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By Dr Tim Evans, on 26 May 10
The Cobden Centre is delighted to invite you to its Annual Lecture and Drinks Reception to be held on Wednesday 9th June 2010 between 6.30pm and 9.00pm at the National Liberal Club, One Whitehall Place, London SW1. The nearest tube station is Embankment.
The speaker is TCC’s Chairman, Toby Baxendale, and the title of his talk is: ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes: How to Pay Off the National Debt and Give a 28.5% Tax Cut’.
The dress code for this event is lounge suit or smart casual. To confirm your attendance, please RSVP Dr. Helen Evans at hsevans@btinternet.com
By Dr Tim Evans, on 28 March 10
I am delighted to welcome Sam Bowman as TCC’s newly appointed Education Network Executive Director. A first class graduate in History and Economics from University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland, Sam is currently doing an MA at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies. A former national vice-chair of the Young Progressive Democrats in Ireland, in 2009, he won a full scholarship to the Mises University Economics Conference at Auburn, Alabama, in the US. Winner in 2009 of the John B. O’Brien Annual Prize in History at UCC, in 2010, he won the title of ‘Outstanding Delegate’ in the London International Model United Nations.
Currently, as well as being a part-time intern student with the Adam Smith Institute Sam is putting the finishing touches to TCC’s bi-weekly Austrian reading group seminars. Here, his purpose is to create a small group of roughly ten to twelve undergraduate and postgraduate humanities students and give them a strong grounding in the Austrian school of economics. On this, Sam comments: “This will encourage participants to do Austrian-related work in their fields and form a cadre of intelligent Austrians who will work to promote Austrian thought in British academia. To this end, group’s members will ideally be interested in pursuing academic careers in the humanities and social sciences.”
Following an agreement with the General Director of the Institute of Economics Affairs, Mark Littlewood, the group will meet and be hosted at the IEA’s offices in Westminster. To be initially advertised to students through the University of London’s email service, personal connections and friendly blogs, Sam also expects to involve students from the Universities of Birmingham, East Anglia and alumni of the Mises University.
Concerning the vision of the venture he says: “My ultimate aim is for the group to read Murray Rothbard’s Man, Economy and State. This will give members of the group the firm foundations in Austrian economic thought, which will have practical benefits for students attending the group and can be applied in their academic work. It will also provide a foundation for further study and discussion of the Austrian school. This reading group will offer students the chance to develop their knowledge of Austrian economics and at the same time produce a group of dedicated, enthusiastic proponents of liberty who can spread their ideas. If the first year proves successful, it can be recreated in other British cities and universities under the auspices of The Cobden Centre, and help to create a new generation of Austrian scholars in British academia”.
So, if you want to take part in this venture why not contact Sam directly? You can email him here.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 27 March 10
On Thursday evening, I had the pleasure of chairing a private dinner in Westminster where TCC’s Chairman, Toby Baxendale, was the guest speaker. There were seventeen people present.
The event brought together an array of friends from journalism, the think tanks, and scholarly life – as well as from across the political spectrum. For me, it was interesting to see just how warmly TCC’s honest money agenda was welcomed by most present. While the ensuing discussion and debate was vigorous, Toby’s performance not only impressed everyone present, but it continued to bring together key players concerned with the practicalities of successful reform.
In this context, the dinner was not only significant and enjoyable – it was a rude success.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 27 March 10
Following the honour of chairing an Economic Policy Centre dinner in London on Tuesday evening, Wednesday saw me travel to Gent in Belgium where I was delighted to deliver an hour long lecture – followed by another hour of questions and answers – to the fabulously sound students of the Liberal Students Movement – LVSV. As one of Belgian’s leading student societies, now approaching their 80th anniversary, not only is this group astonishingly active, but also they muster huge audiences.
Prior to the formal proceedings of the evening, the group’s committee took me out to a wonderful dinner. Telling me how delighted they were to have me with them, and commenting that “my reputation preceded me” (I think that was a complement!), they informed me that many people in the audience were already well versed in Mises, Rothbard and the teachings of the Austrian School of Economics. Moreover, they said that we would be joined by students and friends from the Rothbard Institute, which indeed we were.
While I performed well and all the feedback from those who attended has been positive, it was a real delight for me to give my talk in the city’s Liberal Archive building. Indeed, to speak in a library lined with a vast collection of sound classical liberal texts and which includes all the modern greats only added to the sense of occasion. I was also delighted to learn that its excellent array of books – including those of an Austrian disposition – are also being regularly accessed and used by an ever-larger number of PhD students.
In true Belgian style the evening ended with around a third of the audience (30 people) retiring to a local beer garden where we enjoyed the warmth of good intellectual company and what turned out to be a wonderful Spring evening. That said, right at the end of the evening, I was somewhat surprised yet delighted to see many of the youngsters with me handing around copies of the Adam Smith Institute’s latest offering – A Beginners Guide to Liberty – which they had just imported from London. Funny old world!
By Dr Tim Evans, on 27 March 10
Following TCC’s recent launch of its Education Network I was delighted to speak to a fabulously bright group of six formers at Hampton School in Middlesex last Monday. Studying a mixture of A-Level subjects including politics, economics and history these students were not only intelligent and receptive to new ideas but they demonstrated an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge.
Well versed in the ideas and publications of friends at the Adam Smith Institute, these students are also getting into their Ayn Rand, Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard. Eager to discuss free market critiques of central banking and monopoly fiat currencies, I was not surprised to learn that this school is one of the highest performing in the country. Later, I was delighted to meet the headmaster Barry Martin and to discuss with him return visits in the future. Excellent.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 18 March 10
Following the recent launch of TCC’s Education Network, I am delighted to be speaking on Monday 22nd March to the youngsters of the Hampton School in Middlesex. Talking to them about how to think about free markets will be fun. Getting them – and no doubt some of their teachers – to question such givens as monopoly fiat currency, central banking and much of the institutional architecture of our so-called capitalist society should stir a good and lively debate. As ever, the key with these ventures is never simply to open minds. The real objective is to entertain and enthrall.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 17 March 10
Much to the annoyance of more tribal associates, I have long argued that there are natural friends of liberty to be found amongst elements of all our mainstream political parties.
In this context, mindful of the history and heritage of classical liberalism, I have long admired features of the Orange Book crowd in the Liberal Democrats. Recognising that the party leader, Nick Clegg, combines an interest in fiscal conservatism with the ideals of liberal social reform, I am not surprised by his recent assertion that he is an admirer of Margaret Thatcher.
While I am no aficionado of psephology or electoral politics, it makes strategic sense to me if the Lib Dems continue their drift away from the politics of top down and bloated social democracy, towards more open, inclusive and market-oriented perspectives. In so many ways, the Lib Dems could again become an engine of genuine out of the box radicalism. In defiance of the political class and their stultifying corporatism, surely thinking Lib Dems would find little to disagree with when it comes to the principles of honest money, sound banking and the benefits of free trade. But the key here is not just to talk the talk. At some point, it becomes necessary to walk the walk.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 12 March 10
In line with TCC’s 2010 business plan, the organisation has just launched its Education Network. Recognising the pivotal importance of out-reach to young scholars and other people across a range of organisations and groups, it signals our hunger to address audiences on such topics as banking, money, international free trade and peace. If you want TCC to provide your organisation or group with speakers then do not hesitate to contact us. Over the months ahead, this section will be expanded with a further range of educational out-reach opportunities and programmes. So, do watch this space.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 11 March 10
Yesterday, TCC’s friend, Jonathan Pearce, wrote an interesting missive over at Samizdata.net. As well as being supportive of the TCC’s work (JP, thanks for the plug), the article provides interesting insights into the materials and debate concerning the causes and political atmospherics of the recent economic bust. I particularly like the lengthy comments section that follows the main article. Indeed, for wholly understandable reasons, this conversation again indicates that Austrianism is gaining what public relations types call ‘traction’ amongst those thinkers truly interested in the genuine causes of things. Excellent.
By Dr Tim Evans, on 10 March 10
Last week, Jamie Whyte, James Tyler, Tom Clougherty and I attended a dinner with numerous others at which the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Vladimer ‘Lado’ Gurgenidze spoke. Hosted by good our friends at the Adam Smith Institute, the evening was a showcase of sound reform and what can be achieved by politicians who have a clear vision and will to set people free. Don’t take my word for it. Get a flavour from the man himself, here.
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