Chris Patten will in this talk use each phase of his life as a spur to reflect upon its contemporary situation - education, America, conservatism, Ireland, China, Europe and finally the question of links between violence and religion. Lord Patten was the last Governor of Hong Kong and will reflect on the current situation there as it marks the 20th anniversary of its handover on 1st July.
Chris Patten is currently Chancellor of Oxford University. As a British MP (1979-92) he served as Minister for Overseas Development, Secretary of State for the Environment and Chairman of the Conservative Party, being described afterwards as 'the best Tory Prime Minister we never had' (Observer). He is author of the international bestsellers, East and West (1998), Not Quite the Diplomat: Home Truths about World Affairs (2005), and his new book is First Confession: A Sort of Memoir.
Kevin Featherstone is Head of the European Institute, LSE.
The LSE European Institute (@LSEEI) is a centre for research and graduate teaching on the processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe. In the most recent national Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) the Institute was ranked first for research in its sector.
Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEPatten
Podcast
A podcast of this event is available to download from First Confession: a sort of memoir
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