Nuclear Arms and Human Rights

Speaker: Professor Niall Ferguson
Chair: Professor Michael Cox
This event was recorded on 1 March 2011 in Old Theatre, Old Building
The decisive breakthroughs in the Cold War occurred in seemingly unrelated fields -- nuclear arms control and human rights. But was the collapse of communism a reflection of imperial overstretch or the result of liberal aspirations for freedom? This event celebrates the publication of Professor Ferguson's new book Civilization: The West and the Rest. Niall Ferguson is Philippe Roman Chair in History and International Affairs at LSE IDEAS for 2010-11.

[@manuag3886]

The audio isn't great

[@sawkodaniel]

Dear Mr. Ferguson, you have forgotten to list Stanislaw Ulam as one of the crucial scientists involved in the Manhattan project, along with the Teller-Ulam design of Hydrogen bomb. Other than that, fantastic talk and thoroughly thought provoking.

[@0r14n583lt]

Mr. Ferguson, we were simply lucky. There were many false alarms at NORAD and the Soviet equivalent that nearly went unchecked seconds before launch. The only thing that kept us from oblivion was the value of preservation of life that is presently not shared by all nuclear capable states and a whole lot of luck.

[@throbbingG]

When he says a lot of good stuff has been written right now about the history of human rights and he mentions 'Arners 3rd volume' does anyone know what book he is talking about?

[@tubebellator]

I don't understand your point. Why did you even take the time to post this comment?

[@malma1]

I find Niall Ferguson self-regarding and narcissistic. His argument is murky and rambling. He lacks humanity. I not convinced that he knows what 'civilisation' is...