Free Thinking

How relevant is the Nation-State in today's world? Philip Dodd debates the future of the Nation -State with political commentator Will Hutton, New Generation Thinker Adriana Sinclair, Turkish novelist Elif Shafak and historian Quentin Skinner. Susannah Clapp reviews Martin Crimp's new play In The Republic of Happiness. And Philip talks to Wm Paul Young, the American Christian author whose debut novel The Shack has sold over 18 million copies.

Matthew Sweet chairs an "International Review" edition of the programme and is joined by two novelists, from China, Xiaolu Guo, and from Poland, A.M. Bakalar and also by the Cairo-based Middle East affairs commentator Magdi Abdelhadi and critic Konstantin Eggert. They discuss the 50th anniversary of Lawrence of Arabia; the international reaction to the Leveson report and how media practices differ around the world; and the new English translation of a 19th century Polish novel, The Heathen by Narcyza Zmichowska.

Constable, Gainsborough and Turner, the three towering figures of English landscape painting, have their artwork showcased in a new exhibition at the Royal Academy – Anne McElvoy is joined by art critic Lynn Nead and historian Andrew Wulf to review. Sir Ronald Harwood talks about adapting his play Quartet for the big screen. Advertising executives Robin Wight and Barry Delaney discuss the legacy of David Ogilvy. And the artist Katrina van Grouw gets under the skin of birds in a remarkable book of anatomical drawings.

Colm Toibin is one of Ireland's finest writers, whose books explore issues such as Catholicism, immigration and homosexuality. His 2009 novel Brooklyn won the Costa novel of the Year, and his latest The Testament of Mary is a controversial re-imagining of the life of the Virgin Mary. In an extended interview recorded at the Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival at The Sage Gateshead on Saturday 3 November, Philip Dodd talks to Colm Toibin about his own life, his ideas, and thoughts on literature.

Matthew Sweet speaks to acclaimed director Michael Grandage whose theatre company launches with a new production of Peter Nichols's celebrated play Privates on Parade. As a new centre in Cambridge is set up to assess the dangers that might arise from progress in artificial intelligence, Matthew talks to one of its founders Sir Martin Rees and sustainability innovator Rachel Armstrong. And Jonas Mekas, film-maker, artist, poet, and a leading figure of avant-garde and experimental cinema, discusses his remarkable and prolific sixty-year career.

Samira Ahmed hosts a discussion about cross casting with Fiona Shaw and Carol Rutter as the all female production of Julius Caesar opens at the Donmar Warehouse and Susannah Clapp gives a first night review. Tim Pat Coogan talks about his new book and what he sees as the role of Britain in the Irish Potato Famine of 1845. There's a discussion about the role of violence in Buddhist history and traditions and Samira meets two up and coming Brazilian writers: Michel Laub and Tatiana Salem Levy.

As Radio 3 marks the bicentenary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s historic retreat from Russia, Anne McElvoy examines the ambivalent relationship between France and the notorious leader, with political commentator Agnes Poirier, Professor Peter Hicks from the Napoleon foundation and Professor Michael Broers. Critic Adrian Searle discusses the winner of this year’s Turner Prize, Elizabeth Price. And there's a look at the first comprehensive history of Georgia for decades, using recently accessible archives from author Donald Rayfield.

Economist Ian Goldin gives a talk on Globalisation and the Future at Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival. Presented by Anne McElvoy, Ian explores whether globalisation is a force for good, or whether it will be the source of an ever more unequal and unstable world. Recorded at The Sage Gateshead on Sunday 4th November 2012.

Critic Kevin Jackson and Andrew Biswell join Samira Ahmed to review Napoleon Rising, a play by Anthony Burgess, ahead of its world premiere on Radio 3 on 2nd December. Samira will also be weighing up the latest film adaptation of Great Expectations with its screenwriter, David Nicholls. Designer Tom Dixon and historian Amanda Vickery review the V&A Museum’s new furniture wing. And writer and journalist James Buchan and Azar Nafisi reflect on the legacy of the 1979 Iranian revolution.

Matthew Sweet talks to Antony Gormley about his gigantic new sculpture Model. The leading Sondheim interpreter Maria Friedman reveals why she has decided to move from acting to directing for a new production of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. Matthew is joined by the psychologists Nicholas Humphrey and Thomas Hill to debate whether we are as smart as we used to be. And as the literary archive of the great Russian film-maker Andrei Tarkovsky comes up for auction, Matthew looks at his potent legacy.