Big Ideas

Geoffrey Blainey on international relations past present and future and military historian Antony Beevor discusses his approach to writing the history of World War Two.

The media landscape is constantly changing but a good story remains a good story.

The threat from extremism comes in many forms and guises so what might be the best way to respond?

As a writer from overseas, Will Self offers his observations on Australia.

It’s the intersection of digital computing technology and traditional humanities disciplines. And Willard McCarty explains why we need this kind of research.

Much has changed over the years. but what are Australians thinking about climate change right now?

For us and our children after us - how should the management of inter-generational collectively owned assets be approached ?

It’s been 40 years of Australia-ASEAN partnership. But what’s ASEAN to Australia – really? Australia’s politics and businesses seem to be far more occupied with the ‘great power’-relationships of China and the US. And this has to change says our panel of experts on Big Ideas right after the news. Australia should make ASEAN its priority, otherwise we’ll not be able to fully embrace the Asian century.

Nicholas Rothwell shares his insights on how writers, past and present, have drawn meaning from our natural surroundings.

If you are exasperated by the parlous state of public discourse and debate - in politics, popular culture, or society generally - then you are not alone. Writers Helen Razer and Bernard Keane are similarly cranky about ‘the decline of reason’ and the ascendancy of ‘stupid’ ideas. In their new book, A Short History of Stupid, they take aim at anti-scientific thinking, government paternalism, the war on terror, contemporary feminism, and more. Paul Barclay talks to them.