The Reith Lectures

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The Reith Lectures: Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future: 3. The Future of Solidarity

Episode 3

3. The Future of Solidarity

Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future, 3. The Future of Solidarity

Ben Ansell's third 2023 Reith Lecture on why politics fails.

Professor Ben Ansell's third Reith Lecture, recorded in Sunderland, explores how we can develop a sense of shared belonging in today's polarised and increasingly unequal societies.

This year's BBC Reith Lecturer is Ben Ansell, Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions at Nuffield College, Oxford University and the author of "Why Politics Fails."  He will deliver four lectures in a series called “Our Democratic Future.”  The series asks how we can build a politics that works for all of us with systems which are robust to the challenges of the twenty first century, from climate change to artificial intelligence. 
 
In this third lecture, recorded in Sunderland, Professor Ansell explores whether we can develop a shared sense of belonging in today's polarised societies. How can we ensure that we look after the less fortunate in an economy that seems only to reward the 'already haves'? Ansell addresses the challenges posed by technologies that enrich a small elite and privatise solidarity with bespoke healthcare and benefits that might undermine collective solidarity.  And he assesses how policy reform - from universal basic income to civic nationalism - might help renew our communities.  

The Reith Lectures are chaired by Anita Anand and produced by Jim Frank. 
The Editor is China Collins, and the co-ordinator is Brenda Brown. 
The series is mixed by Rod Farquhar and Neil Churchill.

The Reith Lectures: Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future

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

Professor Ben Ansell asks how we can make politics work for all of us in the 21st century.

Professor Ben Ansell asks how we can make politics work for all of us as we face the challenges of the 21st century, from climate change to artificial intelligence.

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3. The Future of Solidarity

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