2013-10-29T09:40

In the third of four lectures, recorded in front of an audience at The Guildhall in Londonderry, the artist Grayson Perry asks if revolution is a defining idea in art, or has it met its end?

Beating the Bounds from 2013-10-22T08:40

The award-winning artist Grayson Perry asks whether it is really true that anything can be art. We live in an age when many contemporary artists follow the example of Marcel Duchamp, who famousl...

Democracy has Bad Taste from 2013-10-15T09:23

In the first of four lectures, recorded in front of an audience at Tate Modern in London in 2013, the artist Grayson Perry reflects on the idea of quality and examines who and what defines what ...

Civil and Uncivil Societies from 2012-07-10T08:30

The historian Niall Ferguson examines institutions outside the political, economic and legal realms, whose primary purpose is to preserve and transmit particular knowledge and values. In a lectu...

The Landscape of the Law from 2012-07-03T08:30

The historian Niall Ferguson delivers a lecture at Gresham College in the heart of legal London, addressing the relationship between the nature of law and economic success. He examines the rule ...

The Darwinian Economy from 2012-06-26T08:30

The eminent economic historian Niall Ferguson travels to the world's financial centre to deliver a lecture at the New-York Historical Society. He reflects on the causes of the global financial c...

The Human Hive from 2012-06-19T08:30

The eminent economic historian Professor Niall Ferguson argues that institutions determine the success or failure of nations. In a lecture delivered at the London School of Economics and Politic...

Eliza Manningham-Buller: Freedom from 2011-09-20T08:30

In this third and final Reith lecture the former Director General of the security service (MI5), Eliza Manningham-Buller, discusses policy priorities since 9.11. She reflects on the Arab Spring,...

Eliza Manningham-Buller: Security from 2011-09-13T08:30

The former Director-General of the Security Service (MI5), Eliza Manningham-Buller gives the second of her BBC Reith Lectures 2011. In this lecture called " Security" she argues that the securit...

Eliza Manningham-Buller: Terror from 2011-09-06T08:40

The former Director-General of the Security Service (MI5), Eliza Manningham-Buller gives the first of her BBC Reith Lectures 2011 called " Terror." On the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the...

Aung San Suu Kyi: Dissent from 2011-07-05T08:40

The pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, examines what drives people to dissent in the second of the 2011 Reith Lecture series. 'Securing Freedom'.

Reflecting on the history of her own ...

Aung San Suu Kyi: Liberty from 2011-06-28T08:15

The Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, explores what freedom means in the first of the 2011 Reith Lecture series, 'Securing Freedom'.

Reflecting on her own experience under h...

The Runaway World from 2010-06-22T08:40

THE REITH LECTURES 2010 4. The Runaway World

In the last Reith Lecture of 2010, Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society and Astronomer Royal, explores how fast our world is moving in ...

What We'll Never Know from 2010-06-15T08:45

3. What We'll Never Know

In the third of this year's Reith Lectures, recorded at the Royal Society during its 350th anniversary year, its President Martin Rees continues to explore the cha...

Surviving the Century from 2010-06-08T08:40

Lecture 2: 'Surviving the Century'

In the second of this year's Reith Lectures, recorded for the first time in Wales in the National Museum Cardiff, Martin Rees, President of the Royal Soc...

The Scientific Citizen from 2010-06-01T08:15

Lecture 1: ''The Scientific Citizen'

In the first of this year's Reith Lectures, entitled Scientific Horizons, Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society, Master of Trinity College and As...

A New Politics of the Common Good from 2009-06-30T08:00

Professor Michael Sandel delivers four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good. The series is presented and chaired by Sue Lawley.

Sandel makes the case for a mo...

Genetics and Morality from 2009-06-23T08:00

Professor Michael Sandel delivers four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good. The series is presented and chaired by Sue Lawley.

Recorded at the Centre for Lif...

Morality in Politics from 2009-06-16T08:00

Professor Michael Sandel delivers four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good. The series is presented and chaired by Sue Lawley.

Sandel considers the role of m...

Markets and Morals from 2009-06-09T08:00

Michael Sandel, Harvard Professor of Government, delivers four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good. The series is presented and chaired by Sue Lawley.

Sandel...

The Body Beautiful from 2008-06-24T08:00

Chinese Vistas: Jonathan Spence lectures about China.

Recorded at Lord's cricket ground.

Spence discusses how Chinese ideas of sport and athleticism have slowly evolved over the cent...

American Dreams from 2008-06-17T08:00

Chinese Vistas: Jonathan Spence lectures about China.

Recorded at The Asia Society in New York.

Spence explores the two centuries in which the United States gradually moved from its ...

English Lessons from 2008-06-10T08:00

Jonathan Spence lectures about China.

Spence examines China's relations with the United Kingdom through three centuries of trade, warfare, unequal treaties and missionary endeavours that s...

Confucian Ways from 2008-06-03T08:00

Chinese Vistas: In a lecture recorded at the British Library in London, Jonathan Spence reflects on China's most enduring thinker, Confucius. Who was this man, what did he believe in, and what c...

Global Politics in a Complex Age from 2007-05-09T08:00

Jeffrey Sachs delivers the last of five lectures. He calls for a new Enlightenment to help make globalisation work for all and lays out a blueprint for global co-operation.

Economic Solidarity for a Crowded Planet from 2007-05-02T08:00

Jeffrey Sachs delivers the fourth of five lectures. He considers the challenges of extreme poverty and the worry of the developed world which fears for its own prosperity.

The Great Convergence from 2007-04-25T08:00

Jeffrey Sachs delivers the third of five lectures from the Earth Institute at Columbia University, New York. He talks about the need for international co-operation.

Survival in the Anthropocene from 2007-04-18T08:00

Jeffrey Sachs delivers the second lecture from the University in Beijing. He discusses China's emergence as an economic superpower and asks what this means for the challenges ahead.

Bursting at the Seams from 2007-04-11T08:00

Jeffrey Sachs delivers the first of five lectures, recorded at The Royal Society, London. Sachs outlines the challenges facing mankind and argues that we must adapt to the new age.

The Power of Music from 2006-05-05T08:00

This year's lecturer is Daniel Barenboim, who has become known as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation. His skill as a conductor and a musician has led him to world recognition a...

Meeting in Music from 2006-04-28T08:00

This year's lecturer is Daniel Barenboim, who has become known as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation. His skill as a conductor and a musician has led him to world recognition a...

The Magic of Music from 2006-04-21T08:00

This year's lecturer is Daniel Barenboim, who has become known as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation. His skill has led him to world recognition and the appointment as Chief Co...

The Neglected Sense from 2006-04-14T08:00

This year's lecturer is Daniel Barenboim, who has become known as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation. His skill as a conductor and a musician has led him to world recognition a...

In the Beginning was Sound from 2006-04-07T08:00

This year's lecturer is Daniel Barenboim, who has become known as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation. His skill as a musician and a conductor has led him to world recognition a...

Risk and Responsibility from 2005-05-04T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is the distinguished engineer, Lord Broers. Alec Broers is President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Comm...

Nanotechnology and Nanoscience from 2005-04-27T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is the distinguished engineer, Lord Broers. He is President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. He...

Innovation and Management from 2005-04-20T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is the distinguished engineer, Lord Broers. He is President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. Listen

Collaboration from 2005-04-13T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is the distinguished engineer, Lord Broers. He is President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. Listen

Technology will Determine the Future of the Human Race from 2005-04-06T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is the distinguished engineer, Lord Broers. Alec Broers is President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Comm...

I am Right; You are Dead from 2004-05-05T08:00

In his fifth and final Reith Lecture, the Nobel Laureate, playwright, poet and political activist Wole Soyinka examines the causes and impact of fanaticism.

When Osama Bin Laden declares t...

A Quest for Dignity from 2004-04-28T08:00

The Nobel Laureate, playwright, poet and political activist Wole Soyinka explores the notion of dignity within a climate of fear.

Even in defeat, negotiating terms of surrender, a defeated...

Rhetoric that Binds and Blinds from 2004-04-21T08:00

In his third Reith Lecture, the Nobel Laureate, playwright, poet and political activist Wole Soyinka examines the power of political and religious rhetoric.

Between God and Nation, and Sie...

Power and Freedom from 2004-04-14T08:00

In his second Reith Lecture, the Nobel Laureate, playwright, poet and political activist Wole Soyinka examines how difficult it can be to tell friend from foe in a climate of fear. Organisations...

The Changing Mask of Fear from 2004-04-07T08:00

The Nigerian born writer, Wole Soyinka, is a playwright, poet and a political activist. His novel, The Man Died: The Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka, recounts his experience of his unlawful impriso...

Neuroscience - the New Philosophy from 2003-04-30T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Vilayanur S Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition. He has lectured widely on art and visual perception of the brain and is Editor-in-chief of...

Purple Numbers and Sharp Cheese from 2003-04-23T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Vilayanur S Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition. He has lectured widely on art and visual perception of the brain and is Editor-in-chief of...

The Artful Brain from 2003-04-16T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Vilayanur S Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition. He has lectured widely on art and visual perception of the brain and is Editor-in-chief of...

Synapses and the Self from 2003-04-09T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Vilayanur S Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition. He has lectured widely on art and visual perception of the brain and is Editor-in-chief of...

Phantoms in the Brain from 2003-04-02T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Vilayanur S Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition. He has lectured widely on art and visual perception of the brain and is Editor-in-chief of...

Licence to Deceive from 2002-05-01T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Onora O'Neill. She became Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, in l992 and has chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commiss...

Trust and Transparency from 2002-04-24T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Onora O'Neill. She became Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, in l992 and has chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commiss...

Called to Account from 2002-04-17T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Onora O'Neill. She became Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, in l992 and has chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commiss...

Trust and Terror from 2002-04-10T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Onora O'Neill. She became Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, in l992 and has chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commiss...

Spreading Suspicion from 2002-04-03T08:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Onora O'Neill. She became Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, in l992 and has chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commiss...

New Directions from 2001-05-02T08:00

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents his final of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontie...

Making Choices from 2001-04-25T08:00

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents the fourth of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the fronti...

Sex and Death from 2001-04-18T08:00

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents the third of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontie...

Thread of Life from 2001-04-11T08:00

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents his second of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the fronti...

Brave Old World from 2001-04-04T08:00

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents the first of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontie...

Poverty&Globalisation from 2000-05-10T08:00

To mark the new millennium, this year's Reith Lectures are delivered by five different thinkers, each eminent in a different field. At the end of the run, the Prince of Wales presents his own vi...

Health&Population from 2000-05-03T08:00

To mark the new millennium, this year's Reith Lectures are delivered by five different thinkers, each eminent in a different field. At the end of the run, the Prince of Wales presents his own vi...

Business from 2000-04-26T08:00

To mark the new millennium, this year's Reith Lectures are delivered by five different thinkers, each eminent in a different field. At the end of the run, the Prince of Wales presents his own vi...

Biodiversity from 2000-04-19T08:00

To mark the new millennium, this year's Reith Lectures are delivered by five different thinkers, each eminent in a different field. At the end of the run, the Prince of Wales presents his own vi...

Governance from 2000-04-12T08:00

To mark the new millennium, this year's Reith Lectures are delivered by five different thinkers, each eminent in a different field. At the end of the run, the Prince of Wales presents his own vi...

Democracy: London from 1999-05-05T08:00

Professor Giddens was director of the London School of Economics and he has been described as 'Britain's best-known social scientist since Keynes'.

In his fifth and final lecture, deliver...

Family: Washington DC from 1999-04-28T08:00

Professor Giddens was director of the London School of Economics and he has been described as 'Britain's best-known social scientist since Keynes'.

The lectures are delivered from five ma...

Tradition:Delhi from 1999-04-21T08:00

Professor Giddens was director of the London School of Economics and he has been described as 'Britain's best-known social scientist since Keynes'.

The lectures are delivered from five ma...

Globalisation:London from 1999-04-07T08:00

The 1999 Reith Lecturer is Professor Anthony Giddens. Professor Giddens was Director of the London School of Economics and his writings have been used by world leaders, including Tony Blair and ...

Can there be an end to war? from 1998-05-06T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is British military historian and journalist John Keegan.

In his fifth and final Reith lecture, recorded at the Broadcasting House, London, John Keegan consider...

War And The Individual from 1998-04-29T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is British military historian and journalist John Keegan.

In his fourth Reith lecture, recorded at the Bute Hall, University of Glasgow, John Keegan considers t...

War and the State from 1998-04-22T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is British military historian and journalist John Keegan.

In his third Reith lecture, recorded at King's College London, John Keegan explores the evolving relat...

The Origins Of War from 1998-04-15T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is British military historian and journalist John Keegan

In his second lecture, recorded at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, John Keegan looks at the origin...

War And Our World from 1998-04-08T08:00

The Reith lecturer for the 50th anniversary series, is British military historian and journalist John Keegan. He has been a senior lecturer in Military History at the Royal Military Academy Sand...

An Ordinary Brilliance: Parting the Waters, closing the wounds from 1997-03-25T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Professor Patricia Williams, one of the most provocative intellectuals in American law.

In her fifth and final Reith lecture, Professor Patricia Williams ex...

The War Between The Worlds from 1997-03-18T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Professor Patricia Williams, one of the most well known intellectuals in American law.

In her fourth of five Reith lectures Professor Patricia Williams exam...

The Distribution Of Distress from 1997-03-11T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Professor Patricia Williams, one of the most well known intellectuals in American law.

In her third Reith lecture, Professor Patricia Williams looks at the ...

The Pantomime of Race from 1997-03-04T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Professor Patricia Williams, one of the most well known intellectuals in American law.

In her second Reith lecture, Professor Patricia Williams explores how...

The Emperor's New Clothes from 1997-02-25T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Professor Patricia Williams, one of the most well known intellectuals in American law. She served as a deputy city attorney from 1976-1978 in the Los Angeles City ...

The World Wide Web from 1996-03-05T09:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Jean Aitchison, a Professor of Language and Communication in the Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester Co...

A Web Of Words from 1996-02-27T09:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Jean Aitchison, a Professor of Language and Communication in the Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester Co...

Building the Web from 1996-02-20T09:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Jean Aitchison, a Professor of Language and Communication in the Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester Co...

A Web Of Deceit from 1996-02-13T09:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Jean Aitchison, a Professor of Language and Communication in the Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester Co...

A Web Of Worries from 1996-02-06T09:00

This year's Reith Lecturer is Jean Aitchison, a Professor of Language and Communication in the Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester Co...

Cities For A Small Planet from 1995-03-12T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Richard Rogers, one of the most influential British architects of our time. He has established himself and his practice at the forefront of today's architecture in...

London, the Humanist City from 1995-03-05T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Richard Rogers, one of the most influential British architects of our time. He has established himself and his practice at the forefront of today's architecture in...

Sustainable Architecture from 1995-02-26T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Richard Rogers, one of the most influential British architects of our time. He has established himself and his practice at the forefront of today's architecture in...

Sustainable Cities from 1995-02-19T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Richard Rogers, one of the most influential British architects of our time. He has established himself and his practice at the forefront of today's architecture in...

The Culture of Cities from 1995-02-12T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is Richard Rogers, one of the most influential British architects of our time. He has established himself and his practice at the forefront of today's architecture in...

Home: our Famous Island Race from 1994-03-02T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Booker prize-nominated author Marina Warner. A writer of fiction, criticism and history, her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, m...

Cannibal Tales: The Hunger for Conquest from 1994-02-23T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Booker prize-nominated author Marina Warner. A writer of fiction, criticism and history, her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, m...

Beautiful Beasts: The Call of the Wild from 1994-02-16T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Booker prize-nominated author Marina Warner. A writer of fiction, criticism and history, her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, m...

Little Angels, Little Devils: Keeping Children Innocent from 1994-02-09T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Booker prize-nominated author Marina Warner. A writer of fiction, criticism and history, her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, m...

Boys Will Be Boys from 1994-02-02T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Booker prize-nominated author Marina Warner. A writer of fiction, criticism and history, her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, m...

Monstrous Mothers from 1994-01-26T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Booker prize-nominated author Marina Warner. A writer of fiction, criticism and history, her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of art, m...

Gods That Always Fail from 1993-07-28T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Palestinian American academic, political activist, and literary critic Edward Said. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1963 where he is now Profess...

Speaking Truth To Power from 1993-07-21T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Palestinian American academic, political activist, and literary critic Edward Said. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1963 where he is now Profess...

Professionals and Amateurs from 1993-07-14T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Palestinian American academic, political activist, and literary critic Edward Said. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1963 where he is now Profess...

Intellectual Exiles from 1993-07-07T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Palestinian American academic, political activist, and literary critic Edward Said. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1963 where he is now Profess...

Holding Nations And Traditions At Bay from 1993-06-30T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Palestinian American academic, political activist, and literary critic Edward Said. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1963 where he is now Profess...

Representations of the Intellectual from 1993-06-23T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the Palestinian American academic, political activist, and literary critic Edward Said. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1963 where he is now Profess...

The Evolution of Utopia from 1991-12-18T09:00

Dr Steve Jones, Reader in Genetics at University College, London delivers his final Reith lecture, in a series about the new biological insight into humanity.

In this lecture, Dr Jones ex...

Cousins Under the Skin from 1991-12-11T09:00

Dr Steve Jones, Reader in Genetics at University College, London delivers his penultimate Reith lecture, in a series about the new biological insight into humanity.

In this lecture, Steve...

The Economics of Eden from 1991-12-04T09:00

Dr Steve Jones, Reader in Genetics at University College, London gives a series of lectures on the new biological insight into humanity.

In his fourth lecture, Dr Jones examines the correl...

In God's Image from 1991-11-27T09:00

Dr Steve Jones, Reader in Genetics at University College, London gives a series of lectures on the new biological insight into humanity.

In his third lecture, Dr Jones explores the power a...

Change or Decay from 1991-11-20T09:00

Dr Steve Jones, Reader in Genetics at University College, London gives a series of lectures on the new biological insight into humanity.

In his second lecture, Dr Jones explores the import...

A Message From Our Ancestors from 1991-11-13T09:00

Dr Steve Jones, Reader in Genetics at University College, London gives the first of six Reith Lectures on the new biological insight into humanity.

He explains how the study of genetics ha...

A Community of Communities from 1990-12-19T09:00

In his sixth and final Reith Lecture, Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, explains why faith will survive.

Dr. Jonathan Sacks explores ...

Fundamentalism from 1990-12-12T09:00

Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth evaluates the effects of combining religious revival with nationalism in his fifth Reith Lecture.

Re...

Paradoxes&Pluralism from 1990-12-05T09:00

Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth explores the language of religion in his fourth Reith Lecture on 'The Persistence of Faith'.

In this...

The Family from 1990-11-28T09:00

Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth explores the importance of the family relationship in his third Reith Lecture on 'The Persistence of Faith'...

The Demoralisation of Discourse from 1990-11-21T09:00

Dr Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, explores religious ethics in his second Reith Lecture in the series 'The Persistence of Faith'. He investig...

The Environment of Faith from 1990-11-14T09:00

Dr Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, lectures in his first Reith Lecture on the 'The Persistence of Faith'. Explaining how he believes that the ...

Towards the Light from 1989-12-20T09:00

French poet Jacques Darras delivers his final Reith Lecture from his series entitled 'Beyond the Tunnel of History'.

In his fifth and final Reith Lecture entitled 'Towards the Light', Jacq...

Remembering the Somme from 1989-12-13T09:00

French poet Jacques Darras delivers the fourth of his Reith Lectures entitled 'Beyond the Tunnel of History'. He explores the question: 'Have the enormities of the Second World War, like the Hol...

Highways of Freedom from 1989-12-06T09:00

French poet Jacques Darras delivers the third of his Reith Lectures entitled 'Beyond the Tunnel of History'. He argues that with the opening of the Channel tunnel a new age of mobility is within...

The Golden Fleece from 1989-11-29T09:00

French poet Jacques Darras delivers the second of his Reith Lectures entitled 'Beyond the Tunnel of History'. He explores the concept of multicultural cities and draws from examples. He highligh...

The Time Traveller from 1989-11-22T09:00

French poet Jacques Darras delivers the first of his Reith Lectures entitled 'Beyond the Tunnel of History'. Taking inspiration from the formation of the Channel Tunnel, Durras looks back throu...

The Paradox of Gorbachev's Reforms from 1988-12-13T09:00

Geoffrey Hosking, Professor of Russian History at University College London, debates the role of pluralist politics in the sixth of his Reith Lectures entitled 'The Rediscovery of Politics'.

Religion and the Atheist State from 1988-12-06T09:00

Geoffrey Hosking, Professor of Russian History at University College London, explores Soviet religion in the fifth of his Reith Lectures entitled 'The Rediscovery of Politics'.

In this lec...

The Flawed Melting Pot from 1988-11-29T09:00

Geoffrey Hosking, Professor of Russian History at University College London, explores national aspirations in the fourth of his Reith Lectures entitled 'The Rediscovery of Politics'.

In th...

A Civil Society In Embryo from 1988-11-22T09:00

Geoffrey Hosking, Professor of Russian History at University College London, explores changes in Soviet behaviour his third Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The Rediscovery of Politics'. ...

The Return Of The Repressed from 1988-11-15T09:00

Geoffrey Hosking, Professor of Russian History at University College London, explores the issues of a collective memory in his second Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The Rediscovery of P...

A Great Power in Crisis from 1988-11-08T09:00

Geoffrey Hosking, Professor of Russian History at University College London, discusses the changes in Soviet society in his first Reith lecture from the series entitled 'The Rediscovery of Polit...

Stand Up and Be Misunderstood from 1987-12-27T09:00

English composer Alexander Goehr gives his sixth Reith Lecture from the series entitled 'The Survival of the Symphony'.

In this lecture entitled 'Stand Up and Be Misunderstood', he conclu...

Let the People Sing from 1987-12-16T09:00

English composer Alexander Goehr gives his fifth Reith Lecture from the series entitled 'The Survival of the Symphony'.

In this lecture entitled 'Let the People Sing', Professor Goehr loo...

A Licence for Licence from 1987-12-09T09:00

Once an iconoclastic force, the avant-garde is now comfortably absorbed into modem society. These are the sentiments of English composer Professor Alexander Goehr in his fourth Reith Lecture ent...

Past and Present from 1987-12-02T09:00

Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge and English composer Alexander Goehr gives his third Reith Lecture from his series 'The Survival of the Symphony'. He diagnoses the stifling and...

An Orchid In the Field of Technology from 1987-11-25T09:00

Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge and English composer Alexander Goehr gives his second Reith Lecture from the series 'The Survival of the Symphony'. He examines the effect of re...

The Old Warhorse from 1987-11-18T09:00

This year's lecturer is Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge Alexander Goehr. An English composer, his compositions, such as Psalm IV and The Deluge, have established him as an insp...

Lions Under the Throne from 1986-12-10T09:00

Serving Judge Lord McCluskey gives his sixth Reith lecture from the series entitled 'Law, Justice and Democracy'.

In his sixth and final Reith Lecture entitled 'Lions under the Throne', ...

An Enormous Power from 1986-12-03T09:00

Serving Judge Lord McCluskey gives his fifth Reith lecture from the series entitled 'Law, Justice and Democracy'.

In this lecture entitled 'An Enormous Power', Lord McCluskey debates the...

Trusting the Judges from 1986-11-26T09:00

Serving Judge Lord McCluskey gives his fourth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Law, Justice and Democracy'.

In this lecture, Lord McCluskey counters Lord Denning's exhortation of ...

Hard Cases and Bad Law from 1986-11-19T09:00

Serving Judge Lord McCluskey gives his third Reith lecture from the series entitled 'Law, Justice and Democracy'.

In this lecture entitled 'Hard Cases and Bad Law', Lord McCluskey argues t...

The Clanking of Medieval Chains from 1986-11-12T09:00

Serving Judge Lord McCluskey gives his second Reith lecture from the series entitled 'Law, Justice and Democracy'.

In this lecture entitled 'The Clanking of Medieval Chains', Lord McClusk...

The Chill and Distant Heights from 1986-11-05T09:00

Serving Judge Lord McCluskey gives his first Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Law, Justice and Democracy'.

In his lecture entitled 'The Chill and Distant Heights', Lord McCluskey d...

Markets, States&Economics from 1985-12-11T09:00

David Henderson, head of the Economics and Statistics Department at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), examines the influence of economic ideas on policy. He give...

DIYE plus the Lobbies: Counting the Cost from 1985-12-04T09:00

David Henderson, head of the Economics and Statistics Department at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), examines the influence of economic ideas on policy. He give...

Orthodox Economists versus the People from 1985-11-27T09:00

David Henderson, head of the Economics and Statistics Department at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), examines the influence of economic ideas on policy. He give...

Needs, Centralism&Autarchy from 1985-11-20T09:00

David Henderson, head of the Economics and Statistics Department at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), examines the influence of economic ideas on policy. He give...

Soap Opera in High Places from 1985-11-15T09:00

David Henderson, head of the Economics and Statistics Department at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), examines the influence of economic ideas on policy. He give...

The Power of Do-it-Yourself Economics from 1985-11-06T09:00

David Henderson, Head of the Economics and Statistics Department at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), examines the influence of economic ideas on policy. He give...

The Freedom of the Will from 1984-12-12T09:00

In the final lecture of his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, examines the evidence for and against the existence of free ...

A Changing Reality from 1984-12-05T09:00

In his fifth Reith Lecture from his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, considers the discipline of human behaviou...

Walk to Patagonia from 1984-11-28T09:00

In his fourth Reith Lecture from his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, analyses the structure of human actions. ...

Grandmother Knew Best from 1984-11-21T09:00

In the third Reith Lecture from his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, explores the discipline of cognitive scien...

Beer Cans&Meat Machines from 1984-11-14T09:00

In the second Reith Lecture of his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, considers artificial intelligence. He debat...

A Froth on Reality from 1984-11-07T09:00

In the first Reith Lecture of his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, examines the so-called 'mind body problem'. ...

Participation - the Sole Bond from 1983-12-14T09:00

Former Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, Sir Douglas Wass explores the concept of authority in his series 'Government and the Governed'.

In his final lecture entitled 'Participation - th...

Opening Up Government. from 1983-12-07T09:00

Former Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, Sir Douglas Wass explores the concept of authority in his series 'Government and the Governed'.

In his fifth Lecture entitled 'Opening Up Governm...

Critical Opposition - Part of the Policy from 1983-11-30T09:00

Former Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, Sir Douglas Wass explores the concept of authority in his series 'Government and the Governed'.

In his fourth Reith Lecture entitled 'Critical Op...

The Privileged Adviser from 1983-11-23T09:00

Former Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, Sir Douglas Wass explores the concept of authority in his series 'Government and the Governed'.

In his third Reith Lecture entitled 'The Privile...

Cabinet: Directorate or Directory? from 1983-11-16T09:00

In his second Reith Lecture entitled 'Cabinet: Directorate or Directory?', Sir Douglas Wass dissects the composition of the British Parliamentary Cabinet to answer the questions; how well does i...

United Thoughts&Counsels from 1983-11-09T09:00

Former Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, Sir Douglas Wass explores the concept of authority in his series 'Government and the Governed'.

In his first Reith Lecture entitled 'United Thou...

A Talent For Conviction from 1982-12-15T09:00

Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue gives the sixth Reith lecture in his series entitled 'The Mystery of Art'. The current Henry James Professor of English and American Letters at New York Univ...

The Anxious Object from 1982-12-08T09:00

Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue gives his fifth Reith lecture in his series entitled 'The Mystery of Art'. The current Henry James Professor of English and American Letters at New York Univ...

A Cherishing Bureaucracy from 1982-12-01T09:00

Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue gives the fourth Reith lecture in his series entitled 'The Mystery of Art'. The current Henry James Professor of English and American Letters at New York Uni...

The Parade of Ideas from 1982-11-24T09:00

Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue gives the third Reith lecture in his series entitled 'The Mystery of Art'. The current Henry James Professor of English and American Letters at New York Univ...

The Domestication of Outrage from 1982-11-17T09:00

Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue gives the second Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The Mystery of Art'. The current Henry James Professor of English and American Letters at New York U...

The Zealots of Explanation from 1982-11-10T09:00

The Mystery of Art is the title of the 1982 Reith lectures given by Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue. The current Henry James Professor of English and American Letters at New York Universit...

Who's Moving the Goal Post? from 1981-12-16T09:00

Professor Laurence Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, considers the future of strategic policy in his series of Reith Lectures 'The Two-Edged Sword'

In his s...

Not For the Sake of Their Blue Eyes from 1981-12-09T09:00

Professor Laurence Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, considers the strategic policy of the nuclear age in his series of Reith Lectures 'The Two-Edged Sword'

Conflicts of the Third World from 1981-12-02T09:00

Professor Laurence Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, considers the strategic policy of the nuclear age in his series of Reith Lectures 'The Two-Edged Sword'.

Shadow Over Europe from 1981-11-25T09:00

Professor Laurence Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, considers the strategic policy of the nuclear age in his series of Reith Lectures 'The Two-Edged Sword'

Plausibility and Horror from 1981-11-18T09:00

Professor Laurence Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, considers the strategic policy of the nuclear age in his series of Reith lectures 'The Two-Edged Sword'.

If You Knows of a Better 'ole... from 1981-11-11T09:00

Professor Laurence Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, evaluates the subject of war and peace in a nuclear age in his series of Reith Lectures entitled 'The Two-Edg...

Let's Kill All the Lawyers from 1980-12-10T09:00

British academic lawyer Professor Sir Ian Kennedy explores the concepts of modern medicine in his sixth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Unmasking Medicine'.

In this lecture entitle...

The Doors of Mental Illness from 1980-12-03T09:00

British academic lawyer Professor Sir Ian Kennedy explores the concepts of modern medicine in the fifth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Unmasking Medicine'.

In this lecture entitle...

If I Were You, Mrs B from 1980-11-26T09:00

British academic lawyer Professor Sir Ian Kennedy explores the concepts of modern medicine in the fourth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Unmasking Medicine'.

In this lecture entitl...

Suffer the Little Children from 1980-11-19T09:00

British academic lawyer Professor Sir Ian Kennedy explores the concepts of modern medicine in the third Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Unmasking Medicine'.

In this lecture entitle...

The New Magicians from 1980-11-12T09:00

British academic lawyer Professor Sir Ian Kennedy explores the concepts of modern medicine in the second Reith lecture in his series entitled 'Unmasking Medicine'.

In this lecture entitled...

The Rhetoric of Medicine from 1980-11-05T09:00

This year's lecturer is the British academic lawyer Professor Sir Ian Kennedy. He founded of the Centre of Law, Medicine and Ethics in 1978 and has lectured at prestigious universities in London...

In Search of Pax Africana from 1979-12-12T09:00

In his sixth Reith Lecture, Professor Ali Mazrui examines Africa's physical location on the globe in relation to its economic, political and military destiny. The Professor of Political Science ...

Patterns of Identity from 1979-12-05T09:00

Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ali Mazrui, explores Africa's lack of cohesion in his fifth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The African Condition'.

I...

The Burden of Underdevelopment from 1979-11-28T09:00

Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ali Mazrui, considers Africa's lack of economic development in his fourth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The African Condit...

A Clash of Cultures from 1979-11-21T09:00

Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ali Mazru, explores the conflict between African and Western cultures in his third Reith Lecture. Delivering his third lecture from ...

The Cross of Humiliation from 1979-11-14T09:00

Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ali Mazrui considers the injustices that have been inflicted on the African people over time in his second Reith lecture. Delivering...

The Garden of Eden in Decay from 1979-11-07T09:00

Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ali Mazrui gives the first Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The African Condition'. The Kenyan-born university lecturer quest...

The In-Dwelling Christ from 1978-12-06T09:00

Reverend Dr Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, considers the Christian situation in Africa in his fifth Reith lecture. Speaking from his series entitled 'Christianity and the World Or...

Not Peace, but a Sword from 1978-11-29T09:00

Reverend Dr Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, considers the Christian situation in Africa in his fifth Reith lecture. Speaking from his series entitled 'Christianity and the World Or...

The Imperialism of Political Religion from 1978-11-22T09:00

Reverend Dr Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, explores the imperialist perspective of Christianity in his fourth Reith lecture. Speaking from his series entitled 'Christianity and th...

A New Commandment - Human Rights from 1978-11-15T09:00

Reverend Dr Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, reflects on the close relationship between Christianity and Western liberal ideals in his third Reith lecture. Speaking from his series ...

Ministers of Change from 1978-11-08T09:00

Reverend Dr Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, explores who the 'Ministers of Change' are in society in his second Reith lecture.

Speaking from the series entitled 'Christianity...

The Political Christ from 1978-11-01T09:00

Reverend Dr Edward Norman, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, discusses how and why faith has been transformed by political values in his first Reith lecture.

Speaking from his series entitled...

The Social Order from 1978-02-15T09:00

Sociologist A H Halsey is Professor of Social and Administrative studies at the University of Oxford. In his final lecture from his series 'Change in British Society', Halsey investigates the pr...

Between the Generations from 1978-02-08T09:00

Sociologist A H Halsey is Professor of Social and Administrative studies at the University of Oxford. In his fifth lecture from his series entitled 'Change in British Society', Halsey investigat...

The Rise of Party from 1978-02-01T09:00

Sociologist A H Halsey is Professor of Social and Administrative studies at the University of Oxford. He evaluates how the expansion of Britain's industrial and economic sectors changed the need...

The Reconstitution of Status from 1978-01-25T09:00

Sociologist A H Halsey is Professor of Social and Administrative studies at the University of Oxford. He explores the concept of Status in Society for his third Reith lecture from his series ent...

Class-Ridden Prosperity from 1978-01-18T09:00

Sociologist A H Halsey is Professor of Social and Administrative studies at the University of Oxford. He explores the structures of class in Britain for his second Reith lecture from his series ...

To Know Ourselves from 1978-01-11T09:00

Sociologist A H Halsey, Professor of Social and Administrative studies at the University of Oxford, explores the characteristics of the British culture in his first Reith lecture from the series...

Madness and Morality from 1976-12-15T09:00

Neurobiologist and lecturer of Physiology at the University of Cambridge Colin Blakemore considers mental illness and morality in his sixth and final Reith lecture from his series 'Mechanics of ...

A Burning Fire from 1976-12-08T09:00

Neurobiologist and lecturer of Physiology at the University of Cambridge Colin Blakemore explores speech as the vehicle of our language in the fifth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Mecha...

A Child of the Moment from 1976-12-01T09:00

Neurobiologist and lecturer of Physiology at the University of Cambridge Colin Blakemore explores the human memory in his fourth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Mechanics of the Mind'. Listen

An Image of Truth from 1976-11-24T09:00

Neurobiologist and lecturer of Physiology at the University of Cambridge explores human sight in his third Reith Lecture from his series entitled 'Mechanics of the Mind'. We build up a miraculou...

Chang Tzu and the Butterfly from 1976-11-17T09:00

Neurobiologist and lecturer of Physiology at the University of Cambridge Colin Blakemore explores the human need for sleep in his second Reith lecture from his series entitled 'Mechanics of the ...

The Divinest Part of Us from 1976-11-10T09:00

This year's lecturer is Neurobiologist Colin Blakemore. A Professor of Physiology at the University of Cambridge and Director of Medical Studies at Downing College, he is the youngest person to ...

The Birth of Exploration from 1975-11-12T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is distinguished Professor of American history, Dr Daniel J Boorstin, the twelfth Librarian of Congress. In his Reith lectures, entitled 'America and the World Experie...

On Difference from 1974-12-04T09:00

Professor of Sociology and Director of the London School of Economics Ralf Dahrendorf gives his fourth Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The New Liberty'.

In this lecture entitled 'O...

Justice Without Bondage from 1974-11-27T09:00

Professor of Sociology and Director of the London School of Economics Ralf Dahrendorf gives his third Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The New Liberty'.

In this lecture entitled 'Ju...

The Liberal Option from 1974-11-20T09:00

Professor of Sociology and Director of the London School of Economics Ralf Dahrendorf gives his second Reith lecture from his series entitled 'The New Liberty'.

In this lecture entitled '...

From Expansion to Improvement from 1974-11-13T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the eminent German-British sociologist Ralf Dahrendorf. Previously a Professor of Sociology at the Universities of Hamburg, Tübingen and Konstanz, he has been a le...

The Search For A New Order from 1973-12-19T09:00

Alastair Francis Buchan, the Montague Burton Professor of International Relations for Oxford University, explores the concept of 'transnationalism' in his sixth Reith lecture. Speaking from his ...

The Troubled Giant from 1973-11-28T09:00

Alastair Francis Buchan, the Montague Burton Professor of International Relations for Oxford University, reflects on the global power of the United States of America in his third Reith lecture. ...

Wanted: An Instrument For Crisis Management from 1972-12-12T09:00

Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and political economist Sir Andrew Shonfield gives the sixth of his Reith lectures from his series entitled 'Europe: Journey to an Unknow...

From Technocracy to Democracy from 1972-12-05T09:00

Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and political economist Sir Andrew Shonfield gives the fifth of his Reith lectures from his series entitled 'Europe: Journey to an Unknow...

European Foreign Policy Towards Asia&the Soviet Bloc from 1972-11-28T09:00

Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and political economist Sir Andrew Shonfield gives the fourth of his Reith lectures from his series entitled 'Europe: Journey to an Unkno...

The American Connection from 1972-11-21T09:00

Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and political economist Sir Andrew Shonfield gives the third of his Reith lectures from his series entitled 'Europe: Journey to an Unkno...

The French Spirit and the British Intruder from 1972-11-14T09:00

Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and political economist Sir Andrew Shonfield gives the second of his Reith lectures from his series entitled 'Europe: Journey to an Unkno...

Melting Pot or Bag of Marbles? from 1972-11-07T09:00

This year's Reith lecturer is political economist Sir Andrew Shonfield. Currently the Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA), he has previously worked as economic editor...

A Common Ground from 1971-12-21T09:00

The British academic and Assistant Director General of UNESCO Richard Hoggart explores the concepts of communication in his Reith lecture series entitled 'Only connect'.

In this lecture en...

The Loss of the Stable State from 1970-11-15T08:00

This year's Reith lecturer is the influential thinker Donald Schon. Previously a Professor of philosophy at the University of California, he was the director of the Institute for Applied Technol...