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The Reith Lectures

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

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The Reith Lectures: Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State: Power, and the Problem of its Control

1951: Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State

16/12/1951

Power, and the Problem of its Control

Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State, Power, and the Problem of its Control

Lord Radcliffe considers elusive nature of power in his final Reith lecture. 

Lord Radcliffe considers elusive nature of power, which can be seen as both inherently corrupting as well as legitimate authority, in his final Reith Lecture. 

This year's Reith Lecturer is British lawyer Lord Radcliffe. He was Director-General of the Ministry of Information during the Second World War, and is most famous for his role in Partition, the division of the British Indian Empire, His work led directly to the creation of Pakistan and India as independent nations. He examines the features of democratic society, and considers the problematic notions of power and authority in his series of seven Reith Lectures entitled 'Power and the State'.
In his final Reith Lecture, entitled 'Power, and the Problem of its Control', Lord Radcliffe considers the elusive nature of power, which can be seen as both inherently corrupting as well as legitimate authority.  He argues that power, authority and dominion correspond to something that belongs to a man's inmost self, and argues that power is not a thing in itself, but rather is good or evil according to the vision that it serves.

The Reith Lectures: Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

The lawyer Lord Radcliffe examines the features of democratic society.

The British lawyer Lord Radcliffe examines the features of democratic society, and considers the problematic notions of power and authority in a series of seven Reith lectures.

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Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State

Power, and the Problem of its Control

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