Issues Facing Our World
In times of uncertainty, knowledge can help us understand what’s going on around us. City Lit’s range of History, Politics and Science courses explore a number of contemporary issues facing the world right now. A few of the questions we’re currently asking are:
- Can history help us navigate modern issues and crises?
- How can we safeguard democracies around the world including our own?
- Are there other ways of organising our economy?
- What is the impact of climate change on our lives?
Taught by experts in their field, our courses give you the opportunity to explore current affairs, historical issues, and global challenges. Join us as we discuss, debate, and dissect the answers.
- Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00
- How America replaced Britain in the Middle East 1945-2003Course start date: Sat 29 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nomaan HanifThis course charts the post 1945 entrance of the United States into the Middle East and the power struggle which ensued with Britain as a consequence. The course pierces the official discourse on the transatlantic relationship and provides a different perspective on how to understand and explain the volatile politics of the region.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Introduction to Disability Politics, Activism, and the Social Model of DisabilityCourse start date: Tue 2 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Joshua HeppleDisability Equity is founded upon the Social Model of Disability. This is a crash-course in understanding the foundations of disability equality and activism.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Digital Archaeology: AI and the Preservation of the PastCourse start date: Sun 7 Dec 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouExplore how AI and digital tools are reshaping archaeology and heritage. Reflect on the ethics, power and promise of preserving the past in a data-driven world. Discuss why heritage still matters.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Neurodivergence as a fact of society: a brief introductionCourse start date: Sun 14 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouBritish society is diverse, and not only in terms of faiths, ethnic backgrounds and other mostly visible differences. Neurodiversity is also a central aspect. Join us on this non-accredited course for a brief introduction to neurodiversity in society and discover how to engage with and support neurodivergent strengths.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Climate justice: creating a more equal worldCourse start date: Sat 10 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tariq HassanThe unfettered exploitation of natural resources by the Global North has led to an environmental catastrophe faced most severely and immediately by the Global South. Climate justice aims to deal with the inherent unfairness in the approaches to mitigate climate change and to help Global South adapt to its impacts.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - AI, Power and Politics: Who Controls the Future?Course start date: Wed 28 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouWho controls the future of AI? Explore the politics, power and global inequalities behind artificial intelligence and debate what’s at stake for democracy, human rights and society in a rapidly changing world.
Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - Gender in Context: Power, Culture & Daily ResistanceCourse start date: Thu 29 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michele ScottFrom glass ceilings to quiet revolutions—how far have we really come? Explore feminist thought through everyday life, resistance, and identity across work, family, media, and education.
Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Can green economics deliver in time? A global perspective after COP30Course start date: Sun 1 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouCan green economics deliver in time? Explore global approaches to sustainability through case studies from Uruguay, the EU, China and the US and debate what’s needed to meet climate goals before it’s too late.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
- History of ideas: the concept of freedomCourse start date: Thu 26 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Denis BosseauEverybody is ‘for’ liberty and freedom, but what exactly does it involve? How might our understanding and appreciation of it changed over time? Is freedom something we ‘have’ or is it something that is contingently exercised? To what extent does the freedom of others affect my own? How might one conceive of a ‘free’ society? In this course, you will be introduced and invited to think critically about the idea of freedom and its conceptualisation in western thought, focusing particularly on the impact of liberalism and how it shaped our understanding of what it means to be free and live in a (un–) free society.
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Neurodiversity and the Future of Work: A Policy PerspectiveCourse start date: Sun 22 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouExplore how inclusive policy and leadership can transform the future of work for neurodivergent individuals. Discover practical strategies and real-world case studies for building workplaces where cognitive diversity is valued and supported.
Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00
- Modern Slavery in ContextCourse start date: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anita PunwaniThis course explores slavery in an historic and modern context as well as international efforts to eradicate this unethical practice in the Global South as well as the Global North.
Anita holds a MSc from University College London in Global Governance & Ethics, School of Public Policy, also in Construction Economics & Management, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction. She studied civil engineering and management at Imperial College, as well as art, art history, politics and philosophy at City Lit. Her 30 years’ experience in education, training and senior advisory roles spans the public, private and not-for-profit sectors including an international children’s charity and across UK Government. Anita is involved in developing international standards in sustainable development and presented ‘Global Governance at Risk’ at the 2025 United Nations Association UK Conference. She was interviewed by the BBC and CNBC in relation to handling the risks posed by the Covid-19 global crisis. Her artwork was selected for a World Bank exhibition on climate change. Anita’s approach to teaching is to facilitate sessions in an inclusive and collaborative manner.
Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - More current affairsCourse start date: Wed 15 Apr 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michael BloomfieldContinue your exploration of current affairs through lively, informed discussion. Run as a tutor-moderated discussion group of current news events. This course follows on from 'Current affairs' but new students are welcome.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list




