Intelligence Squared

In part two of our debate 'Is America a force for good in the world?', foreign policy experts Shadi Hamid and Samuel Moyn discuss the return of Donald Trump, American exceptionalism, and what the world would look like if China became the world's only superpower. Our host for this debate is journalist and academic, Philippa Thomas. This episode is part two of two, to find part one please scroll back on your feed to this week's Sunday Debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Described as one of the most important and blazingly original writers of his generation, American author George Saunders is a master of the short story. He joins us on the podcast with critic John Self to discuss the voices that make up his insightful, hilarious and sometimes disturbing stories and how his work cuts into the absurdist experience of being human.  … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/  Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive as a subscriber: Ad-free listening, because we know some of you would prefer to listen without interruption  One early episode per week Two bonus episodes per month A 25% discount on IQ2+, our exciting streaming service, where you can watch and take part in events live at home an

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Many in the world see the influence of the United States as a force for good. It applies pressure on authoritarian regimes such as Iran to abide by human rights, and it supports nations such as Ukraine defending themselves against imperial aggression. But others argue that the Afghanistan and Iraq interventions show that American exceptionalism and the attempt to play the world’s policeman have wreaked irrevocable havoc which the rest of the world is still paying a price for today. This week ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections in the US on The Sunday Debate, we’re asking - is America a force for good in the world? To debate the issue we’re joined by foreign policy expert Shadi Hamid and academic Samuel Moyn. Our host for this debate is journalist and academic, Philippa Thomas. This episode is part one of two, join us on Wednesday’s episode t

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Healthy disagreement used to be a sign of a well functioning society. But today, many democracies across the world are suffering a crisis of faith in the values of debate and a trend of refusing to engage with those who do not share the same views. Journalist, political analyst, and best-selling author Anand Giridharadas explores these ideas in his new book The Persuaders: Winning Hearts and Minds in a Divided Age. In this episode, in conversation with oceanographer and television presenter, Helen Czerski, he discusses how we've ended up here and the best ways to move forward. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/  Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive as a subscriber: Ad-free listening, because we know some of you wo

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Rana Ayyub is one of India’s most high-profile critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2016 she published Gujurat Files, a controversial book that alleged India’s government was implicated in the 2002 riots in which around 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in Gujarat. Ayyub’s book and subsequent investigations into religious violence in India have placed her in hot water with the authorities. In 2022 her bank accounts were frozen and she was prevented from boarding a flight to the United States from Mumbai airport due to an investigation into tax fraud which she claims was politically motivated. For this edition of our series on India's 75 years of independence, Ayyub is joined in conversation by Kavita Puri, broadcaster and author of the book and radio series, Partition Voices, which explores the experiences of those who witnesse

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Jerk chicken, curried goat, ackee and saltfish - these are just some of the famous dishes which make up the varied patchwork of Jamaican cuisine. With influences from West Africa, Spain, China and the East India region, each dish can tell a different story ranging from the influence of indigenous groups to the arrival of settlers, colonialists, and enslaved people who have lived on the Caribbean island throughout history. In this episode of the podcast we're joined by cooks and food writers Melissa Thompson, author of Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook, and Riaz Phillips, author of West Winds: Recipes, History and Tales from Jamaica, to explore how Jamaican food has evolved and travelled throughout the world. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.s

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Just last week Giorgia Meloni, leader of the party Brothers of Italy, was sworn in as Italy’s first female prime minister. Her harshest critics have described her as a fascist threat to Italy and to Europe, to the economy, to democracy, and to human rights. Meanwhile others have rejoiced at her premiership, including Hungary’s leader Viktor Orbán, describing Meloni’s victory as a “big day for the European right”. On this episode of The Sunday Debate we're asking, what does Giorgia Meloni mean for Europe? Joining us we have David Broder, Europe editor of American political magazine Jacobin; Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform; and Balázs Orbán, political director for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Our host for this episode is journalist and broadcaster Philippa Thomas. … We are incredibly grateful

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. What are the lessons that history can teach us about the Russian war in Ukraine? Recently three of Britain’s most distinguished and bestselling historians – Peter Frankopan, Sir Max Hastings and Margaret MacMillan – came to the Intelligence Squared stage in London to share their insights into the conflict. In conversation with BBC news presenter Jonny Dymond, they examined how politicians and commentators have been using and abusing history to justify their positions on the conflict. How has President Putin been invoking the past to rally support among the Russian people for his actions? Is Putin a 21st-century Hitler who should be defeated at all costs? And as he threatens to use nuclear weapons to defend Russian territory, what lessons can we learn from brinkmanship during the Cold War? … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To beco

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Rishi Sunak is the youngest UK prime minister for two centuries and the first British Asian to lead the country. His ascent to power has been impressive but will Sunak's policies be distinct enough from his two recent predecessors – the former mired in scandal, the latter ridicule – to steer the UK out of one of the most torrid political eras of modern times? To discuss it, journalist and broadcaster Philippa Thomas is joined by the academic, pollster and author of forthcoming book, Values, Voice and Virtue, Matthew Goodwin. Plus, columnist for the FT, author of Extra Time, and former head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit under David Cameron, Camilla Cavendish.  ... We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/  Here’s a reminder of the

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Sir Lawrence Freedman is Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London and the UK’s leading expert on military strategy. His expertise has made him the go-to voice for clear-sighted analysis of the war in Ukraine since Vladimir Putin first invaded in early 2022. In this episode he joins Mark Galeotti, an expert on modern Russia and honorary professor at UCL SSEES, to look back at a range of conflicts, from the Cuban Missile Crisis to Russia’s wars in Chechnya plus its current one in Ukraine, and to discuss the tension that exists between military decision-making and civilian priorities. Sir Lawrence Freedman's book, Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine, is available now. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2pr

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. This Sunday Debate is the first of our India at 75 series, asking can Britain and India be friends? Across three episodes, we will be examining the future of India 75 years after its independence. In this instalment we’re joined by Shashi Tharoor, politician, writer and former diplomat who has been a member of the Indian Parliament since 2009. Plus, Jo Johnson, British politician and former Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. Our host for this series is journalist, broadcaster and author, Kavita Puri. When this conversation was recorded Shashi Tharoor was campaigning for India’s Congress Presidential election. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/  Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Following the abrupt exit of the UK's second prime minister within three months, Intelligence Squared's Conor Boyle is joined by Sherelle Jacobs, columnist for The Daily Telegraph, and columnist and chief leader writer for the Observer, Sonia Sodha, to analyse where the UK is headed next. Liz Truss is the country's shortest-serving prime minister ever and her resignation follows uproar over disastrous economic policy decisions allegedly shaped by think tanks rather than a mandate from the UK electorate. Arriving at a time of international instability over the war in Ukraine, a cost of living crisis unfolding at home and following on from the scandal of her predecessor Boris Johnson's handling of the pandemic, our panel discusses Truss's departure, the options it leaves the UK and the future of a beleaguered Conservative Party. We are incredib

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Sarah Langford was a barrister, living and working in the city. But then she found herself moving to the countryside, back to an agricultural life she thought she had left behind. There she saw farmers dealing with problems very different from those faced by her grandfather, who had helped to feed a starving nation after the war. Beleaguered with the challenges of climate change, Brexit and falling incomes, these farmers faced accusations of ecological mismanagement from a hostile media and public. But, as Langford looked to them to teach her about the land, she also found a new generation of farmers on a path of regenerative change. That journey is now the topic of Langford's recent book, Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution. Joining her in conversation to discuss it is Thomasina Miers, the cook, writer, broadcaster and co-

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. In the second part of a special double episode, historian and The Sunday Times bestselling author of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, joins us to discuss his new book for children, Unstoppable Us, Volume 1. In this instalment, Harari discusses what the future of humankind could look like and how the all-powerful influence of technology will be decisive in shaping it. The author also focuses on how, despite being at the mercy of seemingly seismic geopolitical forces, humans can still take charge of their own destiny and also why the Covid-19 pandemic was not the cultural or political reset that many had predicted or hoped. The conversation also explores how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has interrupted the established international order and Harari's belief that telling stories lies at the heart of human learning. Joining Harari in conversation for

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. They are the titans of the spy novel, who have elevated thrillers to the level of literary fiction. Much imitated, much adapted by the big and small screens, Ian Fleming and John Le Carré have painted our picture of post-war espionage: Fleming through the dashing figure of James Bond, with his lush locations and Martinis as icy as his heart; Le Carré through his damning portrait of the British secret service drawn from his own time in MI5 and MI6. But which of the two novelists is the greater? In this thrilling contest, Fleming’s case will made by Anthony Horowitz, creator of the bestselling Alex Rider spy novels and author of the official Bond continuation novel Trigger Mortis. Championing Le Carré – whose memoir about his life as a former spy currently sits in the bestseller lists – will be David Farr, Emmy-nominated screenwriter of the BBC

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. No other country has been so divided over its own past as Russia. To understand what Russia’s future holds – to grasp what Putin’s regime means for Russia and the world – we need to unravel the ideas and meanings of its history. That’s the argument that historian Orlando Figes makes in his most recent book, The Story of Russia. The book reveals the vibrant characters that comprise Russia’s rich past including the crowning of 16-year-old Ivan the Terrible in a candlelit cathedral, Catherine the Great riding out in a green uniform to arrest her husband at his palace, and the bitter last days of the Romanovs. Figes weaves together the past and the present to provide an accurate picture of the country that threatens Ukraine and the liberal global order today. Hosting the discussion is Josh Glancy, special correspondent for The Sunday Times.  … We

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. In the first part of a special double episode, historian and The Sunday Times bestselling author of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, joins us to discuss his new book for children, Unstoppable Us, Volume 1. He also reflects on the epic scope of his work looking back over thousands of years of human history and the turbulent times humanity finds itself in today. In 2011, Harari wrote A Brief History of Humankind, covering the last 70,000 years of human evolution. Published in English as Sapiens in 2014, it’s since been translated into 65 languages, become a New York Times bestseller admired by both Barack Obama and Bill Gates and is widely seen as a publishing phenomenon. Its future-focused follow-up, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, helped further nudge the dial on how we perceive ourselves as a species and it is the book that launched a gro

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. In November 2019 Prince Andrew sat down with Newsnight, the BBC's flagship current affairs programme, to speak about Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged relationship with Virginia Giuffre. Just months after the explosive interview in January 2020, Prince Andrew was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages with the approval of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Described as a PR disaster and a 'car crash', many have wondered how this interview came to be. In this episode, former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister talks to broadcast journalist Petrie Hosken about what went on behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace and how the news is made. Sam McAlister's new book Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interviews is available now. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscr

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Anxiety has been mounting around the world concerning Russian president Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats. US president Joe Biden warned that the risk of nuclear "Armageddon" is the highest it has been since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. This week on The Sunday Debate, we're joined by three experts to understand the realities of nuclear threat, how nuclear strategy has developed in the last 60 years, and whether Russia’s nuclear threats will be deterred. Andrey Baklitskiy is a Senior Researcher in the WMD Programme at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Marion Messmer is a Senior Researcher in International Security at Chatham House, and William Alberque is Director of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control for the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Our host for this episode is Josh Glancy, special corresponde

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Anders wakes up one day to find that his skin has turned dark. Soon it transpires that this is happening to people all over the land, leading first to panic which then turns into an upheaval in establishment, power, and compassion. In this Kafka-esque tale, award-winning Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid explores how we as a society define the concepts and structures of race, and how much in turn we let them define us. To delve deeper into The Last White Man, Mohsin Hamid joins us on the podcast, in conversation with BBC broadcaster Razia Iqbal. … We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive as a subscriber: Ad-free listening, because we know some of you would prefer to listen without interrup