Conspiracy theories and border conflicts at the Cambridge Festival of Ideas

These and many more historical questions will be debated at this year’s Cambridge Festival of Ideas, which is bursting with over 200 events for people of all ages. Those taking part include Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, artist Quentin Blake, author MJ Hyland, Frank Field MP, columnist Owen Jones, George the Poet, teen writer Anthony McGowan, comedian James Mullinger and academics ranging from David Reynolds and Noreena Hertz to Mary Beard, Anthony Giddens and Richard Evans.

The University of Cambridge Festival of Ideas, which runs from 23rd October to 3rd November, celebrates the very best of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Events are held in lecture halls, theatres, museums and galleries around Cambridge and entry to most is free.

The theme of the Festival is Frontiers and one session, led by Professor David Reynolds, will focus on the history and legacy of border conflicts in areas such as the Balkans and South Asia. It takes place on 2nd November from 3-4.30pm.

Other historical debates and talks include:

• Professor Anthony Giddens, former director of the London School of Economics, on how we can find a way through the maze of unprecedented dangers and possibilities faced in the 21st century when prior history cannot provide us with a guide. Professor Giddens is currently writing a book on this subject. 26th October, 2-3pm
• Professors Sir Richard Evans, David Runciman and John Naughton on how far conspiracy theories undermine trust in government and shape history, using examples from 9/11 to the rise of Holocaust denial. The three lead a new Leverhulme-funded interdisciplinary, collaborative project on conspiracy theories at the University of Cambridge. 23rd October, 5-6.30pm.
• Professor Jonathan Haslam on the history of Russia’s Secret Services from the Revolution to the Fall of the Wall: the Military Intelligence, the codes and ciphers and the KGB. Professor Haslam’s forthcoming book on the history of 20th century Soviet intelligence will be the first on the history of all the Soviet intelligence organisations. 28th October, 6-7pm.
• Dr Michael Collins on how imperial powers used federations to shape the process of decolonisation after 1945. The East African Federation will be a particular focus of his talk. 29th October, 5.45-7.15pm.
• Professor Simon Keynes on the extent to which shire boundaries, dykes, rivers, roads and treaty-lines in Anglo-Saxon England functioned as frontiers and how Viking influenced English. 29th October, 5-6pm.
• Archaeologist Dr Cameron Petrie on living in the borderlands of Pakistan from the Neolithic to the spread of Islam. 25th October, 5-6.30pm.

There are also historical events for children, including a Pre-history Day, a talk by classics author Caroline Lawrence and a Horrible Histories session with an actor from the series.

Malavika Anderson, the Festival of Ideas Coordinator, said: “The Festival of Ideas has grown significantly over the last few years, in terms of both the number as well as the diversity of events on offer.

“We were delighted to have welcomed over 14,000 visitors at the Festival in 2012 and look forward to welcoming even more over 12 days this autumn. The theme this year – Frontiers – explores how borders, boundaries and margins are being either challenged or reinforced around the world – has inspired the development of some truly exciting events.”

The University of Cambridge Festival of Ideas is sponsored by Barclays, Cambridge University Press and Anglia Ruskin University. Anglia Ruskin also organises over a dozen of the events during the Festival.

Event partners include Heffers Classics Festival, University of Cambridge Museums RAND Europe, the Goethe-Institut London and the Junction. The Festival's hospitality partner is Cambridge City Hotel and its media partner is BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

The full Festival programme will be published on 2nd September. For more information please visit: www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas.