This month sees the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, a peace treaty negotiated between the wicked King John and his rebellious barons at Runnymede in 1215. Although it failed to establish peace between the king and his magnates, this landmark document has gone on to become a touchstone for advocates of due process of the law, the separation of powers, and human rights.

As part of the ABC’s celebration of the ratification of Magna Carta on 15 June 1215, ANU historians Dr Tania Colwell and Prof. Paul Pickering recently explored the origins and lasting significance of this seminal text with Paul Barclay on a special episode of Radio National’s ‘Big Ideas’ program, sponsored by the Centre for European Studies. For more information and to listen to a podcast of their discussion, visit the following site:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bigideas/features/big-ideas-from-europe/magna-carta/6443146 .