Our Work

The RSA Chief Executive, Matthew Taylor considers the meaning of 21st century enlightenment and how the idea can be used to help face the challenges of today

Self proclaimed misanthrope Slavoj Zizek debates the surprising ethical implications of charitable giving in today's 'cultural capitalist' society.

David Harvey applies a Marxian lens to the recent financial crisis and describes how we arrived in the predicament.

Philip Zimbardo is a psychologist. He is professor emeritus at Stanford University and President of the Heroic Imagination Project.

Are our brains hard-wired for empathy? Jeremy Rifkin seems to think so. In this Animate he explores how mirror neurons in the brain may be the key to global harmony and brotherhood.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? What drives you in the workplace? Is it money? Dan Pink illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and at work.

Barbara Ehrenreich asks that a good dollop of realism be applied when dealing with the trials of life. She opposes the developing and prevailing culture in America that thinks that just 'thinking positively' will enable anyone to realise their desires.

Altruism. Are we more likely to become thieves given the opportunity to do so? Dubner and Levitt, the authors of Superfreakonomics, debate this question amongst others in one of our early RSA Animates.

Matthew Taylor explores how brain and behaviour research is increasingly being incorporated into political and policy debate.

This is a remastered version of our first ever RSA Animate. Stein Ringen argues that a strong New Labour Government was defeated by a weak system of governance and that what Britain really needs, is not a new government but a constitution.