Media:
Availability:
In RealMedia only.
Last broadcast on Mon, 15 Jun 2009, 01:06 on BBC World Service (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL.
This week our theme is transformation.
Political historian ARCHIE BROWN on why Communism collapsed.
South African judge ALBIE SACHS on how to reshape a country.
American literary critic ELAINE SHOWALTER on pioneering women writers.
IN STUDIO
From left to right: Bridget Kendall, Albie Sachs, Elaine Showalter, Archie Brown
RECORDING THIS WEEK'S FORUM
MEET THE GUESTS
British historian of communism ARCHIE BROWN argues that the most decisive factor leading to the collapse of Communism across Russia and Eastern Europe was change at the top in Moscow, with the reforms of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
South African judge and activist ALBIE SACHS, a leading campaigner in the fight against apartheid, helped forge his country’s new progressive constitution. He explains how the interplay between idealism, passion and reason have been crucial in transforming his country.
American literary critic ELAINE SHOWALTER unearths the pioneering American female authors of the mid 19th century, a range of different women who were able to bring to the fore fresh and dangerous ideas that ultimately gave rise to political change.
60 SECOND IDEA TO CHANGE THE WORLD
ALBIE SACHS urges everyone to try to imagine they are the person they most loathe or fear. Getting into the body and mind of somebody you dread requires extreme imaginative effort, as well as courage and bravery. The reason for doing this would be so that people could see how interconnected all human beings are and it would also push us to our limits. He suggests that, for himself, he would have to imagine he were Hitler.
THIS WEEK'S ILLUSTRATION
Leaders, writing and the law transform society. By Emily Kasriel
IN NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAMME
Australian writer, poet and film critic CLIVE JAMES on what makes a screen icon.
Maverick Slovenian intellectual SLAVOJ ZIZEK on ‘interpassivity’, the 21st century equivalent of interactivity.
British Mathematician MARCUS DU SAUTOY on music and mathematics.
Broadcasts
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Sun 14 Jun 200909:06
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Sun 14 Jun 200920:06
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Mon 15 Jun 200901:06
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