The cuts - economic necessity or political choice?

What caused the deficit?

How will the cuts affect the economy?

Is there an alternative?

Andy Kilmister, senior lecturer on economics at Oxford Brookes University

Held in December 2010

What is English identity?

Is there an English 'national identity'?

If so, does it change over time?

How does migration affect 'Englishness'?

Ben Rogaly, a teacher and researcher in migration studies at the University of Sussex

Held in November 2010

A more equal society?

Just how unequal is British society today?

What are the costs this imposes on us all?

What should be done to create more equality?

Bill Kerry from the Equality Trust

You can download Bill's presentation here

Held in June 2010

What shapes British foreign policy?

The defence establishment?

Business interests?

American dominance?

David Wearing. David is researching for a PhD in Political Science at University College London, specialising in UK foreign policy. His articles have been published by The Guardian and Le Monde Diplomatique.

You can read David's talk on British foreign policy here

Held in April 2010

Iran and the West

Is Iran really a threat to the West?

What motivates the West’s policy?

Can the nuclear issue be resolved peacefully?

What is Israel’s role?

Milan Rai, writer, peace activist and co-editor of Peace News

Held in December 2009

Afghanistan - 8 years after the invasion

Have there been any benefits for the Afghan people - and for women in particular?

How has the military intervention affected regional and global security?

Should we argue for ‘troops out now’?

Gabriel Carlyle, Peace News journalist and anti-war activist

Held in October 2009

The war in Afghanistan

As the occupation of Afghanistan enters its eighth year, is there an end in sight?

What will be the impact of the ‘surge’ of US troops?

How is the continuing occupation affecting the lives of ordinary Afghans?

Jonathan Neale. Jonathan is a writer and long-standing anti-war activist who has lived in Afghanistan

Held in March 2009

The role of today’s media

What shapes the news we read?

Whose interests do the media serve?

Which stories go unreported, and why?

Nick Davies, author of 'Flat Earth News'

Held in February 2009

Obama or McCain? a new US president

What will an Obama victory or defeat tell us about racism and US society today?

Does it make any real difference whether Obama or McCain is president?

What will an Obama or McCain presidency mean for the rest of the world, US foreign policy and the ‘war on terror’?

Steve Burman, Dean of Humanities, Sussex University

Held in November 2008

China

How is the economic rise of China affecting the balance of power in the world today?

What are the implications for the USA and Europe?

Charlie Hore, who has been writing on China for 20 years

Held in October 2008

Women in Iraq

How have Iraqi women resisted oppression and occupation?

What is the reality for women living in occupied Iraq today?

What are the prospects for Iraqi women?

Haifa Zangana, author of 'City of Widows: An Iraqi Woman's Account of War and Resistance'

Held in July 2008

Colombia - 40 years of civil conflict

Why has there been long-running civil war in Colombia?

How is US and British involvement exacerbating the problems?

How are ordinary Colombians struggling for social justice?

Andy Higginbottom, Secretary of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign

Held in June 2008

Who profits from war?

Who is behind companies that reap the dividend of war?

How close are they to our political decision makers?

How has the ‘war on terror’ led to the privatisation of warfare?

Solomon Hughes, speaking about his book ‘Counter Terror inc'

Held in April 2008

Crisis in Kenya

What are the current protests and riots in Kenya about?

How did British colonial rule shape Kenya's problems?

What are Western interests in Kenya today?

Ken Olende, an activist and writer on African affairs, specialising in the history of Kenya

Held in February 2008

Humanitarian intervention

Humanitarian intervention has been used as a pretext by US and UK governments to justify military invasion of other countries.

Is it always just a cover for states to pursue their own interests?

Or is it sometimes necessary to prevent genocide?

Mary Kaldor, Professor of Global Governance at LSE and author of Human Security: reflections on Globalisation and Intervention Polity 2007

Held in January 2008

The new scramble for Africa

Why is the USA building military bases across Africa? What are the effects of Chinese economic involvement? How is this intervention affecting the African people?

Charlie Kimber, Journalist and writer on African affairs

Held in October 2007

Women in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan was justified by promises that it would liberate Afghanistan's women and girls.

6 years after this war began, what is the reality of life for women in Afghanistan?

Elaheh Rostami-Povey, lecturer at SOAS, University of London

Held in September 2007

Muslims in the UK today

What is it like to be a Muslim in Britain today? Why has racism against Muslims increased so alarmingly? What can be done to counter the attacks?

Anas Altikriti, Chief Executive of the Cordoba Foundation, London

Held in May 2007

Refugees in Britain

Displaced by western foreign policy. Detained under UK domestic policy. What drives Britain’s policy on refugees?

Tim Finch, Director of Communications, Refugee Council, London

Held in April 2007

US foreign policy - what next?

How weak is Bush now? What impact will this have? What will the Democrats do? Do they have the power to stop the war, and if so, will they?

Steve Burman, Dean of Humanities Sussex University

Held in February 2007

Sudan

What is happening in Darfur now? Why has the peace treaty failed? Is military intervention a solution?

Fatih Abdel Kariem, a personal view from a Sudanese living in Brighton

Held in November 2006

Women's lives in occupied Iraq

What changes have war and occupation brought to the lives of Iraqi women? What are their particular difficulties and concerns? How are women responding?

Nadje Al-Ali, Institute of Arab and Islamic studies, Exeter, and a founding member of Act Together: Women’s Action for Iraq.

Held in August 2006

Iran - the next war?

A discussion on the current situation in Iran. What effect is western pressure likely to have?

Roudabeh Shafie, founding member of Action Iran

Held in April 2006

A talk and discussion on Venezuela

Venezuela is the fifth largest oil exporter in the world, and supplies around 15% of US crude imports. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently compared Chavez to Adolf Hitler, and senior US political and military figures have made threats against Venezuela. How will the US react to a left wing, oil rich government on its doorstep? What implications does this have for us?

Espe Espigares, activist in the solidarity organisation Hands Off Venezuela

Held in March 2006

Remember Fallujah

To mark the first anniversary of the devastating assault on the Iraqi city of Fallujah, US activist and author Rahul Mahajan spoke on the current situation in Iraq and the anti-war movement in the US. Rahul spent time in both Fallujah and Sadr city during the April 2004 uprisings.

Rahul Mahajan, author of ‘The New Crusade’ and ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’.

Held in November 2005

Iraq - Invaded and occupied: What happens next?

Is immediate withdrawal of US & UK occupation forces the answer? Will withdrawal make the situation worse for the Iraqi people? Can the damage done to Iraq be limited? Is there a responsible exit strategy? Should the United Nations be involved?

Milan Rai, author of ‘War Plan Iraq’ & ‘Regime Unchanged'

Held in October 2005

Uzbekistan and British Foreign Policy in Central Asia

What is the situation now in Uzbekistan? What motivates British policy in the region?

Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan

Held in July 2005

Iran

Is Iran the next target? What is the nature of the present Iranian Government? Is Iran developing nuclear weapons? What is the history of US/UK involvement in Iran? Can intervention from the US/UK bring democracy to Iran?

Bahram Soroush, a civil rights and labour rights activist from Iran

Held in May 2005

Blair's Wars

Our pre-election conference on foreign policy under New Labour.

Held in April 2005

Elections in Iraq

How fair can elections be while Iraq is occupied? Who supports elections, who opposes them and why? What are the long-term implications?

Gabriel Carlyle, Voices in the Wilderness

Held in January 2005

Bush or Kerry?

What impact will the US elections have on the rest of the world?

Steve Burman, Dean of Humanities, University of Sussex

Held in October 2004

Civil Liberties since 9/11: the ‘war on terrorism’ at home

What has been the impact of anti-terrorist legislation on our civil liberties?

Sait Akgul, from the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities.

Held in September 20 04

Sudan

What is happening in Sudan? Are sanctions or military intervention a solution?

A personal view from Fatih Abdel Kariem, a Sudanese living in Brighton, on the situation in Sudan

Held in August 2004

What Future for Iraq?

On June 30th the US will hand over sovereignity to an Iraqi Government. But will they be relinquishing real power? Does this mean the end of the occupation? Is this a positive step for the Iraqi people?

Gabriel Carlyle, Voices in the Wilderness

Held in June 2004

The Muslim community in Britain

What has been the impact of 9/11; the invasion of Iraq and the ‘war on terrorism’ on Britain’s Muslim community?

Kadeer Arif, Chair of University of Sussex Islamic Society

Held in April 2004

Debt, destruction, and double standards in Iraq

Iraqis face a mountain of unpayable debt and free-market shock therapy imposed by the US. Meanwhile, across the globe the promise of debt relief and new loans is being used to force the same policies on the world’s poorest countries. What is the impact on the most vulnerable? Is this approach consistent with supporting development and democracy? Is forcing Iraqis to pay Saddam’s debts like shooting someone in the head then charging them for the bullet?

Martin Powell, World Development Movement

Held in March 2004

Web of Deceit: Britain’s real role in the world

In his book ‘Web of deceit’ Mark Curtis examines Britain’s role in the world since 1945, and involvement in the ‘war against terrorism’. He gives a comprehensive critique of the Blair government’s foreign policy, arguing that these policies are making the world more dangerous and unequal.

Mark Curtis

Held in February 2004

Palestine: a tale of 2 villages

Brighton based Peace activists recently returned from the West Bank, shared their observations about the "security wall", it's implications on those living in the surrounding areas and the effects of the occupation on the olive harvests

Chris Osmond, MJ Burkett

Held in December 2003

A new American Empire: war & peace under a single super power

a meeting to look at the consequences of US foreign policy under Bush

Steve Burman, Dean of Humanities, University of Sussex

Held in November 2003