Battle of Ideas 2007 27 & 28 October, London

The Battle of Ideas 2007 was a two-day festival of high-level, thought-provoking debate organised by the Institute of Ideas and hosted by the Royal College of Art. These pages are now an archive of the festival where you can still find out what went on, watch video of the event and read Battles in Print that accompanied the sessions.

 Festival News

 Battles in Print & Battle Talks

Read a Battle in Print: What is education for?, Michael Young interview by Toby Marshall
 Speakers include

David Aaronovitch, columnist, The Times; author, Voodoo Histories
Daniel Ben-Ami, finance and economics journalist; author Ferraris for All: in defence of economic progress and Cowardly Capitalism
Alexander Cockburn, journalist; editor, CounterPunch; co-author, End Times: The Death of the Fourth Estate?
Claire Fox, director, Institute of Ideas; panellist, BBC Radio 4's Moral Maze
Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology, University of Kent, Canterbury; author, Wasted, Politics of Fear and On Tolerance: in defence of moral independence
Mick Hume, editor-at-large, spiked; author, There Is No Such Thing As A Free Press ...and we need one more than ever
Tristram Hunt, broadcaster; lecturer in modern British history, Queen Mary, University of London; author, The Frock-Coated Communist: the revolutionary life of Friedrich Engels
Nicholas Kenyon CBE, managing director, Barbican Centre; former director, BBC Proms (1996-2007)
Philippe Legrain, adviser to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission (speaking in a personal capacity); author, Aftershock: reshaping the world economy after the crisis

 Festival Buzz

Friction TV logo Fora TV logo Each to his iPod or Great Music For All

Each to his iPod or Great Music For All [Opens in new window]

"A really valuable and stimulating event."
Prof Michael Reiss, Director of Education, Royal Society

 Partners
The Battle of Ideas is produced by
Institute of Ideas

with











Science champion


Education champion


Design & architecture champion


Arts champion


Film & animation champion


+ Full list of partners