State of the World Day

Hosted by Dr Simon Curtis from the University of Surrey.

We are delighted to welcome Dr Simon Curtis as host for the day's programme. Dr Curtis is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Surrey and is a leading expert on global politics, cities and international order. He is the author of Global Cities and Global Order (Oxford University Press), which was awarded the 2018 Hedley Bull Prize by the European Consortium for Political Research, and The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization and China's Search for a New International Order (Yale University Press, 2024).

10:40 – 11:30 | Oliver Sweet – The Rules That Make Us
Oliver Sweet is one of the world’s leading business anthropologists. In The Rules That Make Us, he reveals how invisible cultural rules shape what we think, buy and believe. Drawing on research in 35 countries, Sweet offers a new way to understand consumers, communities and ourselves – through the lens of culture.

11:55 – 12:45 | Simon Sebag Montefiore – The Cauldron
The Middle East has long shaped the course of world history, yet its extraordinary diversity and complexity are often overlooked. In The Cauldron, Simon Sebag Montefiore offers a sweeping history of the region from 1900 to the present day, charting the rise and fall of empires, the forces of faith and conflict, and the lives of the leaders, revolutionaries, artists and peacemakers who have defined its modern story. Spanning Morocco to Iran and the final years of the Ottoman Empire to the present day, this is a compelling exploration of one of the world's most influential regions.

14:15 – 15:05 | Stephen Sackur – Hard Truth: 10 Investigations That Shook the World
For nearly two decades, Stephen Sackur has been one of the UK's leading political journalists, renowned for his incisive interviews with world leaders, revolutionaries, thinkers and artists. As the presenter of BBC HARDtalk, he built an international reputation for holding power to account with clarity, rigour and integrity. His interviewees have included Bill Clinton, Malala Yousafzai, Hugo Chávez and Richard Dawkins.

15:30 – 16:20 | Anthony Seldon | The Brexit Effect
Britain's decision to leave the European Union was one of the defining moments of modern British politics. In his new book, The Brexit Effect, Anthony Seldon brings together an exceptional range of Brexit insiders and commentators from across the political spectrum to examine why the referendum happened, how Brexit became law, and its lasting impact on British politics, society and the economy. The book concludes by exploring the opportunities and challenges facing the UK in the years ahead.

L U N C H

Lunch options are available for the day. These need to be purchased as add-ons to the ticket. A list of options can be found below:

• Sandwich with side salad & tortilla chip (choose from cheese & ham, coronation chicken, or brie & cranberry at check-out) — £6.60
• Homemade quiche with side salad — £7.20
• Pasty with side salad — £7.20

Please note that the deadline for pre-ordering lunch will be 27 September 2026.

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