Thinking Allowed

Hitmen for hire: David Wilson, Professor of Criminology, examined 27 cases of contract killing committed by 36 men (including accomplices) and one woman. Far from involving shadowy, organised criminals, the reality of killing for cash turned out to be surprisingly mundane. Also, Kissing - a cultural history. Laurie Taylor talks to Marcel Danesi, Professor of Linguistic Anthropology about his new book 'The History of the Kiss' which argues that kissing was the first act of "free romance" liberated from the yoke of arranged unions. They're joined by Karen Harvey, from the University of Sheffield, who has studied the meaning of the kiss across different cultures and periods.

Professor of History, David Arnold, describes the impact of small scale technology on modern India. How the sewing machine, bicycle and typewriter reinvented everyday life and work leading to new ways of thinking about the politics of colonial rule and Indian nationhood. Also, Poverty and 'Shame' - Laurie Taylor talks to Elaine Chase, from the University of Oxford, to consider the ways in which shame and stigma have been experienced by British people receiving welfare aid throughout history. They're joined by Research Assistant Sohail Choudhry whose Pakistan based interviews offered a contrasting perspective.

Race in police 'misconduct' proceedings - Laurie Taylor talks to Graham Smith from University of Manchester School of Law about his research exploring the perception that ethnic minority police officers are disproportionally subjected to ‘misconduct’ proceedings. Also, Evangelical Fishermen – the lives and beliefs of fundamentalist Christians living in a remote Scottish fishing village. Joseph Webster, Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, discusses his study of an austere community of Protestant Brethren struggling with the crisis of the contemporary fishing industry.

Post-Katrina New Orleans: how disaster recovery became a lucrative business. Laurie Taylor talks to Vincanne Adams, US Professor of Medical Anthropology, about her account of market failure after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Phil O'Keefe, Professor of Economic Development, joins the discussion. Also, 'The Capitalist Personality' – Laurie Taylor explores interpersonal bonds in the post-communist world. Christopher Swader, Assistant Professor of Sociology in Moscow, argues that successful people in countries as diverse as China and Russia adjust to the market economy at a social cost, compromising moral values in pursuit of material gain.

Elite graduates and global ambition. Sally Power, Professorial Fellow at the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University, talks about a comparative study which finds that British students from top universities seek worldwide opportunities, whereas their French counterparts wish to 'serve' France. Also, Surnames and social mobility - How much of our fate is tied to the status of our parents and grandparents? Laurie Taylor talks to Gregory Clark, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Davis, about movement up the social ladder over 8 centuries, from medieval England to modern Sweden. They are joined by Andrew Miles author of the only systematic study of historical social mobility in the UK.

the 'Generational' divide - Jonathan White, Associate Professor of European Politics at the LSE, explores the contemporary uses of the generational concept: where did this form of thinking originate and does it disguise more than it illuminates in terms of inequality in modern Britain? He's joined by Mary Dejevsky, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham and the chief editorial writer at The Independent. Also, 'Webcam' - Daniel Miller, Professor of Anthropology at University College London, talks to Laurie Taylor about his worldwide study of users of webcam from self-consciousness and intimacy to the sustaining of long-distance relationships.

The Great Indoors. Laurie Taylor talks to cultural theorist Ben Highmore about his history of the family home in the 20th century and how houses display currents of class, identity and social transformation. Also, the evolution of the bathroom. Architectural historian Barbara Penner looks at that most intimate space in the home.

In memory of Stuart Hall: a special programme paying tribute to the leading cultural theorist and former director of the Birmingham Centre for Cultural Studies. Laurie Taylor is joined by Caspar Melville, Lecturer in Global Creative and Cultural Industries at SOAS, Baroness Lola Young and Jeremy Gilbert, editor of the journal, New Formations. They explore Stuart Hall's life, influence and legacy.

The power of 'numbers' in global politics: Laurie Taylor talks to the economist, Lorenzo Fioramonti, about the hidden agendas which may underpin the use of statistics, affecting the way we deal with poverty and sustainability. Also, pride and prejudice in Northern Ireland: Jennifer Curtis, discusses her research with Belfast's LGBT Pride Festival to explore religious groups' increasing support for gay rights since 2008. She's joined by Andrew Mckinnon, an expert on the sociology of religion.

Prostitution in the community: The criminologist, Sarah Kingston, discusses her study of the impact of sex work on local residents and businesses. Also, the sociologist, Henry Yeomans, charts the fluid, ever changing definitions of 'moderate' alcohol consumption.

Why Music Matters, David Hesmondhalgh, Professor of Music and Media Industries, examines the role of music in our lives. He's joined by Caspar Melville, Lecturer in Global Creative and Cultural Industries. Also,'Bhangra and Belonging' - Laurie Taylor talks to Falu Bakrania about her research into the social life of British Asian musical culture in the late 90s.

Alexandra Hillman discusses her new paper on 'waiting' in hospital emergency departments. Also, Faith and doubt - Laurie Taylor talks to Dr Mathijs Pelkmans, about his research which suggests that the foundations of religious and secular 'faiths' are surprisingly fragile. They are joined by Alpa Shah who has studied Maoists revolutionaries in India.

Sociologist, Alex Rhys-Taylor, charts a sensory journey into the heart of an East End Market. Also, Cultural passions - Laurie Taylor talks to the cultural theorist and writer, Elizabeth Wilson, about the emotional commitment people bring to their enjoyment of both 'high' and 'low' culture.

Romantic love, lifelong love, marriage for love, what is love? Laurie Taylor hopes to finds some answers with the help of the social historian, Claire Langhamer, the philosopher, Pascal Bruckner, and the sociologist, Professor Mary Evans.

Laurie Taylor explore the construction of Christmas tradition. Professor Philip Hancock talks about his study into the 'elite' squad of Santa helpers who dispense seasonal cheer and gifts to children in department stores. Also, Professor Jennifer Mason explains how people create the Christmas experience, drawing on the rituals of their childhoods and negotiating conflicting traditions. The writer, Antony Lerman, joins the discussion.