About the world's leading forum for debate

About

Intelligence Squared, the global forum for live debate, is dedicated to creating knowledge through contest.

On Stage

Now operating in London, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Kiev and Abuja, Intelligence Squared provides a unique platform for the world's leading figures in politics, journalism, and the media to contest the most important political, social, historical and scientific issues of the day. Recently, we have hosted Imran Khan attacking US involvement in Pakistan, Bernard-Henri Lévy defending democracy, and a ferocious dispute over whether Churchill was an asset or a liability to the free world. Employing the classic "Oxford Union" style of debating, the world's leading speakers are pitched against each other with a clearly defined motion, to try and win over the votes of the audience through a mixture of impassioned rhetoric, persuasion and charm. Buy your tickets online.

On Air

Intelligence Squared debates are unique. Whereas most broadcasters create debates specifically for television, we film our live debates as they happen and then screen them internationally on television. Since January 2009, Intelligence Squared debates have been shown globally on BBC World News to an estimated audience of over 70 million people. These have included "George W. Bush is the worst American President for the past fifty years", featuring Karl Rove, "The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world", opposed by Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens, and Tariq Ramadan arguing that "Europe is failing it Muslims".

Online

Our fully interactive website contains some of the finest intellectual content on the internet. Those unable to make it to our debates can watch them as they happen with our live streaming service. Facebook, Reddit and Twitter users can also comment on the debates, and the pick of their questions will be relayed to our panellists. Our archive of debates, lectures and discussions are available to view online, and as podcasts on iTunes. Furthermore, we have partnered with some of the most exciting intellectual organisations around the world – such as RSA, Tate, and the 21st Century School – to bring together videos on everything from Chris Anderson on Free: The Future of a Radical Price, Damien Hirst on Francis Bacon, and Joseph Stiglitz on global banking regulations.

We also commission an extensive series of written debates exclusively for the IQ2 website. Our Debates of the Day focus on the news, dissecting the issues and ideologies behind current affairs in a lively debate format, while our Controversies address the topics which have always divided opinion, presenting both sides of the argument on divisive but crucial questions drawn from every subject including history, science and politics. The aim is to inform, provoke and entertain – and allow our premium members to form their own opinions on the questions that matter.

Intelligence Squared aims not just to provide content of the highest quality, but to use that content to spark a global online debate. Register now to join the world's forum for intelligent debate.