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.
Liberty & Law
Slaves to the algorithm
Computers could take some tough choices out of our hands, if we let them. Is there still a place for human judgement?
Steven Poole, Aeon, 13 May 2013
Computers could take some tough choices out of our hands, if we let them. Is there still a place for human judgement?
Steven Poole, Aeon, 13 May 2013
On the legalisation of drugs
Living in a civilized society means accepting laws that we didn’t make.
City Journal, 5 December 2012
Living in a civilized society means accepting laws that we didn’t make.
City Journal, 5 December 2012
Should the law try and correct society's prejudices?
While the 2010 Equality Act seems to be discouraging prejudice, it has also come under attack for limiting freedom
Luke Gittos, Independent, 18 October 2012
While the 2010 Equality Act seems to be discouraging prejudice, it has also come under attack for limiting freedom
Luke Gittos, Independent, 18 October 2012
Free expression is the bedrock of a free society. The moral case for a truly free press is overdue a hearing
The real danger isn't state censorship but the consolidation of a sterile, conformist atmosphere in which it's accepted that it simply won't do to publish some stories
Mick Hume, Independent Voices, 4 October 2012
The real danger isn't state censorship but the consolidation of a sterile, conformist atmosphere in which it's accepted that it simply won't do to publish some stories
Mick Hume, Independent Voices, 4 October 2012
Live music red tape lifted for small venues
Venues in England and Wales with a capacity of under 200 people will no longer need a licence for live music.
BBC News, 1 October 2012
Venues in England and Wales with a capacity of under 200 people will no longer need a licence for live music.
BBC News, 1 October 2012
Michael Fallon: Brussels must cut red tape
Michael Fallon, Britain’s new business minister, is to demand that Brussels adopts the Government’s new “one-in, one-out†policy in an attempt to cut European red tape.
Louise Armistead, Daily Telegraph, 29 September 2012
Michael Fallon, Britain’s new business minister, is to demand that Brussels adopts the Government’s new “one-in, one-out†policy in an attempt to cut European red tape.
Louise Armistead, Daily Telegraph, 29 September 2012
Employment law exemptions are key to unlocking growth for Challenger Businesses
To unleash growth for start-ups the government must create exemptions in employment law and simplify the enforcement of existing regulations, a new report, Red Tape Challenge – Challenger Businesses, suggests.
Institute of Economic Affairs, 20 September 2012
To unleash growth for start-ups the government must create exemptions in employment law and simplify the enforcement of existing regulations, a new report, Red Tape Challenge – Challenger Businesses, suggests.
Institute of Economic Affairs, 20 September 2012
In the courts, equality trumps tolerance
Four cases before the European Court of Human Rights show how the state puts ‘diversity’ before religious freedom.
Jon Holbrook, spiked, 18 September 2012
Four cases before the European Court of Human Rights show how the state puts ‘diversity’ before religious freedom.
Jon Holbrook, spiked, 18 September 2012
Minimum alcohol price 'would save 11,500 pensioners'
The deaths of 11,500 pensioners could be avoided over the next decade if minimum alcohol pricing is rolled out in England, according to new research.
BBC News, 7 September 2012
The deaths of 11,500 pensioners could be avoided over the next decade if minimum alcohol pricing is rolled out in England, according to new research.
BBC News, 7 September 2012
There is No Such Thing as a Free Press ...and we need one more than ever
Once the media reported the news. Now it makes it. The phone-hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the media has put the UK press under scrutiny and on trial as never before.
Mick Hume, Imprint Acaademic, 1 September 2012
Rethinking Privacy in an age of disclosure
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