̽»¨Ö±²¥

̽»¨Ö±²¥packed two-week programme brings together many of the world’s leading thinkers and experts to tackle a series of critical issues, from privacy and the impact of technology to immigration and censorship, inspired by the theme of power and resistance.

Headline speakers include Professors Lord Martin Rees, Dominic Lieven, David Runciman, John Macnicol and Rae Langton. They are joined by BBC’s Alan Yentob, author Peter Hitchens, photographers Toby Smith and Judith Aronson, journalists Ian Dunt and Emily Dugan, CEO of Index on Censorship Jodie Ginsberg, and musical innovators Asian Dub Foundation. ÌýÌý

Social media and technology come under the spotlight, with events examiningÌýÌýsuch as Facebook and Twitter;ÌýÌýin today’s technology-dependent society – particularly relevant in view of whistleblower Edward Snowden’s recent revelations that security services can gain total access to user’s devices; and the advantages and disadvantages of computers thatÌýÌýand interact with us intelligently, and the many ethical questions these topics raise.

Political issues including the future of Europe and immigration are also at the heart this year’s Festival. On the theme of the future of Europe is the debateÌýÌý ̽»¨Ö±²¥speakers include historian Professor Robert Tombs; Montserrat Guibernau, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of London and author of the forthcoming bookÌýSolidarity and Division in the EU; and Dr Chris Bickerton, a politics lecturer at the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge and author of the award-winning bookÌýEuropean Integration: From Nation-States to Member States.

Further political-themed events includeÌýÌýa debate with Professor Anthony Glees, ÌýDirector of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at ̽»¨Ö±²¥ ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Buckingham; Turkish artist and anti-censorship campaigner Pelin Basaran; Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index on Censorship; and Dr Sara Silvestri who specialises in radicalisation. ̽»¨Ö±²¥question of whether national broadcasters can be truly independent at a time of war is considered in the debateÌý, with Professor Christopher Andrew, Official Historian of MI5; Professor David Welch, director of the Centre for the Study of Propaganda and War at the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Kent; Dr Peter Busch from King’s College London on the use of social media for propaganda purposes; and Caroline Wyatt, former defence correspondent at the BBC.

A key Festival highlight is the 24-hour event,Ìý. For one day and one nightÌýArenaÌýinfiltrates Cambridge in a series of pop-up locations showing the likes of Bob Dylan, Francis Bacon, Sister Wendy, Harold Pinter, Bob Marley, T.S. Eliot and Luis Bunuel to name just a few. Following the filmic inundation of Cambridge, members of the team will discuss the secrets of the programme’s success andÌýthe Ìýwith Cambridge ̽»¨Ö±²¥ film experts and the BBC’s Alan Yentob. ̽»¨Ö±²¥talk will consider new broadcasting formats and platforms, for instance online, and critical partnerships with universities and communities, seeking core interaction between the best research and best creatives.

Gender issues continue to be contentious and the Festival debates some of the current issues in a number of events including a panel discussion that explores the implications ofÌý, with speaker Reverend Christina Beardsley. In addition, Dr Julia Long will take a look at the nature and prevalence of mainstreamÌý, considering its impact and effects, and raising critical questions regarding feminist resistance within an increasingly pornified society.

Talks on severalÌýnew booksÌýare a key highlight of this year’s Festival:

• Author Bidisha and award-winning journalist Emily Dugan will be in conversation about their new books on the lives ofÌýÌýwho have made it to the UK, the books go behind the headlines to reveal the personal dramas of ordinary men and women trying to make a new life in the UK.
• Professor John Macnicol will be discussing his new book (due out this week), which examines the effect ofÌýÌýon the recent ageing and social policy agenda in the UK and the USA. ̽»¨Ö±²¥book outlines past theories of old age and examines pensions reform, the debate on life expectancy gains, the causes of retirement, the idea of intergenerational equity, the current debate on ageism/age discrimination and the likely human consequences of raising state pension ages.
• Paul Wallace, a leading commentator on the economics of the European Union, will also be talking about his new book,Ìý, which explains how and why the euro crisis happened, and the implications for the economic and political future of Europe.
• Professor Ulinka Rublack's new book,ÌýÌý(due out this month), tells the shocking story of how the mother of the famous scientist Kepler was accused of witchcraft. In conversation with Juliet Mitchell, the author explores historical resistance to women as well as ways in which families have been implicated in mechanisms of power.

Established in 2008, Cambridge Festival of Ideas aims to fuel the public’s interest in arts, humanities and social sciences. ̽»¨Ö±²¥events, ranging from talks, debates and film screenings to exhibitions and comedy nights, are held in lecture halls, theatres, museums and galleries around Cambridge. Of the over 250 events at the Festival, most are free.

̽»¨Ö±²¥Festival sponsors and partners are Cambridge ̽»¨Ö±²¥ Press, St John’s College, Anglia Ruskin ̽»¨Ö±²¥, RAND Europe, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Cambridge Live, ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden, Arts Council England, Cambridge Junction, British Science Association, Heritage Lottery Fund, Heffers, WOW Festival, Southbank Centre, Collusion, TTP Group, Goethe Institut, Index on Censorship and BBC Cambridgeshire.