War in the 20th Century

15 Oct, 1998 320 Political science

In the first programme of a new series examining ideas and events which have shaped thinking in philosophy, religion, science and the arts, Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss warfare and human rights in the 20th century. He talks to Michael Ignatieff about the life of one of the 20th century’s leading philosophers, Isaiah Berlin, and to Sir Michael Howard about the 20th century will be remembered; as a century of progress or as one of the most murderous in history. When we see pictures on television of starving people in war torn areas most of us feel we must ‘do’ something. Where does the feeling that we are in some way responsible for our fellow human beings originate historically? How has technology affected the concept of the Just War? And what are the prospects for world peace as we enter the next century? With Michael Ignatieff, writer, broadcaster and biographer of Isaiah Berlin; Sir Michael Howard, formerly Regius Professor of History, Oxford University and joint editor of the new Oxford History of the Twentieth Century.

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Guests

  • Michael Ignatieff No other episodes
    Writer, broadcaster and biographer of Isaiah Berlin
  • Sir Michael Howard 3 episodes
    Formerly Regius Professor of History, Oxford University and joint editor of the new Oxford History of the Twentieth Century

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Programme ID: p0054578

Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0054578

Auto-category: 320 (Political science)

Hello (First sentence from this episode) Hello and welcome to a new series of programmes in which I hope we'll be looking at some of the ideas and events which have influenced the century.