Portrait of Lord Melvyn Bragg, host of In Our Time

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Political realists

Realism is one of the dominant schools of thought in international relations theory, theoretically formalising the Realpolitik statesmanship of early modern Europe. Although a highly diverse body of thought, it is unified by the belief that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing wealth and power.

5 episodes

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HistoryPhilosophyOntologistsSocial philosophersPhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchPhilosophers of educationGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of law17th-century English male writersPhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writersPhilosophers of mathematicsNatural law ethicistsEmpiricistsPhilosophers of language17th-century English writers17th-century writers in LatinAlumni of St John's College, CambridgePeople whose existence is disputedTheoretical historiansBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationPhilosophers of warRhetoric theorists17th-century English philosophers19th-century German writersEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersGerman untitled nobility5th-century BC Athenians5th-century BC historiansAncient Athenian generalsAttic Greek writersClassical-era Greek historiansConsequentialistsMilitary theorists15th-century Italian philosophers470s BC births5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writersAncient Athenian historians, Ostracized AtheniansAthenians of the Peloponnesian WarBritish critics of ChristianityDeaths from choleraEnglish theologiansGerman military writersJourney to the West charactersMaterialistsMilitary personnel from Saxony-AnhaltThomas Hobbes

  1. Clausewitz and On War

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss On War, the 19th-century treatise on the theory of warfare by the Prussian soldier Carl von Clausewitz.

    17 May 2012

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    Featuring: Saul David, Hew Strachan, Beatrice Heuser

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    PhilosophyMilitary theoristsGerman military writersDeaths from choleraPolitical realists19th-century German writersGerman untitled nobilityPhilosophers of warGerman male non-fiction writersTheoretical historians19th-century German male writersMilitary personnel from Saxony-Anhalt

  2. Hobbes

    Melvyn Bragg discusses Thomas Hobbes, the great 17th century philosopher who famously said that ungoverned man lived a life that was ‘solitary, poor, brutish and short’.

    1 December 2005

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    Featuring: Quentin Skinner, David Wootton, Annabel Brett

    wikipedia article ↗
     
    PhilosophyEpistemologistsMaterialistsNatural law ethicistsAlumni of St John's College, Cambridge17th-century English philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationEnglish physicistsPhilosophers of lawSocial philosophersBritish philosophers of educationRhetoric theoristsBritish critics of ChristianityPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of language17th-century writers in LatinBritish critics of religionsCritics of the Catholic Church17th-century English writersPolitical realistsPhilosophers of mathematicsEnglish theologiansEmpiricistsOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of religionThomas HobbesEnglish political philosophersPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of history17th-century English male writers

  3. Machiavelli and the Italian City States

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. Inspired by the model of Cesare Borgia, he wrote a notorious manual of power still read today.

    9 December 2004

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    Featuring: Quentin Skinner, Evelyn Welch, Lisa Jardine

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    PhilosophyMilitary theorists15th-century Italian philosophersConsequentialistsPolitical realistsPhilosophers of war

  4. Sun Tzu and The Art of War

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Chinese military adviser Sun Tzu from the 6th century BC and the influential work of military strategy associated with him, The Art of War.

    1 March 2018

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    Featuring: Hilde de Weerdt, Tim Barrett, Imre Galambos

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    HistoryPhilosophers of cultureMilitary theoristsPhilosophers of educationPolitical realistsJourney to the West characters5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writersPhilosophers of social sciencePeople whose existence is disputedPhilosophers of warTheoretical historiansAphorists

  5. Thucydides

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ancient Greek historian Thucydides and his work entitled The History of the Peloponnesian War.

    29 January 2015

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    Featuring: Paul Cartledge, Katherine Harloe, Neville Morley

    wikipedia article ↗
     
    HistoryAttic Greek writersAncient Athenian historians, Ostracized Athenians5th-century BC historiansAthenians of the Peloponnesian WarPolitical realistsClassical-era Greek historiansAncient Athenian generals470s BC births5th-century BC Athenians