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.
Even if hijab-wearing is a genuine choice, does that make it obligatory for us to respect it? Any more than hijab-wearers respect women who wear shamefully little? What we would not ban, we do not have to condone.
Cathrine Bennet, Guardian, 22 January 2004
Culture, not race, is becoming the main barrier for modern migrants
Diran Adebayo, Guardian, 20 January 2004
Human beings desire not only "better children," we desire also to be better ourselves. Aspiration, born of the attractiveness of some human good and the energizing awareness that we do not yet possess it, is at the heart of much that we do and much that is admirable about us.
The President's Council on Bioethics, October 2003
The smartest and most forward-looking organisations will see that by putting work-life balance at the heart of their cultures and their strategic plans they will not only be satisfying employees and creating more equitable workplaces, but increasing their productivity and responding competitively to significant changes, such as our growing 24/7 lifestyle.
Alexandra Jones, The Work Foundation, 1 June 2003
"IT's only a game," said Sourav Ganguly before the big game against Pakistan. "It's only a game," said Rahul Dravid. "It's only a game," said Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram from the other side of the fence. When so many people feel the need to say it's only a game, it means only one thing: it's not only a game.
Anil Dharker, The Hindu, 16 March 2003
We say we no longer trust our public services, institutions or the people who run them. Politicians, accountants, doctors, scientists, businessmen, auditors and many others are treated with suspicion. Their word is doubted, their motives are questioned.
BBC Radio 4, 2002
Frank Furedi, Continuum, December 2002
It was thought to be an institution in terminal decline. But marriage refuses to go away - in fact it's getting more and more fashionable.
Blake Morrison, Guardian, 14 October 2002
We say we no longer trust our public services, institutions or the people who run them. Politicians, accountants, doctors, scientists, businessmen, auditors and many others are treated with suspicion. Their word is doubted, their motives are questioned.
Onora O'Neill, BBC Radio 4, 2002
Why isn't poverty history yet?
"To contribute to Battle of Ideas is to add a few words to a giant, communal speech-bubble out of the gap-toothed mouth of British opinion. It is a strong reminder that the joys of free, uncalculated speech and the right to attack orthodoxies can in no way be assumed in 2012 – that we use them or lose them."
Piers Hellawell, composer; professor of composition, Queen’s University Belfast