Once again this week, Britain is considering its response to an international crisis - the growing threat of the Islamic State. So, why is it that we so often feel a moral obligation to act in the world, even when our national capacity to do so, may be stretched? Evan Davis asks whether it is better to be a big country or a small country in the world today, how far it is possible to choose - and, if we know which we are.

Presenter: Evan Davis
Producer: Ruth Watts

Interviewed guest: David Aaronovitch
Interviewed guest: Gisela Stuart
Interviewed guest: Adrian Wooldridge
Interviewed guest: Sir Ronald Sanders
Interviewed guest: Joe Queenan
Interviewed guest: Espen Aas. Show less