01 SAVING OURSELVES FROM OURSELVES: An Interview with Lord Alderdice
In this interview for The Salon, recorded on June 4th 2024, Paul Barnett, Founder of the Enlightened Enterprise Academy interviews John Alderdice, a member of the UK House of Lords for the academy's first Salon interview series, "INFLECTION."
This first interview was published in full in advance of a live online dialogue with Lord Alderdice on October 14th at 2pm BST. Guests and an audience explored the issues raised in the interview with John and each other.
Together the interview and live session provide an example of the many more to come in the series for paying subscriber to, and founders of, the Salon.
In addition to being a member of the House of Lords, John is a former president of Liberal International, the world federation of liberal political parties. And he was a key negotiator of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement – a solution to “the troubles” in Ireland. Following the signing of the agreement he became the first speaker of the new Northern Ireland Assembly.
John is Executive Chairman of the Changing Character of War Centre, Pembroke College, Oxford. And he is a psychoanalytic psychiatrist. Related to his professional experience, his special interests include: religious fundamentalism, political violence, and problems of indigenous peoples.
In a world increasingly filled with polarised opinion, disagreement and conflict, It seems obvious that our ability to resolve conflict is essential if we are to ever achieve human flourishing and wellbeing, the objectives of the New Enlightenment that the Enlightened Enterprise Academy advocates. But resolving conflict seems to be a challenge we are incapable of addressing.
John explains in clear, practical, and pragmatic terms the way conflict can be resolved based on his experience. He explains how we can "save ourselves from ourselves," by developing a better understanding of the importance of relationships and how to develop and maintain them.
The insights offered cover a wide range of issues that will be explored in even more depth, and related to other issues, in the INFLECTION Series.
REFERENCES TO ARTICLES MENTIONED
"Beyond Reason" article by Lord Alderdice
A Post by Paul Barnett commenting on Beyond Reason
PREVIOUS INTERVIEW AND LIVE SESSIONS
You can access previous interviews and live sessions form the INFLECTION SERIES on YouTube
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