Niall Ferguson - The Rule Of Law And Its Enemies [The Reith Lectures]

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

The Human Hive

20120619

20120623 (R4)

The eminent economic historian Professor Niall Ferguson argues that institutions determine the success or failure of nations. In a lecture delivered at the London School of Economics and Political Science, he says that a society governed by abstract, impersonal rules will become richer than one ruled by personal relationships. The rule of law is crucial to the creation of a modern economy and its early adoption is the reason why Western nations grew so powerful in the modern age.

But are the institutions of the West now degenerating? Professor Ferguson asks whether the democratic system has a fatal flaw at its heart. In the West young people are confronting the fact that they must live with the huge financial debt generated by their parents, something they had no control over despite the fact that they were born into a democracy. Is there a way of restoring the compact between different generations?

Producer: Jane Beresford.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

The Darwinian Economy

20120626

20120630 (R4)

The eminent economic historian Niall Ferguson travels to the world's financial centre to deliver a lecture at the New-York Historical Society. He reflects on the causes of the global financial crisis, and argues that many people have drawn erroneous conclusions from it about the role of regulation. Is regulation, he asks, in fact the disease of which it purports to be the cure?

Producer: Jane Beresford.

Niall Ferguson reflects on the causes and lessons of the global financial crisis.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

The Landscape Of The Law

20120703

20120707 (R4)

The historian Niall Ferguson delivers a lecture at Gresham College in the heart of legal London, addressing the relationship between the nature of law and economic success. He examines the rule of law in comparative terms, asking how far the common law's claims to superiority over other systems are credible. Are we living through a time of creeping legal degeneration in the English-speaking world?

Producer: Jane Beresford.

Niall Ferguson asks if different systems of law are key to economic success.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

Civil And Uncivil Societies

20120714

20120710 (R4)

The historian Niall Ferguson examines institutions outside the political, economic and legal realms, whose primary purpose is to preserve and transmit particular knowledge and values. In a lecture delivered at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he asks if the modern state is quietly killing civil society in the Western world? And what can non-Western societies do to build a vibrant civil society?

Producer: Jane Beresford.

Niall Ferguson asks what constitutes a vibrant and independent civil society.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Human Hive	20120619	20120623 (R4)	The eminent economic historian Professor Niall Ferguson argues that institutions determine the success or failure of nations. In a lecture delivered at the London School of Economics and Political Science, he says that a society governed by abstract, impersonal rules will become richer than one ruled by personal relationships. The rule of law is crucial to the creation of a modern economy and its early adoption is the reason why Western nations grew so powerful in the modern age. But are the institutions of the West now degenerating? Professor Ferguson asks whether the democratic system has a fatal flaw at its heart. In the West young people are confronting the fact that they must live with the huge financial debt generated by their parents, something they had no control over despite the fact that they were born into a democracy. Is there a way of restoring the compact between different generations? Producer: Jane Beresford. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.
02	The Darwinian Economy	20120626	20120630 (R4)	The eminent economic historian Niall Ferguson travels to the world's financial centre to deliver a lecture at the New-York Historical Society. He reflects on the causes of the global financial crisis, and argues that many people have drawn erroneous conclusions from it about the role of regulation. Is regulation, he asks, in fact the disease of which it purports to be the cure? Producer: Jane Beresford. Niall Ferguson reflects on the causes and lessons of the global financial crisis. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.
03	The Landscape Of The Law	20120703	20120707 (R4)	The historian Niall Ferguson delivers a lecture at Gresham College in the heart of legal London, addressing the relationship between the nature of law and economic success. He examines the rule of law in comparative terms, asking how far the common law's claims to superiority over other systems are credible. Are we living through a time of creeping legal degeneration in the English-speaking world? Producer: Jane Beresford. Niall Ferguson asks if different systems of law are key to economic success. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.
04	Civil And Uncivil Societies	20120714	20120710 (R4)	The historian Niall Ferguson examines institutions outside the political, economic and legal realms, whose primary purpose is to preserve and transmit particular knowledge and values. In a lecture delivered at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he asks if the modern state is quietly killing civil society in the Western world? And what can non-Western societies do to build a vibrant civil society? Producer: Jane Beresford. Niall Ferguson asks what constitutes a vibrant and independent civil society. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.