Thinking Allowed

‘Fear of the 'brown envelope', Laurie Taylor talks to Kayleigh Garthwaite about her study into the views and experiences of the long term sick and disabled in the context of on-going welfare reforms. Also Laurie discusses the legacy of 'New Society' magazine, 50 years after its launch, with former editor, Paul Barker, the writer, Lynsey Hanley and Professor of Cultural Studies, Fred Inglis.

Race and 'belonging' in an English village, Katherine Tyler, explores the attitudes of white residents to their British Asian neighbours. Also, Christopher Grey talks to Laurie Taylor about his research into the myth and reality of Bletchley Park, its codes and culture. They're joined by Anthony King.

The sociologist Malcolm Brynin charts the causes and consequences of pay gaps between different ethnic groups in Britain. Also, segregation, Laurie Taylor talks to Carl Nightingale about the ideology and practice of racial segregation in the city.

'Odd Couples'- Laurie Taylor talks to Anna Muraco and Brian Heaphy about friendships between gay men and straight women; and between lesbians and straight men. Also, Maria Piacentini discusses her research on the importance of alcohol to student identity.

Can the Italian family be saved, what caused the Italian crisis and what hopes there are for the future.? Laurie Taylor discusses his explorations of the family in Italy with Geoff Andrews, David Gilmour and Annalisa Piras.

Why is the Italian birth rate plummeting? The first of three programmes on the crisis of the Italian family. Laurie travels to Milan to unpick the tangled interactions between the individual, the family, the church and the state. He talks to sociologists Pierpaolo Donati, Carmen Leccardi, Chiara Saraceno, Monsignor Carlos Simón Vázquez and Letizia Chiappini a student at the University of Milan-Bicocca.

Why is the Italian family in danger of extinction? Laurie travels to the South of Italy in an attempt to explore legitimate and illegitimate family business. He speaks to Enrica Morlicchio, Gabriella Gribaudi, Luciano Brancaccio and Felia Allum.

Right and wrong. Good and bad. Laurie Taylor talks to Beth Hardie, co-author of Breaking Rules: The Social and Situational Dynamics of Young People’s Urban Crime. Also, the Women of Wall Street, Laurie is joined by Melissa Fisher and Liz Bolshaw to discuss the working lives of the women at the heart of America's financial centre.

What happens when middle class white people move into vibrant, ethnically diverse and challenging areas in inner city London? Emma Jackson talks to Laurie Taylor about the developing attitudes of the 'gentrifiers' in Peckham and in Brixton. Also, Irena Grugulis, author of Jobs for the Boys returns to the programme to discuss the concept of 'social capital'.

'Jobs for the Boys?' Laurie Taylor talks to Professor Irena Grugulis about her contention that working class people don't get job opportunities in the UK TV and film industry because they don't have the right accents, clothes, backgrounds or friends. The media expert, Sir Peter Bazalgette and Professor of Sociology, Mike Savage, respond to this research and explore nepotism, networking and discrimination in the media world and beyond.

'Sport Under Communism', Laurie Taylor asks Senior lecturer in Sport Politics, Jonathan Grix, about East Germany two decades of success in the Summer and Winter Olympics. Also, Gary Armstrong talks about a large scale study of security, policing and the impact of the 'Regeneration Olympics' on the lives of the residents of Newham.

Skill, sweat, humour and the humanity of building workers in a post industrial age, Laurie Taylor talks to Darren Thiel about his study of London construction workers. Laurie also talks to Susan Coulson about her research on the lives of musicians in the North of England; they are joined by the music lecturer, Mike Jones.

Immortality; Laurie Taylor explores the ways in which human beings have resisted the idea of mortality, with philosopher, John Gray and cultural historian Marina Warner. Also Barry Smith, Director of the institute of Philosophy in London explores contrasting analyses of 'evil' within modern thought.

Cities have long been the centre of utopian dreams and protests. Laurie Taylor explores the links between urban protest and capitalist development with David Harvey Social Geographer and author of Rebel Cities. They are joined by the Sociologist Sophie Watson.

Laurie Taylor talks to leading French sociologist Michel Wieviorka who thinks 'evil' can and should be subjected to sociological scrutiny, they are joined by Peter Young, Head of Criminology at the University of Kent. Also, sociologist, Judith Green discusses her study into the morality of cycling.