2. How Radical was the Revolution and How Reactionary was the Constitution? (April 21, 2009)
History, American history, American revolution, radicalism, politics, 1776, academic writing, radicalism, race, founders, Declaration of Independence, constitution, Thomas Jefferson, Bill of Rights, constitutional conventions, Abraham Lincoln, republic, d
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9. Healthcare and Health Reform (November 17, 2009)
Policy, politics, economics, Congress, House of Representatives, Senate, healthcare legislation, costs, insurance, co-payments, health coverage, insurance companies, Congressional Budget Office, Medicare, hospital, taxation, life expectancy, obesity, valu
11 - Why no Revolution in 1848 in Britain
Revolutions occur when a critical mass of people come together to make specific demands upon their government. They invariably involve an increase in popular involvement in the political process. One of the central questions concerning 1848, a year in which almost every major European nation faced a revolutionary upsurge, is why England did not have its own revolution despite the existence of social tensions. Two principal reasons account for this fact: first, the success of reformist political
06 - Maximilien Robespierre and the French Revolution
Robespierre's ascetic personal life and severe philosophy of political engagement are attributed by some to his difficult childhood. As a revolutionary, one of his most significant insights was that the Revolution was threatened not only by France's military adversaries abroad, but also by domestic counter-revolutionaries. Under this latter heading were gathered two major groups, urban mercantilists and rural peasants. Relative strength of religious commitment is the major factor in explaining w
05 - The Enlightenment and the Public Sphere
While the major philosophical projects of the Enlightenment are associated with the names of individual thinkers such as Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire, the cultural transformation in France in the years leading up to the Revolution should also be understood in the context of the public sphere and popular press. Alongside such luminaries as those associated with Diderot's Encyclopédie were a host of lesser pamphleteers and libellists eager for fame and some degree of fortune. If the writin
04 - Peter the Great
Peter the Great's historical significance stems not only from his military ambitions and the great expansion of the Russian Empire under his supervision, but also from his efforts to introduce secular, Western customs and ideas into Russian culture. Despite his notorious personal brutality, Peter's enthusiasm for science and modern intellectual concerns made an indelible mark both on Russia's relationship to the West and on its internal politics. The struggle under Peter's reign between Westerni
A Life in Documentary - Paul Watson
Paul Watson is a British Documentary superstar. His 1974 series “The Family” on the Wilkins of Reading, set off the “fly-on-the-wall” genre and is a seminal moment in British television history. He has not stopped since “Sylvania Waters” and “The Fishing Party” and his most recent success has been the 100 minute “Rain in My Heart” on BBC 2, tackling the subject of alcoholism. This is the starting point in this Coventry Conversation with John mair.
Getting Away With Murder: State Violence and Impunity in Phatthalung, 1972-1975
In February 1975, student activists exposed a series of brutal murders of citizens by Communist Suppression Operations Command and other state security forces that had taken place two-and-a-half years earlier in Phatthalung province in mid-southern Thailand. The thang daeng, or 'red drum,' killings gained their name from the method of killing employed. Accused of engaging in Communist activities, or tacit support for them, citizens were arrested, or simply taken, in large sweeps across districts
Fundamentals of Cancer Research: Introduction and Overview
This inaugural address lays the groundwork for an 11-part series on MIT’s efforts in cancer research. Susan Hockfield views MIT’s Center for Cancer Research as a central example of how “life sciences are coming into conversation with engineering in a powerful way.” Robert Silbey provides histo
A Life in Numbers - Bob Worcester. MORI
Sir Robert Worcester, KBE, is the founder of the MORI polling and research organisation, and a member and contributor to many voluntary organisations. He is a well known figure in British public opinion research. Here he talks about his life working with numbers, statistics and public opinion polls.
The History of Channel 4 - Channel 4 Day - Maggie Brown
Maggie Brown has been covering the media industry for over twenty years and has built a reputation as one of the countries most respected and highly regarded specialist media journalists. Granted access to Channel 4’s rich archive and frank interviews with the founders, chief executives and stars alike, she has recently completed a fresh British Film Institute history on the channel due out in November. Here she discusses the history of Channel 4.
Faith and Politics in a Diverse Society - Baroness Amos
Baroness Valarie Amos’s political career began in 1981 where she worked in Equal Opportunities, Training and Management Services until 1989. She was a co-founder of Amos Fraser Bernard, and director (1995-1998) where she advised the South African Government on public service reform, human rights and employment equality.
She was created a life peer in 1997 by Tony Blair. From 1998-2001 she was a government whip in the House of Lords. She was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Fo
Beginnings - Jon Blair, Award Winning Director and Producer
Jon Blair is a multi award winning film and television producer and director, and is the only director working in the United Kingdom who has won all three of the premiere awards in his field; an Oscar, an Emmy (twice) and a British Academy Award.
In this Coventry Conversation you can hear Jon talking about his career.
The Role of Football in Development - Africa Day - Oneyachi Wambo
Oneyachi Wambo runs Score4Africa, celebrating the power of football to transform lives for the better. The Score4Africa awards ceremony is to celebrate African footballers and was staged at the House of Lords in 2008.
In this Coventry Conversation, Oneyachi talks specifically about the role of football in development.
Looking Beyond Top Gear - Steve Cropley, AUTOCAR
Steve Cropley, editor-in-chief of Haymarket’s Autocar magazine, has been given top honours by his peers in new awards for motoring journalism. One judge called Cropley “One of the top five most important journalists in the world” and another described him as “The ultimate journalist in every way – professional, personable, sharp as a razor and a beautiful scribe”.
Here he discusses life in Automotive Journalism
Jon Snow - The Best and Worst of Times in 21st Century Journalism
Jon Snow is an English journalist and presenter, currently employed by ITN. He is best known for presenting Channel 4 News.
Here he discusses the past, present and future of broadcasting and british media. This talk is also available on CUTV
Is there a Crisis in World Journalism? Dr Fred Mudhai
Okoth Fred Mudhai is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Global Media/Communication at Coventry University, UK. He has written research papers and memos on ICT and politics as a member of the IT and Civil Society Network of the IT and International Cooperation Program, US Social Science Research Council (2003-2005). At the Tunis (2005) World Summit on the Information Society, he received a Media Award by Panos London and Global Knowledge Partnership. He was also a category runner-up in the 2007
Being TV’s Shakespeare - Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott is a BAFTA winning English television screenwriter. He has become one of the most critically and commercially successful television writers working in Britain today.
Here he discusses writing for the screen, the state of British drama and Shameless USA.
Aston Martin and the British Motor Industry - David Richards
David Richards is one of the most familiar names in British motorsport. He has achieved international success as a competitor, team principle and businessman, and leads two of Britain’s most famous automotive companies.
