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
 Economics

The (Real) Power of Making, Paul Reeves

Putting trusting big business in context, Para Mullan

Are we all cooperative now?, Rob Killick

Towards a more profitable discussion about production, Angus Kennedy

Capitalism, the financial crisis, and us, Dolan Cummings

The ‘Regeneration Games’, London, 2012, James Woudhuysen

Africa - exploitation, exploitation, exploitation, Stuart Simpson

Ethical shopping, Kate Soper

Will ethical shopping save the world?, George Hoare

Damned by Debt Relief, Ceri Dingle and Steve Daley

Money is not the root of all evil, Patrick Hayes

The Happiness Trap: promoting well-being or lowering horizons?, Lotte Meteyard

The Battle for Affluence, Stuart Simpson

 Festival Buzz

"I was astonished by the interest and by the fact that so many thoughtful and intelligent people were willing to give up a huge part of their weekends to listen to and discuss ideas."
Ruth Gledhill, religion correspondent, The Times