大象传媒

Egyptian political economist Tarek Osman, author of , tells us that the Arab world has recently been through more than just a revolution: he says that there鈥檚 been a profound change in the nature of governance in the region, from a top down system to one in which people wield more genuine power. The reason? For the first time in decades, millions of young people in Egypt no longer rely on government institutions for jobs and security, making them bolder in their demands for freedom.

Former translator of Deng Xiaoping and Chinese professor of international diplomacy in Geneva and at Fudan University, Weiwei Zhang,听says in that听China is a universe of its own and that what matters most to its citizens is having a competent, enlightened leadership and rising living standards. After all, he says, his country has been a one-party system since it invented the civil service exam some two thousand years ago. But are the lack of major upheavals and economic growth really enough to create a better society?

American journalist and Chair in History and International Affairs听 at the London School of Economics, Anne Applebaum, argues in that the Communist parties in Eastern Europe created legions of unwitting political dissenters by attempting to control every aspect of people鈥檚 lives. Politicising all aspects of civil society, even if it鈥檚 just a chess club or jam-making group village group, turned them into a potential form of protest.

American historian Anne Applebaum suggests we should fine people who dawdle about in the streets tweeting or who read emails in the car while waiting at a red traffic light.听 She says we should invent a smart app that would automatically levy a charge whenever someone indulges in this kind of behaviour, reducing accidents and making it easier to walk down the street.

The Forum joins 90th birthday celebrations of 大象传媒 Radio with a programme from the Radio Theatre at听Broadcasting听House听in London. We鈥檒l be talking about listening with poet Imtiaz Dharker, radio producer Davia Nelson, and neuroscientist and stand-up comedian David McAlpine.