The World in 2025 with Peter Frankopan & Emily Maitlis: Making Sense of our Past, Present and Future (Part 1)
We’re living in a time of upheaval. The war in the Middle East is intensifying. Russia is making gains in Ukraine. America faces an election of unparalleled importance. Climate change and AI appear on the brink of changing our world forever. How are we to make sense of the world today? Study its past, argues acclaimed historian Peter Frankopan.
With this remarkably turbulent year almost over and attention turning to 2025 we were joined live on stage by Frankopan, as he explored what lies in the months ahead for us all. Drawing on his best-selling books, The Silk Roads and The Earth Transformed, he put our current challenges and opportunities into historical perspective and sought to map out what we can expect from the world in 2025. The event was chaired by Award-winning journalist and presenter of The News Agents podcast Emily Maitlis.
The first 30 minutes of this 90-minute event is available to watch here. The rest is available for our YouTube Members (Gold level) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIuk266T3dQ.
Thomas Friedman on the Future of America and the World: The Post-Election Dissection (Part 1)
Earlier this week, New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas Friedman returned to the Intelligence Squared stage in London for his first appearance since the pandemic. In conversation with broadcaster Ritula Shah he assessed the aftermath of the 2024 presidential race and explored whether Donald Trump’s policies will serve America’s interests or undermine its alliances and role in global affairs.
No one is better placed or more clear-sighted than Friedman to assess the implications of this new presidency. He shared with us his insights into the likely consequences of Trump’s vision for the US and the world for years to come.
The first thirty minutes is available to watch here, and the full 85-minute video is available for our Gold Members to watch on YouTube now. Click here to watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gzluTAW-Dc.
How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall
Tim Marshall is one of the world’s most successful authors on foreign affairs. He’s the writer who put the ‘geo’ into geopolitics with his multi-million selling books 'Prisoners of Geography' and 'The Power of Geography'.
Marshall’s principal argument is that without geography we cannot understand the world. Geography explains why Vladimir Putin wanted to annex Crimea; to remain a world power, Russia needs to maintain a navy and since Russian ports are frozen for half the year, Putin wants to control the warm water port of Odessa.
Geography also explains why China would find it highly difficult to invade Taiwan. The Taiwan Strait is about 130 km wide at its narrowest point, which is roughly three times the distance from Dover to Calais. Any invading force would face inhospitable coastlines, unpredictable monsoons and muddy, tidal beaches. Beijing might decide in time that these are risks worth taking. But these basic and immutable facts of natural terrain still matter hugely in international affairs.
Last month, Marshall came to the Intelligence Squared stage just weeks out from the pivotal election in the United States to discuss how politics and geography intersect on the world stage. He explained what’s at stake for the world in 2024 and how geography will underpin the geopolitical conflicts of the future.
The first 30 minutes of our event is available to watch below. The full video is available on YouTube here for Gold Members: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_CLfbse6DU.
🔥Just announced: We cannot wait to bring number 1 podcast ‘Kill List’ live to Union Chapel this December with host Carl Miller!
Tickets going fast - get yours via the link in bio or our website. #killlist #truecrime #events #London
Thomas Erikson on Understanding Human Behaviour
Unlike many self-help authors, the acclaimed behavioural expert Thomas Erikson has sold millions of books worldwide by giving advice on how to better understand the people around us — rather than just ourselves.
Earlier this week the bestselling author of 'Surrounded By Idiots' spoke to author and broadcaster Carl Miller to discuss his theory of human personality and his latest book 'Surrounded By Liars'. Erikson reminded us that companies and organisations are full of humans who think, communicate, function differently, and explain how we can improve our understanding of other people to advance our own careers.
The first half of their conversation is available to watch below, and the full version is available to watch for our Members on YouTube. Please click here for more information: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqcvH8EvUtePORpN03jLMg/join
The full video is available
Debate: Is Free Speech Under Threat? (Part 1)
Earlier this week we launched the first instalment of Intelligence Squared’s new book series 'THINK AGAIN, published in partnership with The Bodley Head. Our authors – CEO of PEN America Suzanne Nossel and historian Charlotte Lydia Riley – debated the motion that forms the title of the first book: "Is Free Speech Under Threat?" at Conway Hall, in central London. The debate was chaired by BBC presenter Jonny Dymond.
The first 30 minutes of the event is available to watch below. The full debate is available for Gold Members on YouTube. Click here for more information about YouTube Membership:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqcvH8EvUtePORpN03jLMg/join
There is more information about the THINK AGAIN series and the first book here:
https://intelligencesquared.com/think-again
We cannot wait for this.🔥
@jordanfstephens in conversation with @chantayyjayy live in Brighton discussing love, chaos and what a healthier version of masculinity could look like. 📚
#ADHD #love #brighton #linkinbio
The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is the economist who has set the terms of so much political debate over the past few decades in Britain. Having served as Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies since 2011, his expertise on matters of public spending and global economic trends have provided invaluable insight to the public and policymakers alike.
Last week he brought his expertise to the Intelligence Squared stage, where he reflected on a year of seismic change, including the impact of the 2024 general election on the country’s economic future. Does Starmer have what it takes to grow the economy? How can Britain hope to compete with innovation in tech and AI on the global stage? What shape should defence spending take in an increasingly volatile world, and how can we begin to tackle domestic issues such as child poverty, cost of living, a crippled NHS and a stubborn housing crisis?
The event is available to watch in full below.
The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook is presented in partnership with Guinness Global Investors. To find out more visit: https://www.guinnessgi.com/
Learn how to master every game with award-winning mathematician @marcusdusautoy ♟️🎲
Live in London with @drshinisomara on October 14
🎟️ Grab your tickets now! https://t.co/m8wsHep9Wm
One big question. Two great answers.
Proofs are in! Here is the first Think Again book in all its glory.
We can't wait for our official launch debate on October 9, live at @conwayhall - hear the arguments of our authors, @suzanne.nossel and @charlottelydiariley and have your say on one of the most hotly contested issues of our time.
🔗 Grab your book with ticket bundle via the link in our bio!
Earlier this week Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum joined us live on stage at London's Union Chapel to explore the themes of her latest book 'Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World'.
In conversation with BBC News Presenter Jonny Dymond, Applebaum argued that autocracies today are best viewed like an agglomeration of companies or what she calls Autocracy, Inc. Their relations are not based on values, but are rather transactional, which is why they operate so easily across ideological, geographical, and cultural lines. In truth, they are in full agreement about only one thing: The destruction of democratic challengers.
The first 30 minutes is available here. The full video is available to Members on intelligencesquaredplus.com.
