Niall Ferguson holds in own in a BBC debate

Niall Ferguson, author of Civilization, will help us examine the role of the West in the revolution in the Arab world - and explain what history can tell us about why certain cultures appear to dominate the world at certain times.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Niall
• Ferguson
• Arab
• Muslim
• history
• debate

[EnterTheTruth]

@NevilleRhysBarnes true, but that was due to Ottoman repression of science, not "islams repression of science", after all during the European dark ages, Islam had a huge track record of scientific developement called the islamic golden age, im sure you know about that

[RavingDissension]

There's a reason Ziauddin got far less time than Ferguson: He's recycling decades old leftist talking points about how all Mideast problems have western roots. Ferguson is rebutting his points and rebuttal inherently takes longer than assertion.

[yermojoe]

@EnterTheTruth

Please do..tell us more about that golden age?

[gumbley]

@TeifiValley123

I don't understand your point ? are you saying people with expensive education should not have political opinions?

I don't remember him supporting the middle eastern wars either, but I may be wrong.

I do remember him being one of the few, along with Gillian Tett, to predict the credit crunch in print before 2007.

Does the Nuremberg reference imply that you think he should be hanged? on what charge? or are you just lazily regurgitating Chomsky ?

[TeifiValley123]

So funny that an author of childrens books (Terry Deary) best summed up people like Fergusson. He's an obcenely right wing imperialist who uses his long words and expensive education to prove a political point. He's the kind of person who the Bush and Blair governments turn to when they need to justify criminal acts to their populations. Like invading another country for example.

If we believed in the Nuremberg principles, apologists like him would be in front of a Judge.

[VanillaSnow23]

Comparing Western civilization to Chinese civilization?

[blakerwalk]

@Mrparrot73 you were doing well until you stooped to the whole 'slave' bit.

[tomtomttom]

@timebandit71 Sounds like someone is a racist and has anger issues. You are building some crazy scenarios in your head and now are projecting it. The only person I see here "busting a gut" is you. Get over yourself angry girl.

[timebandit71]

@tomtomttom ive had enough education to realise what a prat you are, what shit hole are you from??? never ceases to amaze me how all these third world crap holes suddenly have a taste of economic prosperity and now they think they are something, they brag about how the west is in decline and yet are busting a gut to become like us....

[timebandit71]

@Mrparrot73 no skin of me man im german anyway, it took the worlds most powerful nations combined to defeat germany, germany doent enslave itself to anyone...