Lord Radcliffe examines the creation of the American constitution, which he considers to be one of the most important events in modern history, in his fourth Reith lecture. Show more

Lord Radcliffe examines the 'natural rights' (to life, liberty and to property) which the philosopher John Locke argued were an integral part of the social contract. Show more

Lord Radcliffe considers the Middle Ages' notions of statehood, and examines the influence of St Augustine on concepts of justice and government in the Western world. Show more

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. Show more

Lord Radcliffe examines how philosophers including Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jeremy Bentham have defined the 'will of the people', in his sixth Reith lecture. Show more

Lord Radcliffe examines the early period of British administration in India, which he argues illustrates how men respond to the stimulus of great authority. Show more

Lord Radcliffe analyses Plato's 'Republic' to explain the European ideology of power, in the first Reith Lecture from his series entitled 'Power and the State'. Show more