Confronting global challenges at Hay

Is democracy up to our 21st-century problems? Will the UK ever sort out its relationship with Europe? Is tragedy the perfect form for the modern plight?

The fourth Cambridge series at the Hay Festival this June will address all of these questions and more. Celebrating the prestigious literary festival’s 25^th anniversary this year, the Cambridge series will for the first time include a series of debates by some of the world’s leading thinkers alongside talks by individual academics.

Professor Alison Sinclair, Jennifer Wallace and Professor Adrian Poole will debate whether the media and public respond to tragic events now in ways that echo age-old traditions which go back to Greek tragedy or whether classic ideas about tragedy’s purpose need revising.

Professor Richard Sennett and Brendan Burchell will explore the future of work and ask whether new technology will liberate us or lead to longer hours and increasing social isolation.

Professor Saskia Sassen, Wendy Pullan, Sara Silvestri and Max Sternberg will discuss the changing nature of urban violence, from the streets of Jerusalem to the avenues of Toulouse.

Professor Brendan Simms, Professor Robert Tombs and Professor Christopher Hill will debate whether the UK will ever get on with Europe and Andrew Gamble, David Runciman and Glen Rangwala   will discuss whether democracy is right for our current global problems.

Other speakers in the Cambridge series include Professor Lawrence Sherman on intelligent policing. His talk will be chaired by Sir Denis O’Connor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

The Cambridge series started in 2009 with speakers drawing audiences of up to 800 people. It has run annually ever since and has become a regular feature of the Festival whose director, Peter Florence, is a Cambridge alumnus.

The full line-up for the series which runs throughout the Festival is:

1st June - 6.30pm

Professor Saskia Sassen, Wendy Pullan, Sara Silvestri, Max Sternberg – Urban conflicts

Cities are becoming sites for a whole range of new types of violence and being extensively targeted in armed conflicts. How can we reduce the risk of violence?

2nd June – 5.30pm

Professor Susan Golombok – We are family

Gay fathers, single mothers by choice and donor siblings. Professor Golombok will talk about what really counts for children who grow up in new family forms.

3rd June - 4pm

Brendan Burchell and Professor Richard Sennett in conversation – The future of work

What will our working lives be like in the future?

4th June - 11.30am

Professor David Spiegelhalter – Are you taking a risk or a chance? Trying to put numbers on uncertainty

We get continually warned about the risks around us, but the upside of uncertainty is chance and opportunity. Professor Spiegelhalter will show how to weigh luck, both bad and good.

5.30pm

Professor Alison Sinclair, Jennifer Wallace and Professor Adrian Poole – Is tragedy the perfect form for the modern world?

What are the ingredients of good tragedy today?