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David Runciman

The History of Ideas Podcast
with David Runciman

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A bi-weekly podcast exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, science to fiction.

Latest episode

The History of Bad Ideas: Party Members Choosing Leaders

5 December 2024

00:00 / 01:04

For our penultimate bad idea in this series, David talks to Robert Saunders about what’s gone wrong with British politics since party members got to decide who leads the party – and in some cases who gets to be prime minister. Is the problem the principle of the thing or the people who end up in charge (Corbyn, Truss)? How did reforms undertaken in the name of democracy manage to undermine democracy? And what are the alternatives?

A new bonus bad idea is available to accompany this series: David talks to Lucia Rubinelli about what’s gone wrong with the idea of sovereignty. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up now to PPF+ https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

To find out about our gift offerings for Christmas and beyond visit the gift page on our website https://www.ppfideas.com/gifts

Next Bad Idea: Televised Leadership Debates

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More episodes

The History of Bad Ideas: Steady State Theory

1 December 2024

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Bad Ideas: The End of History

28 November 2024

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Bad Ideas: Modernisation!

24 November 2024

00:00 / 01:04

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