Intelligence Squared

The panel discuss the contention that the United Nations is terminally paralysed, and the democratic world needs a forum of its own.

Clive James delivers a lecture on Florence, the city he calls his third university, and the place that opened his mind to European culture and history. Discussing his love affair with the city, which he first visited around 45 years ago, he provides a whistlestop tour through the architecture, history, and famous residents of the birthplace of the Renaissance, from the Piazza della Signoria to the Orsan Michele, and from Botticelli to Dante.

The panel discuss the theory that the era of America's role as the 'World's Policeman" is coming to an end.

In this discussion on the future of Afghanistan, seven politicians and journalists offer their thoughts on the current situation in Afghanistan and suggest the strategy that Coalition countries should pursue in the future.

Rory Stewart OBE provides an insight into the richly varied cultural and architectural history of Kabul, created by its prominent position along the Old Silk Road. He describes how the great heritage of Kabul has been decimated over the course of history, not only by figures like Genghis Khan in the 13th century, but by the British occupation in the 19th, and then by the Soviets in the 20th century.

The panel debate the idea that beauty has lost its value in British society.

Andrea Palladio freed European architecture to the full glories of the classical Renaissance, founding a style that is fresh and vigorous to this day. To John Ruskin he was a hidebound traditionalist who buried the soaring inspiration of European Gothic in out of date rules and pagan temples. He was the apostle of ugliness and impiety. Only one of them can be right. Which do you think?

Renowned polyglot and polymath George Steiner has long been recognised as one of the most original minds and brilliant lecturers of our generation.

India, a democracy of over a billion people, has a rate of growth almost as impressive as China's, a burgeoning middle class, a highly skilled work force and an abundance of raw materials. More important still, it operates under the rule of law not the rule of the politburo. Could it be that India ends up the dominant power of the eastern hemisphere?

The panel discuss what actually constitutes happiness, and whether we should simply be happy with what we’ve got.

In the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal (May - June 2009), a panel of politicians and journalists discuss the merits and pitfalls of the current system of democracy in Britain - is the system rotten to the core, or was the expenses scandal simply a storm in a teacup? In a departure from the usual debate format, the seven panellists each present their views on the current state of affairs and suggest if, and how, the system needs to be reformed.

The panel discuss the theory that psychotherapy has done more harm than good.

In a break from the usual Intelligence Squared debate format, the panel each have a chance to share their views on the question "Can art be taught to the Facebook generation?"

Winston Churchill is often held up as a champion of freedom and a symbol of Britain’s determination to defend the world from the perils of Nazism, but do we see Churchill through rose-tinted glasses? Are we forgetting his authorisation of the RAF’s ‘terror-bombing’ of German cities in World War 2, or his starvation blockade of Germany during the Great War? And what about the military catastrophes he masterminded at Gallipoli (1915) and Norway (1940)? An esteemed panel debate Churchill’s true legacy.

Was the 20th century a mistake? What is the climate of excitement which makes film possible? How were the colossal prehistoric menhirs of Brittany erected? How do you move a steamship in similar fashion over a mountain? Why is tourism a sin? Why is travel on foot a virtue? These are some of the questions the legendary film director Werner Herzog will be discussing with Paul Holdengräber, Director of Public Programs at the New York Public Library - assisted by copious images, music and film clips 'curated' by Herzog himself.

William Dalrymple, a twenty five year resident of Delhi, discusses the city that he describes as the ‘most complicated city he knows’.

The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world? It stands up for the oppressed and offers spiritual succour to billions say the Church's supporters. But what about the Church's teachings on condoms, gay sex and women priests, ask the detractors. A new debate, presented from London by Zeinab Badawi.

The panel debate the motion that free-market capitalism is so 20th century.

n the name of combating terrorism, keeping public order and often just plain old efficiency, the modern state is slowly but surely depriving us of our fundamental freedoms. That's the common lament of self-styled lovers of liberty. But is there any truth to it? Since 1997 we've had the Freedom of Information Act, the Data Protection Act, the Human Rights Act and many other pieces of legislation designed to strengthen our civil liberties. Isn’t there a case for saying our freedoms are more secure than they've ever been?

The motion proposes that "atheism is the new fundamentalism", i.e., atheism has replaced religion as the new faith of the secular age, exploring the notion that modern atheism is itself guilty of the very dogma and belief in its own infallibility which it scorns in the religious community.

Whilst the detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy are said to be in favour of maintaining international sanctions against the Burmese military junta, many argue that the existing ones have had no effect on the government's anti-democratic stance, and have only contributed to the suffering of the Burmese people. A panel of experts debate the effectiveness of the sanctions, and suggest alternatives.

Tony Blair and atheist Christopher Hitchens debate whether religion is a force for good in the world. Rudyard Griffiths chairs.

In this historic event, Stephen Fry and other friends of Christopher Hitchens came together to celebrate the life and work of this great writer, iconoclast and debater. Fry was joined on stage at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall by Richard Dawkins and the two discussed Hitch's unflinching commitment to the truth. Hollywood actor Sean Penn was beamed in from LA by Google+ and, between cigarette puffs, read from Hitch's acclaimed work, The Trial of Henry Kissinger. Five friends of Hitch spoke via satellite in New York: satirist Christopher Buckley and editor Lewis Lapham mused on Hitch's prowess as a journalist. 'Like a pot of gold', said Lapham. Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie and James Fenton delighted the audience with stories of Hitchens as a young man. Rushdie drew roars of laughter when he recounted a word game invented by Amis and Hitchens where the word 'love' is replaced with 'hysterical sex'. Particular favourites included Hysterical Sex in the Time of Cholera and Hysterical Sex Is All You Need. Watching the event with Hitch at his bedside in Texas, Hitch's wife Carol and novelist Ian McEwan provided an email commentary. 'His Rolls Royce mind is still purring beautifully', typed McEwan. The event was watched live by 2500 at the venue, and by thousands more in UK cinemas and online.

Rising star historian Faramerz Dabhoiwala described how the permissive society arrived in Western Europe, not in the 1960s as we like to think, but between 1600 and 1800. It began in England and is now shaping and challenging patterns of sexual behaviour all over the world.