The Forum

The Forum, the BBC World Service programme which boldly crosses boundaries: scientific, creative and geographic.
This week our guest presenter is philosopher and classicist Angie Hobbs.

On the programme this week, we travel to the future searching for traces of an extinct human race, explain why Hitler’s Third Reich was inspired by European colonialism and look at self and other in the face of death.

MEET THE GUESTS

British historian Mark Mazower from Columbia University examines the ideology which fuelled Hitler's plans for a Nazi Empire. His book Hitler's Empire: Nazi Rule in Occupied Europe draws comparisons with former European colonial powers.

Geologist Jan Zalasiewicz imagines a planet where mankind has long become extinct in his forthcoming book The Earth After Us. What sort of traces will be left of us in the rocks?

Uzbek novelist and broadcaster Hamid Ismailov explores how two old men - one a Muslim, the other a communist - are abandoned by their families in A Story of Two Old Men. Despite their opposing ideologies they discover they need each other.

Label 60 SECOND IDEA TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Each week we give one of our guests the chance to change the world and present an idea they feel could make all the difference.

This week it's the turn of geologist Jan Zalasiewicz.

Are you convinced by this week's 60 second idea and do you have any thoughts on the programme? Let us know us what you think by using the contact form below.

COMMENTS ON THE PROGRAMME

This time i'm not convinced! Human beings need passion and some level of competition.
Themis, Kigali

The argument that football should be abolished cannot convince people like me. Remember that some people worship football.
Tanko, Accra