In this edifying panel conversation at the Battle of Ideas 2010 festival, five speakers weigh up the future of our society in light of different challenges and ask whether we should be optimistic or pessimistic about the future. Speakers include, Shreela Ghosh, director at the Free Word Centre; Stephen Hargrave, chairman at Reform, Mick Hume, editor-at-large and writer at Spiked-online; Humphrey Hawksley, BBC World Affairs correspondent; Marcus Sedgwick, author and writer-in-residence, Bath Spa University.