Robin Blackburn: Where Do Good Ideas Come From?

Emily Bell, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Media 2015-16, will give an open lecture as part of a series of events she will be doing while in Cambridge on the theme of Facebook Eating the World. A mobile media revolution is changing the basis of the global free press and dictating the future of self expression. Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Google and Apple are among the few companies redrawing the boundaries of how we communicate and taking over the role of the global publishers. The future of journalism, the news, free speech and even democratic exchange is changed forever. What does this mean for the news media and for democracy? Is this an exciting new opportunity to remake the news or a long term threat to the public sphere? This lecture examines the rapid changes in the news ecosystem and its implications for the practice and policies of the media industry.

Emily Bell, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Media 2015-16, will be in conversation with Professor Mary Beard (University of Cambridge). They will discuss issues on the theme of Facebook Eating the World.

How can Peace be Made? Session Two 23 October 2015 Martti Ahtisaari, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Statecraft and Diplomacy 2015-16, will give two public lectures, participate in a Conversation with other invited speakers, and attend a concluding symposium based on the theme of How can Peace be Made? This is the final event of the series. Confirmed discussants include Professor Jan Zielonka (University of Oxford), Lord Hannay of Chiswick and Professor Jennifer Welsh (European University Institute). The symposium will be chaired by Professor Christopher Hill (University of Cambridge). Further information, including a programme, will follow shortly.

How can Peace be Made? Session One 23 October 2015 Martti Ahtisaari, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Statecraft and Diplomacy 2015-16, will give two public lectures, participate in a Conversation with other invited speakers, and attend a concluding symposium based on the theme of How can Peace be Made? This is the final event of the series. Confirmed discussants include Professor Jan Zielonka (University of Oxford), Lord Hannay of Chiswick and Professor Jennifer Welsh (European University Institute). The symposium will be chaired by Professor Christopher Hill (University of Cambridge). Further information, including a programme, will follow shortly.

In Conversation with Humanitas Visiting Professor Martti Ahtisaari 22 October 2015 Martti Ahtisaari, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Statecraft and Diplomacy 2015-16, will give two public lectures, participate in a Conversation with other invited speakers, and attend a concluding symposium during his stay in Cambridge. This is the third event in the series. President Ahtisaari will be in conversation with Professor Marc Weller and Professor John Dunn who are both with the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. The event will be chaired by Professor Brendan Simms, also with POLIS.

In Order to Succeed in Peace Mediation you have to be an Honest Broker 21 October 2015 Martti Ahtisaari, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Statecraft and Diplomacy 2015-16, will give two public lectures, participate in a Conversation with other invited speakers, and attend a concluding symposium, based on the theme of How Can Peace be Made?. This is the second of his two public lectures. In the lecture the underlying question is what the preconditions are for a successful conflict resolution process. How do you mediate and solve conflicts in a manner that creates solid and sustainable foundation for a society to continue, or begin, its life in peace? For a mediator it is important to understand how to deal with dignity of the parties and to ensure that the society has the grounds to move in the direction of true reconciliation and peace. In this work creating trust is everything. Peace is not implemented only by institutions, but by people.

Preventing Conflicts and Building Fair Societies: What can we learn from the Nordic countries? 19 October 2015 Martti Ahtisaari, the Humanitas Visiting Professor in Statecraft and Diplomacy 2015-16, will give two public lectures, participate in a Conversation with other invited speakers, and attend a concluding symposium based on the theme of How can Peace be Made? This is the first of his two public lectures. Drawing on his wide experience of conflict resolution and development cooperation as well as reflecting on his personal experience in growing up in an egalitarian Nordic society, President Ahtisaari will discuss the basic tenets for stable and fair societies. He will examine the importance of egalitarian policies for improving the life of all citizens.

CRASSH Humanitas Vistitng Professor in Chinese Studiies, Xu Bing, will give two lectures and participate in this concluding symposium. Confirmed speakers Professor Joshua Jiang (Birmingham City University) Dr Ros Holmes (University of Oxford) Dr Shane McCausland (SOAS) Dr Xiaofan Amy Li (University of Oxford) Professor Vimalin Rujivacharakul (University of Delaware) There are three videos in this series, Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3

CRASSH Humanitas Vistitng Professor in Chinese Studiies, Xu Bing, will give two lectures and participate in this concluding symposium. Confirmed speakers Professor Joshua Jiang (Birmingham City University) Dr Ros Holmes (University of Oxford) Dr Shane McCausland (SOAS) Dr Xiaofan Amy Li (University of Oxford) Professor Vimalin Rujivacharakul (University of Delaware) There are three videos in this series, Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3

CRASSH Humanitas Vistitng Professor in Chinese Studiies, Xu Bing, will give two lectures and participate in this concluding symposium. Confirmed speakers Professor Joshua Jiang (Birmingham City University) Dr Ros Holmes (University of Oxford) Dr Shane McCausland (SOAS) Dr Xiaofan Amy Li (University of Oxford) Professor Vimalin Rujivacharakul (University of Delaware) There are three videos in this series, Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3