Rethinking our national and international issues

Posted on 4 September 2025 • Arts and social sciences, Society and politics, TV and radio

The fourth series of the BBC/Open University radio show Rethink has begun which discusses issues from politics to technology, economics and beyond and poses how we might approach them differently in the future.

This latest series, airs at 4pm on Thursdays, beginning 4 September, on Radio 4 and runs for five episodes, and is available on BBC Sounds, covers a wide range of topics including discussions about terrorism, flying, night life and winners and losers.

Academic consultant to the series Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics and International Studies, said: “Rethink continues to delve into topics, big and small, taking the less obvious path to gain new insights.

“Whether it’s getting beyond the language of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’, questioning whether we should be flying or how nightlife is changing our cities, the mix of cutting-edge research and lateral thinking offers a chance to reflect, learn and engage with the world around us.”

Supporting Online content:

Visit our Broadcast & Partnerships site OU Connect where you can find out more on how the ideas we’re discussing in this series are making us re-think our future, particularly around how when it comes to your holiday travel, is it possible to make an environmentally responsible decision on a budget?

This film was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with particular relevance to BA (Hons) Social Sciences, BA (Hons) Politics, Philosophy and Economics and Introducing the Social Sciences.

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast and Partnerships

• Academic Consultant: Professor Simon Usherwood

• Media Fellow: Professor Zoe Walkington

• Broadcast Project Manager: Jo Shipp

• Supporting Online Content: Matt Ray