In this engaging discussion, Bruce Caldwell, an expert on Friedrich Hayek, alongside Ben Jackson and Melissa Lane, dive into Hayek's influential work, The Road to Serfdom. They explore Hayek's warnings against centralized economic planning and its potential to lead to tyranny. The trio highlights how a 1945 Reader's Digest condensation reshaped public perception, turning Hayek's cautionary tale against socialism into a global phenomenon. They also contrast spontaneous order with state control, emphasizing the vital role of individual knowledge in economic systems.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Solon, who was elected archon or chief magistrate of Athens in 594 BC: some see him as the father of Athenian democracy. In the first years of the 6th century BC, the city state of Athens was in crisis. The lower orders of society were ravaged by debt, to the point where some were being forced into slavery. An oppressive law code mandated the death penalty for everything from murder to petty theft. There was a real danger that the city could fall into either tyranny or civil war.Solon instituted a programme of reforms that transformed Athens’ political and legal systems, its society and economy, so that later generations referred to him as Solon the Lawgiver. WithMelissa Lane Class of 1943 Professor of Politics at Princeton UniversityHans van Wees Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College Londonand William Allan Professor of Greek and McConnell Laing Tutorial Fellow in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at University College, University of Oxford Producer Luke Mulhall

In this insightful discussion, Bruce Caldwell, a leading expert on Friedrich Hayek, Ben Jackson, a modern history professor, and Melissa Lane, a political philosophy specialist, unpack Hayek's influential work, The Road to Serfdom. They delve into Hayek's warnings against centralized economic planning and the potential shift towards tyranny. The trio debate the significance of dispersed knowledge in market systems, contrasting it with the inefficiencies of state control. Their exploration highlights the enduring relevance of Hayek's ideas in today's political discourse.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Solon, who was elected archon or chief magistrate of Athens in 594 BC: some see him as the father of Athenian democracy. In the first years of the 6th century BC, the city state of Athens was in crisis. The lower orders of society were ravaged by debt, to the point where some were being forced into slavery. An oppressive law code mandated the death penalty for everything from murder to petty theft. There was a real danger that the city could fall into either tyranny or civil war.Solon instituted a programme of reforms that transformed Athens’ political and legal systems, its society and economy, so that later generations referred to him as Solon the Lawgiver. WithMelissa Lane Class of 1943 Professor of Politics at Princeton UniversityHans van Wees Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College Londonand William Allan Professor of Greek and McConnell Laing Tutorial Fellow in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at University College, University of Oxford Producer Luke Mulhall

Melissa Lane, Class of 1943 Professor of Politics at Princeton University and author of "Of Rule and Office: Plato's Ideas of the Political," shares intriguing insights into governance. She tackles the age-old question of 'who guards the guardians?' and explores the potential for abuse by those in power. The discussion highlights Plato's views on the cyclical nature of political systems, from democracy's decline to tyranny, and emphasizes the critical need for honor, accountability, and institutional safeguards in leadership.