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
The equality commission deserves our support
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has problems – but it makes a huge contribution to British life
Tom Pegram, Guardian, 6 October 2011
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has problems – but it makes a huge contribution to British life
Tom Pegram, Guardian, 6 October 2011
Silencing sectarianism: football’s free speech wars
No-one would describe Old Firm games as being like a polite tea party and sensitive souls should really choose another sport if they want to stand quietly in polite company.
Kevin Rooney, Independent, 6 October 2011
No-one would describe Old Firm games as being like a polite tea party and sensitive souls should really choose another sport if they want to stand quietly in polite company.
Kevin Rooney, Independent, 6 October 2011
Why Animal Rights Campaigners are Wrong About Shark Fin Soup
Even if one doesn't like the taste or idea of shark fin soup, what is at stake is the individual's right to choose what to eat within the confines of the law, regardless of whether its production is offensive to some campaigners, celebrities or politicians.
Kirk Leech, Huffington Post, 5 October 2011
Even if one doesn't like the taste or idea of shark fin soup, what is at stake is the individual's right to choose what to eat within the confines of the law, regardless of whether its production is offensive to some campaigners, celebrities or politicians.
Kirk Leech, Huffington Post, 5 October 2011
The Art of Suppression: Pleasure, Panic and Prohibition Since 1800
The prohibition of alcohol in the USA was a notorious fiasco. The War on Drugs has been a deadly failure. Bans on alternative nicotine products keep people smoking cigarettes. Attempts to suppress legal highs result in more drugs hitting the market. Prohibition doesn't work but the world is filled with prohibitionists. Why?
Chris Snowdon, Little Dice, 3 October 2011
It's time that we reclaimed liberalism
Frank Furedi talks to Brendan O’Neill about his new book On Tolerance and why he wants to halt and reverse the warping of the liberal outlook.
Frank Furedi, spiked, 30 September 2011
Frank Furedi talks to Brendan O’Neill about his new book On Tolerance and why he wants to halt and reverse the warping of the liberal outlook.
Frank Furedi, spiked, 30 September 2011
Death plea case rejected by judge
A High Court Judge has ruled that a brain-damaged woman should not be allowed to die, in what is being seen as a landmark case.
BBC News, 28 September 2011
A High Court Judge has ruled that a brain-damaged woman should not be allowed to die, in what is being seen as a landmark case.
BBC News, 28 September 2011
Defend a free press - don’t just guard the Guardian
Yes, the police threat to the liberal newspaper was outrageous – but who invited the authorities to crack down on the press in the first place?
Mick Hume, spiked, 27 September 2011
Yes, the police threat to the liberal newspaper was outrageous – but who invited the authorities to crack down on the press in the first place?
Mick Hume, spiked, 27 September 2011
Labour's odd plan to get bad journalists 'struck off'
Ivan Lewis has a proposal to clean up the press. Shame it's unworkable and illiberal.
Helen Lewis Hasteley, New Statesmen, 27 September 2011
Ivan Lewis has a proposal to clean up the press. Shame it's unworkable and illiberal.
Helen Lewis Hasteley, New Statesmen, 27 September 2011
‘It is time that we reclaimed liberalism’
Frank Furedi talks to Brendan O’Neill about his new book On Tolerance and why he wants to halt and reverse the warping of the liberal outlook.
Brendan O'Neill, spiked, 23 September 2011
Frank Furedi talks to Brendan O’Neill about his new book On Tolerance and why he wants to halt and reverse the warping of the liberal outlook.
Brendan O'Neill, spiked, 23 September 2011
Some real research into alcohol
Activists, neo-prohibitionists and anti-capitalists are much happier blaming the corporations and the institutions, man, than looking at the real factors behind excessive drinking and alcoholism.
Chris Snowden, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist, 21 September 2011
Activists, neo-prohibitionists and anti-capitalists are much happier blaming the corporations and the institutions, man, than looking at the real factors behind excessive drinking and alcoholism.
Chris Snowden, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist, 21 September 2011
Adopting Orthodoxies - Emily Buchanan
"I travel far to participate in the BOI; it’s a unique festival of free speech and debate that consistently combines energy, fearlessness and provocation with thoughtful, informed consideration of contemporary politics and culture."
Wendy Kaminer, US-based writer on law, liberty, feminism, religion, and popular culture
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