This is a podcast from the archives of the BBC Reith Lectures. This lecture in the series

A New Citizenship, given by Michael Sandell, was originally broadcast in 2009. Hello and welcome

to Rhodes House in Oxford for the second in this year's series of BBC Reith Lectures. Designed by Sir

Herbert Baker, this is a magnificent retreat for the

university's Rhodes Scholars, students from around the world who've been awarded fellowships to study

for degrees at Oxford. The scholarships were set up under the will of that one-man colonial whirlwind,

Sir Cecil Rhodes. He wanted his legacy to enable students

who displayed qualities of truth and courage essential to good public duty. Bill Clinton

was a Rhodes Scholar, and so indeed was our wreath lecturer this year Michael Sandell.

And public duty is very much what this year's four lectures are all about.

He's called them a new citizenship.

He began last week in London by addressing the issues surrounding the moral limits of markets.

Tonight, his subject is one that's very close to public concerns in Britain currently.

It's called morality in Politics. Please welcome the BBC

lecturer for 2009, Professor Michael Sandell.

Just a few words before we begin, Michael.

I mean, when you were here, 1975, wasn't it,

were you a kind of long-haired activist?

Well, long-haired.

Long-haired student.

But you had been an activist, I think, at high school in L.A., hadn't you?

I think you're thinking of the story about when I was president of my student body class in high school.

...