Battles in Print & Culture Wars

Battles in Print are specially-commissioned essays that explore topics being discussed at the Battle of Ideas, serving as introductions to the debate and encouraging further reflection. Battles in Print take a variety of forms, from short provocation essays to longer think pieces and interviews, and are available both online and in print at the festival itself. They are complemented by themed book reviews on Culture Wars, the Academy of Ideas' online review.

Editors: Dolan Cummings and Sarah Boyes

Select a theme on the left to see related Battles in Print from the archive. You can also narrow your selection by selecting a year below and clicking Go! Or return to the overall index

2008 2007 2006
 International Relations & Development

War should be a political issue, not a legal one, Dr Philip Hammond

West versus East: the dangers of premature extrapolation, Bill Durodié

Twenty years after the Wall came down: Dissonant German Unity, Sabine Reul

In defence of American culture - and human aspiration, Alan Miller

Slam-Dunk the Funk - Defending Progress in the Age of Environmentalism, Lee Jones

The domestic limits to American international leadership after Bush, Tara McCormack

Attitudes to China, Patrick Hayes

Africa Strand, Ceri Dingle

Africa - exploitation, exploitation, exploitation, Stuart Simpson

What future for Britain's 'ethical' foreign policy?, David Chandler versus Alan Mendoza

The Iraq war: the strip-tease of democracy, Lee Jones

Beyond the war on terror, Alex Gourevitch

The biggest challenge facing China, Sheila Lewis

Damned by Debt Relief, Ceri Dingle and Steve Daley

Postmodern Europe: the silent revolution, Marc Glendening

What does sustainability mean for the developing world?, Peter Martin

Clash of Civilisations or Cultural Crisis?, Bill Durodié

Empire of Regulation or Lawless World?, Michael Savage

 Festival Buzz

"Participating in the Battle was a little like entering a Bombay train at rush hour - it's a plunge into a swirl of wildly differing notions of how people should arrange themselves in a really tight situation. When you eventually emerge, you find that you're in a different place from where you started - and that you've been thoroughly energised from the journey. I can't wait to take the trip again next year."
Naresh Fernandes, editor-in-chief, Time Out India