Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Politics & Ideology
It’s All for Your Own Good
What becomes of the self-respect we invest in our own willed actions, flawed and misguided though they often are, when so many of our choices are manipulated to promote what someone else sees (perhaps rightly) as our best interest?
Jeremy Waldron, New York Review Of Books, 9 October 2014
What becomes of the self-respect we invest in our own willed actions, flawed and misguided though they often are, when so many of our choices are manipulated to promote what someone else sees (perhaps rightly) as our best interest?
Jeremy Waldron, New York Review Of Books, 9 October 2014
Clacton byelection: the main parties need to hear this roar of defiance
From Clacton to Strood, only Ukip seems to speak to voters who feel abandoned, patronised and ignored
John Harris, Guardian, 8 October 2014
From Clacton to Strood, only Ukip seems to speak to voters who feel abandoned, patronised and ignored
John Harris, Guardian, 8 October 2014
How to talk to terrorists
Terrorism can never be defeated by military means alone. But how do you go about negotiating with people who have blood on their hands? Britain’s chief broker of the Northern Ireland peace deal explains how it can – and must – be done (for a start, always shake hands)
Jonathan Powell, Guardian, 7 October 2014
Terrorism can never be defeated by military means alone. But how do you go about negotiating with people who have blood on their hands? Britain’s chief broker of the Northern Ireland peace deal explains how it can – and must – be done (for a start, always shake hands)
Jonathan Powell, Guardian, 7 October 2014
Ferguson: In the heartlands of America, a descent into madness
David Usborne arrived in Ferguson, Missouri to be greeted by a scene more redolent of Gaza and Afghanistan. This is a country where those fighting for justice have given up on the law as a means of redress
David Usborne, Independent, 19 August 2014
David Usborne arrived in Ferguson, Missouri to be greeted by a scene more redolent of Gaza and Afghanistan. This is a country where those fighting for justice have given up on the law as a means of redress
David Usborne, Independent, 19 August 2014
Explaining white privilege to a broke white person
Gina Crosley-Corcoran, Huffington Post, 5 August 2014
Gina Crosley-Corcoran, Huffington Post, 5 August 2014
Political parties need to better integrate young members
Most major political parties have youth wings, run by their young members. But with party membership declining, Emily Rainsford has considered how parties might better engage their young members and recruit others. I
Emily Rainsford, Democratic Audit UK, 11 July 2014
Most major political parties have youth wings, run by their young members. But with party membership declining, Emily Rainsford has considered how parties might better engage their young members and recruit others. I
Emily Rainsford, Democratic Audit UK, 11 July 2014
British values
To mark the 799th anniversary of Magna Carta, the Prime Minister has written an article for the Mail on Sunday on British values.
David Cameron , Mail on Sunday, 15 June 2014
To mark the 799th anniversary of Magna Carta, the Prime Minister has written an article for the Mail on Sunday on British values.
David Cameron , Mail on Sunday, 15 June 2014
Paternalism
The SEP was designed so that each entry is maintained and kept up-to-date by an expert or group of experts in the field
Gerald Dworkin, Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, June 2014
The SEP was designed so that each entry is maintained and kept up-to-date by an expert or group of experts in the field
Gerald Dworkin, Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, June 2014
Teen trio of Leeds political wannabes among country’s youngest local election candidates
THREE Leeds 18 year-olds are among the youngest candidates in the country to stand for election to local government on May 22.
Yorkshire Evening Post, 3 May 2014
THREE Leeds 18 year-olds are among the youngest candidates in the country to stand for election to local government on May 22.
Yorkshire Evening Post, 3 May 2014
“No platform” was once reserved for violent fascists. Now it's being used to silence debate
The no platform of now doesn’t target groups such as the National Front or the EDL – instead, it’s aimed at individuals who certainly do not trail the organised muscle of a thug army behind them.
Sarah Ditum, New Statesman, 18 March 2014
The no platform of now doesn’t target groups such as the National Front or the EDL – instead, it’s aimed at individuals who certainly do not trail the organised muscle of a thug army behind them.
Sarah Ditum, New Statesman, 18 March 2014
The rise of the clicktivists: will the revolution be digitised?
"The rules of the game at The Battle of Ideas makes beating about the bush impossible. When you are given 5 minutes to make your point, you either say something essential, or you reveal that you have nothing really to say. This eliminates 'the unbearable lightness' of speculation that haunts public debate."
Albena Azmanova, social philosopher, political commentator and activist
follow the Academy of Ideas
