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This photo gallery features images of the Festival of Politics 2008
Pictures from Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
| The way in which minority European languages define culture and identity was explored on the third day of the festival when Rob Gibson MSP chaired the debate Linguistic Diversity in Europe. Mr Gibson was joined by broadcaster and author Billy Kay, Neil Mitchison of the European Commission, Neasa ni Chinneide of the European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages, and author Matthew Fitt. |
Five years since the invasion of Iraq, author Peter Oborne described how rather than creating a new democracy he believed it was one of the greatest foreign policy failures of modern times. At Iraq - War on Terror or Conflict Without End? he suggested the UK government was still paying the price for its actions in the Middle East. Mr Oborne, who spent a month in Iraq for Channel 4's Dispatches programme, said: "One of the reasons for the collapse of New Labour, especially here in Scotland, goes back to the unfinished business in Iraq." |
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| At 2.30pm on Friday, Sam Younger, chairman of the UK Electoral Commission; Dr Brigalia Bam, chair of the South African Electoral Commission and Douglas Fraser, Political Editor of the Herald, discussed issues surrounding modern elections in a panel session chaired by John McCormick, Electoral Commissioner for Scotland. | Cultural and National Identity were the focus of discussions between a panel of experts. James Naughtie, presenter of BBC Radio 4 Today programme, chaired the event and was joined by Linda Fabiani MSP, Sir John Grant, former UK ambassador to the EU and Odile Quintin, director-general of the Employment and Social Affairs Department. During the discussion, Mme Quintin said "Culture can bring the promotion of positive diversity and create a link between culture and the economy." | |
| The Edinburgh International Festival joined forces with The Festival of Politics in a strand titled "What Does the New Europe Mean For Artists and Cultural Policy Makers?" Broadcaster James Naughtie chaired the session which produced both pessimistic and optimistic deliberations from a panel that included Edinburgh International Festival Director Jonathan Mills, Samuel Jones from Demos and Nelson Fernandez from Visiting Arts in London. Outlining the challenges facing cultural policy makers today Jonathan Mills said: "They have not adequately understood the transformation of public spaces and not found ways of engaging with that transformed space." The answer, he suggested was for policy-makers to "engage with the sensory nature of the environment we live in." |
What motivates people to engage - and whether he who speaks loudest should have most influence were all topics of discussion in "Power to the People". Geoff Mulgan, chair of the Carnegie Commission on the Future of Civil Soceity, chaired the session. Other questions raised include the role voluntary sector plays in representing interest groups but also delivering services; how effective public campaigns are at influencing the public and decision makers; and the difference between access and influence. |
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| The turmoil in the global economy and the pressures facing banks across the world were discussed at a debate at the Festival of Politics on Friday. Scotsman Business Editor Peter MacMahon was joined in the main chamber of the parliament by former BBC Economics Editor Evan Davies, Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland Susan Rice and economics journalist Peter Jones to discuss how the UK economy can best weather the current political storm. Davies said: "Is this the first time the banks have gone too far? No. Is this the first time the banking system has failed? No. The question is why are we all so dumb that we keep letting it happen again and again." |
2007 Gallery | More pictures from 2007 Festival | 2007 Open Day gallery
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