8.15pm, Wednesday 6th week (30th May)
Lower Lecture Theatre, Lincoln College
The decline of state sovereignty and its consequences with Chris Bickerton,
co-editor of 'Politics Without Sovereignty'.
The sovereign state is in bad shape. Thanks to fashionable notions of
international law, universal human rights, the need for world-wide environmental
action and humanitarian intervention, the belief that the sovereign state can do
what it wants within its own territory has been fatally undermined. But should
this development be welcomed? Does the destruction of state sovereignty mean the
introduction of arbitrary power in the international system? What right do
international bodies have to interfere with the internal business of any state?
Is state sovereignty more important than universal morality? Who, if anyone, is
accountable in this new age of supra-state power? Join the Hive for a lively and
stimulating discussion of these and other issues.
Wine provided. (Suggested donation £2)
Read more about Chris, and his article entited "This is where the buck stops" here.
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Monday, 5 February 2007
We don't need your education: what is the curriculum for?
With education continually in the media, and the government looking
into reforming A levels, SATs and GCSEs, we have invited David Perks
and Andrew Hunt along to provide their insight.
David Perks writes for The Times Education Supplement, The Guardian,
The Times, and Spiked. He speaks regularly on Education, and has
contributed to The Routledge Falmer Guide to Key Debates in Education.
He gained his PGCE in Oxford and has been a teacher for 20+ years.
Andrew Hunt is director of the Nuffield Curriculum Centre. He
contributes to the development of the Association for Science
Education's Science across the World project. He has written several
Chemistry text books, and is a former science teacher.
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
More Past Events
Past Events
Michaelmas Term 2005
Marc Stears (tutor and lecturer in Politics at University College, Oxford) asked "Does Political Protest Still Matter?" Marc argued the case for "direct action" and suggested that a more robust form of political protest is necessary if real political change is to result.
Kenan Malik (author of "The Meaning of Race") and Martin Linton MP (Labour, Battersea) argued over the government bill that would ban Incitement to Religious Hatred. A heated discussion on the relative merits of tolerance and freedom, and whether multiculturalism encourages integration and respect or merely emphasises difference and leads to segregation.
Make Poverty History: Positive Progressive Movement or Endorsement of an Inadequate Government? Daniel Ben-Ami (author of Cowardly Capitalism: The Myth of the Global Financial Casino and writer from spiked-online.com) argued against the modest ambitions of the Make Poverty History campaign. He suggested that the movement promotes a double standard in the level of poverty that is deemed acceptable in the developed and developing worlds.
Trinity Term 2005
Mel Broughton, animal rights activist and co-chair of the SPEAK campaign against the new animal testing lab in Parks Road argued that the process is cruel, unfair and unnecessary.
Mark Leonard, author of Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century and founder of the Foreign Policy Centre aged just 24, debated with Dirk van Heck, a Euroskeptic from the European Foundation. A fascinating discussion started by two men at the cutting-edge of this crucial public debate.
Husam Zomlot of the Palestinian Delegation to the UK argued for a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
Dr Bill Durodie of the Royal Military College of Science, an expert in the politics of terror, argued that our fear of terrorist groups has come to reflect growing insecurities within ourselves and a crisis of confidence in institutions of power.
Oxford academic Adam Swift, author of How Not to Be a Hypocrite argued that expensive private schools ought to be abolished.
Hiliary Term 2005
John Lloyd, Editor of the FT Magazine, regular contributor to Prospect Magazine and author of 'What the Media are Doing to Our Politics', discussed The Media as a Political Actor and Rivalry with Politics
Ed Miliband, Chair of the Economic Advisors to Gordon Brown, asked Can Politics still Change Society?
Ceri Dingle, Director of WORLDwrite, and Dr Rival, University of Oxford, discussed Sustainable Development - barrier or prerequisite to progress?
Claire Fox, Director of the Institute of Ideas, disucussed The New Authoritarianism and the Nanny State around health issues and therapeutic politics
Michaelmas Term 2004
Tyrell Burgess, Emeritus Professor in the philosophy of social institutions at the University of East London, and Richard Pring, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Oxford, debated What is Education for?
Elizabeth Frazer of New College, Oxford, discussed the value of the Political Virtues
The Hive took part in a successful post-play discussion of the issues raised in Kindertransport
Karma Nabulsi, Nuffield College, Oxford, discussed the Future of Palestine, on the day of the death of Yassir Arafat
Zachary Kaufman, D.Phil candidate in international relations at Oxford, where he is a Marshall Scholar, asked What is the future of transitional justice? (issues dealing with war criminals, and justice in states in transmission from war to peace)
Hiliary Term 2004
Brendan O'Neil, from spiked-online.com, argued that Humanitarian Intervention does more Harm than Good
Alan Hudson, Director of Studies for Social and Political Science at Kellogg College Oxford, asked- What's wrong with elitism in education?
Tom Dale, with Matt Bottomley and Sally Knock opposed, debated What is the ethical status of animals? (all HT04)
Michaelmas Term 2005
Marc Stears (tutor and lecturer in Politics at University College, Oxford) asked "Does Political Protest Still Matter?" Marc argued the case for "direct action" and suggested that a more robust form of political protest is necessary if real political change is to result.
Kenan Malik (author of "The Meaning of Race") and Martin Linton MP (Labour, Battersea) argued over the government bill that would ban Incitement to Religious Hatred. A heated discussion on the relative merits of tolerance and freedom, and whether multiculturalism encourages integration and respect or merely emphasises difference and leads to segregation.
Make Poverty History: Positive Progressive Movement or Endorsement of an Inadequate Government? Daniel Ben-Ami (author of Cowardly Capitalism: The Myth of the Global Financial Casino and writer from spiked-online.com) argued against the modest ambitions of the Make Poverty History campaign. He suggested that the movement promotes a double standard in the level of poverty that is deemed acceptable in the developed and developing worlds.
Trinity Term 2005
Mel Broughton, animal rights activist and co-chair of the SPEAK campaign against the new animal testing lab in Parks Road argued that the process is cruel, unfair and unnecessary.
Mark Leonard, author of Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century and founder of the Foreign Policy Centre aged just 24, debated with Dirk van Heck, a Euroskeptic from the European Foundation. A fascinating discussion started by two men at the cutting-edge of this crucial public debate.
Husam Zomlot of the Palestinian Delegation to the UK argued for a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
Dr Bill Durodie of the Royal Military College of Science, an expert in the politics of terror, argued that our fear of terrorist groups has come to reflect growing insecurities within ourselves and a crisis of confidence in institutions of power.
Oxford academic Adam Swift, author of How Not to Be a Hypocrite argued that expensive private schools ought to be abolished.
Hiliary Term 2005
John Lloyd, Editor of the FT Magazine, regular contributor to Prospect Magazine and author of 'What the Media are Doing to Our Politics', discussed The Media as a Political Actor and Rivalry with Politics
Ed Miliband, Chair of the Economic Advisors to Gordon Brown, asked Can Politics still Change Society?
Ceri Dingle, Director of WORLDwrite, and Dr Rival, University of Oxford, discussed Sustainable Development - barrier or prerequisite to progress?
Claire Fox, Director of the Institute of Ideas, disucussed The New Authoritarianism and the Nanny State around health issues and therapeutic politics
Michaelmas Term 2004
Tyrell Burgess, Emeritus Professor in the philosophy of social institutions at the University of East London, and Richard Pring, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Oxford, debated What is Education for?
Elizabeth Frazer of New College, Oxford, discussed the value of the Political Virtues
The Hive took part in a successful post-play discussion of the issues raised in Kindertransport
Karma Nabulsi, Nuffield College, Oxford, discussed the Future of Palestine, on the day of the death of Yassir Arafat
Zachary Kaufman, D.Phil candidate in international relations at Oxford, where he is a Marshall Scholar, asked What is the future of transitional justice? (issues dealing with war criminals, and justice in states in transmission from war to peace)
Hiliary Term 2004
Brendan O'Neil, from spiked-online.com, argued that Humanitarian Intervention does more Harm than Good
Alan Hudson, Director of Studies for Social and Political Science at Kellogg College Oxford, asked- What's wrong with elitism in education?
Tom Dale, with Matt Bottomley and Sally Knock opposed, debated What is the ethical status of animals? (all HT04)
Tackling Antisocial Behaviour
Tackling Antisocial Behaviour: Respect, Deference or Snobbery?
Guest speakers:
- Bill Pitt ("Respect Task Force" and "Anti-social Behaviour Unit" at the Home Office)
- Stuart Waiton (Director of "Generation Youth Issues", author of "Scared of Kids? Curfews, Crime and the regulation of young people" and "Who’s Antisocial? New Labour and the Politics of Antisocial Behaviour")
8.15pm, Thursday 7th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture room 6, New College
- Does the government’s "Respect" agenda represent a genuine attempt to build a"Social Contract", or does it encourage "deference" to authority?
- Why do adults lack the solidarity to stand together and hold antisocial youthsto account?
- Do ASBOs and bans on hoodies really deal with antisocial behaviour, orrepresent a cultural witch hunt of the white working class youth?
- Are ideas such as "parenting academies" likely to improve adult solidarity, or are such measures antisocial themselves in terms of their condescending outlooktowards parents?
Guest speakers:
- Bill Pitt ("Respect Task Force" and "Anti-social Behaviour Unit" at the Home Office)
- Stuart Waiton (Director of "Generation Youth Issues", author of "Scared of Kids? Curfews, Crime and the regulation of young people" and "Who’s Antisocial? New Labour and the Politics of Antisocial Behaviour")
8.15pm, Thursday 7th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture room 6, New College
- Does the government’s "Respect" agenda represent a genuine attempt to build a"Social Contract", or does it encourage "deference" to authority?
- Why do adults lack the solidarity to stand together and hold antisocial youthsto account?
- Do ASBOs and bans on hoodies really deal with antisocial behaviour, orrepresent a cultural witch hunt of the white working class youth?
- Are ideas such as "parenting academies" likely to improve adult solidarity, or are such measures antisocial themselves in terms of their condescending outlooktowards parents?
Back to the Future
Back to the Future: The Case for a Return to 19th Century Individualism
8.15pm, Thursday 6th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 6, New College
Rory Geoghegan, a third year PPE student, will propose a return to theindividualist politics of the 19th Century..."For too long the State has involved itself in areas of the economy andsociety to which it has no legitimate claim. The popular assumption that theState knows best, or is somehow best placed to make decisions affecting ourlives, has for too long gone unchallenged. The result of this misplacedtrust has been the failure of public services, the betrayal of generationsof British citizens, the replacement of economic poverty with moral andsocial poverty, the punishment of the responsible and reward of theirresponsible, and the sacrifice of excellence in preference to mediocrity.The time has come in Britain for a sustained and sustainable return to theindividualist politics of the nineteenth century."
This is part of a new initiative whereby Hive members who want to propose their ideas, argue over them and see whether they stand up to scrutiny will have the opportunity to do so.
8.15pm, Thursday 6th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 6, New College
Rory Geoghegan, a third year PPE student, will propose a return to theindividualist politics of the 19th Century..."For too long the State has involved itself in areas of the economy andsociety to which it has no legitimate claim. The popular assumption that theState knows best, or is somehow best placed to make decisions affecting ourlives, has for too long gone unchallenged. The result of this misplacedtrust has been the failure of public services, the betrayal of generationsof British citizens, the replacement of economic poverty with moral andsocial poverty, the punishment of the responsible and reward of theirresponsible, and the sacrifice of excellence in preference to mediocrity.The time has come in Britain for a sustained and sustainable return to theindividualist politics of the nineteenth century."
This is part of a new initiative whereby Hive members who want to propose their ideas, argue over them and see whether they stand up to scrutiny will have the opportunity to do so.
The Tyranny of Health
The Tyranny of Health: Doctors and Lifestyle Regulation
Guest speakers:
Dr Mike Fitzpatrick (General Practitioner, author of "The Tyranny of Health")
Opposing speaker tbc
8.15pm, Thursday 5th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 6, New College
- Are doctors being used as "agents of coercion" for the government’s anti-smoking and anti-obesity drives?
- Should the guilt of costing the NHS money force individuals into losing weight?
- Is health an ideal to aspire to or a means to an end?
- Why, when the population is generally healthier than it has ever been, are weso concerned about our health?
Guest speakers:
Dr Mike Fitzpatrick (General Practitioner, author of "The Tyranny of Health")
Opposing speaker tbc
8.15pm, Thursday 5th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 6, New College
- Are doctors being used as "agents of coercion" for the government’s anti-smoking and anti-obesity drives?
- Should the guilt of costing the NHS money force individuals into losing weight?
- Is health an ideal to aspire to or a means to an end?
- Why, when the population is generally healthier than it has ever been, are weso concerned about our health?
Towards a New Politics
Towards a New Politics
Guest speaker: Jim Panton (convenor of the "Battle of Ideas" and politics lecturer at LMH)
8.15pm, Monday 4th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 6, New College
- Do today’s politicians truly practice politics?
- Do "Left" and "Right" still mean anything?
- Are humans the objects or agents of political change?
- Is it still possible to strive for radical political change or have we reached the "end of history"?
Jim will argue that politics can no longer be understood in terms of the left-right struggle, but that it can be reclaimed as a positive way of changing the world.
Guest speaker: Jim Panton (convenor of the "Battle of Ideas" and politics lecturer at LMH)
8.15pm, Monday 4th Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 6, New College
- Do today’s politicians truly practice politics?
- Do "Left" and "Right" still mean anything?
- Are humans the objects or agents of political change?
- Is it still possible to strive for radical political change or have we reached the "end of history"?
Jim will argue that politics can no longer be understood in terms of the left-right struggle, but that it can be reclaimed as a positive way of changing the world.
Can We Trust Scientific Experts?
"Can We Trust Scientific Experts?"
Guest speakers:
Joe Kaplinsky (patent and technology analyst and science writer)
Sue Mayer (Executive Director, Genewatch UK)
8.15pm, Thursday 2nd Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 4, New College
- What are the risks of trusting scientists?
- Should science be made more democratic and accountable to the public?
- Should we trust government decisions based upon "sound science"?
- Is science ever truly objective or is it influenced by big business andinterest groups?
Guest speakers:
Joe Kaplinsky (patent and technology analyst and science writer)
Sue Mayer (Executive Director, Genewatch UK)
8.15pm, Thursday 2nd Week, Hilary Term 2006, Lecture Room 4, New College
- What are the risks of trusting scientists?
- Should science be made more democratic and accountable to the public?
- Should we trust government decisions based upon "sound science"?
- Is science ever truly objective or is it influenced by big business andinterest groups?
Europe and Democracy
Europe and Democracy , Chris Bickerton
May 15th 2006 - 8.15 Old Refrectory, Wadham College
Since the votes against the European Constitution in France and Holland in 2005,the EU has officially been in “period of reflection”. The dominantunderstanding of the ‘No’ votes was that they forced the EU to confront itsown “democratic deficit”. The EU has since made noises about wanting toimprove its “communication” with European electorates. The EU’s critics havedemanded reform: from strengthening the European Parliament to making the EUCommission more transparent.
ChrisBickerton, a PhD student at St Johns College, Oxford, argues that therelationship between nation states and the EU is driven by the degradation of national political life in Europe. In today’s political lexicon, ‘Europe’serves the same function as ‘globalization’ or ‘neoliberalism’. It expressestoday’s scepticism about our ability to bring society and the economy underour control. Solutions to the “democratic deficit” are not to be found inBrussels, but in efforts closer to home at recreating politics as a sphere ofactivity that concerns us all and in which we can each play a part.
May 15th 2006 - 8.15 Old Refrectory, Wadham College
Since the votes against the European Constitution in France and Holland in 2005,the EU has officially been in “period of reflection”. The dominantunderstanding of the ‘No’ votes was that they forced the EU to confront itsown “democratic deficit”. The EU has since made noises about wanting toimprove its “communication” with European electorates. The EU’s critics havedemanded reform: from strengthening the European Parliament to making the EUCommission more transparent.
- But does the source of the “democratic deficit”lie in Brussels?
- Should we be trying to build democracy in Europe when it isin such dire straits at home?
- Why are so many political problems transferredto the European level rather than dealt with by national parliaments?
ChrisBickerton, a PhD student at St Johns College, Oxford, argues that therelationship between nation states and the EU is driven by the degradation of national political life in Europe. In today’s political lexicon, ‘Europe’serves the same function as ‘globalization’ or ‘neoliberalism’. It expressestoday’s scepticism about our ability to bring society and the economy underour control. Solutions to the “democratic deficit” are not to be found inBrussels, but in efforts closer to home at recreating politics as a sphere ofactivity that concerns us all and in which we can each play a part.
Anti-Americanism
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Anti –Americanism - John Lloyd, editor of the Financial Times
Thursday 12th October 2006 at 8.15pm in Catz JCR Theatre
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Is Anti-Americanism a betrayal of the left’s anti-fascist heritage?
Has it ceased to be critical and become predestinarian?
Is it time to ‘get over’ a disabling obsession with the Iraq War?
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Anti –Americanism - John Lloyd, editor of the Financial Times
Thursday 12th October 2006 at 8.15pm in Catz JCR Theatre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is Anti-Americanism a betrayal of the left’s anti-fascist heritage?
Has it ceased to be critical and become predestinarian?
Is it time to ‘get over’ a disabling obsession with the Iraq War?
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Is Marxism Dead?
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Is Marxism Dead? -
Dr Marc Mulholland, Oxford History Dept.
Wednesday 15th October 2006
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Is Marxism a dead dogma, or a useful prism through which to understand the world?The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union within the next few years may have marked the death knell for communism in Europe but can this also be taken as proof of the failure or irrelevance of all socialist or revolutionary experiences? -Is communism across the world still a viable alternative to liberal democracy? Or are capitalism's inherent conflicts in fact solved by the welfare state?-Is there class struggle anymore?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is Marxism Dead? -
Dr Marc Mulholland, Oxford History Dept.
Wednesday 15th October 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is Marxism a dead dogma, or a useful prism through which to understand the world?The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union within the next few years may have marked the death knell for communism in Europe but can this also be taken as proof of the failure or irrelevance of all socialist or revolutionary experiences? -Is communism across the world still a viable alternative to liberal democracy? Or are capitalism's inherent conflicts in fact solved by the welfare state?-Is there class struggle anymore?
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The Challenge of Affluence
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The Challenge of Affluence
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Dr Avner Offer - Chichele Professor of Economic History, Oxford
Monday 27th November 2006 - 8.15pm, Room A, Bernard Sunley, St Catz
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~ Does economic growth make us all happier?
~ Or should we blame affluence for social and personal disorders,family breakdown, addiction, mental instability, crime, obesity, inequality, economic insecurity, and declining trust?
~ Should ideas of public 'happiness' factor into government policy?~ Are we capable of making our own choices and commitments to secure long term happiness or does greed always get in the way?
~ Has "Affluence trashed Prudence"?
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The Challenge of Affluence
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Avner Offer - Chichele Professor of Economic History, Oxford
Monday 27th November 2006 - 8.15pm, Room A, Bernard Sunley, St Catz
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ Does economic growth make us all happier?
~ Or should we blame affluence for social and personal disorders,family breakdown, addiction, mental instability, crime, obesity, inequality, economic insecurity, and declining trust?
~ Should ideas of public 'happiness' factor into government policy?~ Are we capable of making our own choices and commitments to secure long term happiness or does greed always get in the way?
~ Has "Affluence trashed Prudence"?
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