The Passport

Thinking Allowed

BBC

Science, Society & Culture

4.4 • 973 Ratings

🗓️ 17 January 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

THE PASSPORT: Laurie Taylor explores the cultural history of an indispensable document which has given citizens a license to travel and helped to define the modern world. Patrick Bixby, Professor of English at Arizona State University, delves into the evolution of the passport through the tales of historical figures, celebrities, artists, and writers, from Frederick Douglas to Hannah Arendt. How has the passport become both an instrument of personal freedom as well as a tool of government surveillance? They’re joined by Kristin Surak , Associate Professor of Political Sociology at the LSE and author of a new study which investigates the routes taken by wealthy elites in pursuit of a ‘golden passport’. Through six years of fieldwork on four continents, she discovered how the sale of passports has transformed into a full-blown citizenship industry that thrives on global inequalities.

Producer: Jayne Egerton

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of
0:07.0	Happiness Podcast.
0:08.0	For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want
0:14.4	to share that science with you.
0:16.1	And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.
0:19.4	I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that
0:25.4	calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:30.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.
0:36.5	This is a Thinking Loud Podcasts from the BBC and for more details and much, much more about
0:42.3	thinking aloud, go to our website at
0:44.7	BBC.co.uk. Hello at secondary school my identity was brutally
0:51.6	straightforward.
0:52.6	Taylor, what are the five main causes of the French Revolution?
0:56.6	Taylor?
0:57.6	What's forbidden by the Sixth Commandment?
0:59.8	But now, my wallet testifies to my proliferating identities, whereas my Freedom Bus Pass
1:06.8	announces me as a matey sounding, Laurie Taylor.
1:10.3	My senior rail card nominates me more formally as Mr L Taylor,
1:15.6	while my bank card still credits me with an ancient distinction.
1:20.4	Professor L Taylor, no less.
1:24.0	Only my passport, surname and given names tells the full inalienable truth,
1:30.7	Lawrence, John Taylor. And more than that, John Taylor.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.