How can we reconcile short-term politics with the long-term global problems we face? Should scientists wield more political power? Is it fair to criticise politicians for faults in our political system, or is it out failing? Or is democracy itself to blame?
Professor David Runciman, of the Department of Politics and International Studies and the CRASSH Conspiracy and Democracy project, puts these questions to Lord Martin Rees – cosmologist, Astronomer Royal, and member of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at CRASSH – and someone who believes that mankind only has a 50% chance of making it through this century without a serious global “setback”. The team then debate this week’s political events.
Posted 18/2/15. Duration: 42 mins, 51 secs.
