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Oxford Debates

Two teams, four experts, one motion

Oxford Debates landing page

The Oxford Debates at Asia Society Switzerland are a format to address ‘big’ questions that have no one answer or solution but are inviting many conflicting views. Four renowned experts in the field form teams of two, one team arguing for the motion, the other against it.

The Oxford-style format is broken down into four sections: opening remarks, rebuttals, a moderated question-and-answer session, and closing remarks. Before and after the debate the audience is polled whether they agree with the motion or not. The voting breakdown is not shared publicly until the end of the debate. The greater percentage change between the first and second votes determines the debate’s winning team.

Disclaimer: Positions presented in the debates do not necessarily represent the speakers’ views.

 

Upcoming Events

  • In-person
    Save the Date
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate – LIVE

    Monday 26 Jun 2023
    6:30 - 8 p.m.
    The Oxford Debates at Asia Society Switzerland are a format to address ‘big’ questions that have no one answer or solution but invite many conflicting views.

We are hosting Oxford Debates multiple times each year. Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss one again!

Past Events

  • Online
    Has China’s Global Power Reached Its Peak?
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Has China’s Global Power Reached Its Peak?

    Wednesday 30 Nov 2022
    6 - 7 p.m.
    Zurich Time
    Calculate your local time »
    How are China’s economic problems affecting its influence in the region? Will the country decouple from the global market? And will the country keep its position as world power?
  • Online
    Semiconductors
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Will China Win the Race for Supremacy in the Semiconductor Production?

    Tuesday 20 Sep 2022
    5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
    Zurich Time
    Calculate your local time »
    With Sophie-Charlotte Fischer, Jimmy Goodrich, Jan-Peter Kleinhans and John Lee.
  • Online
    @ Rupinder Singh / unsplash
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Is India’s Democracy Under Threat?

    Wednesday 4 May 2022
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Zurich Time
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    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether the threat to India's democracy is overblown or setting the country on the path of autocracy for good. With Christophe Jaffrelot, Debasish Roy Chowdhury, Tripurdaman Singh, and Vidya Venkat
  • Online
    Ryoji Iwata / unsplash
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Women in Japan and South Korea Need Quotas To Advance

    Tuesday 1 Feb 2022
    5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
    Zurich Time
    Calculate your local time »
    In this Oxford Debate we are debating what the causes for the big hurdles for women are and how they should be addressed best in the case of Japan and South Korea. With Pallavi Aiyar, Se-Woong Koo, Young-Im Lee, and Satona Suzuki
  • Hugh Han / unsplash
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Asia Is Already the Center of Global Technology

    Thursday 28 Oct 2021
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Zurich Time
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    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether Asia has already front and center of global tech. With Ken Koyanagi, James Kynge, Mercedes Ruehl, and Akito Tanaka. Co-hosted by the #techAsia newsletter of FT / Nikkei.
  • End of the road
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: China’s Belt and Road Initiative Is Failing

    Thursday 16 Sep 2021
    5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
    Zurich Time
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    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether China has taken on too much with its Belt and Road Initiative or whether it still can become a success. With Andreea Brînză, Francesca Ghiretti, Mary Kay Magistad and Raffaello Pantucci.
  • Malabar Exercise 2020
    Panel Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Is the Quad for Real This Time?

    Tuesday 4 May 2021
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Zurich Time
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    In this Oxford Debate we are debating what and if a strong Quad could mean for the security balance in the region – and for China in particular. With Cleo Paskal, Euan Graham, Pichamon Yeophantong and Bruno Maçaes
  • Seoul
    Discussion

    Oxford Debate: Will East Asia Lead the Way Beyond This Pandemic?

    Tuesday 2 Mar 2021
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Zurich Time
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    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether East Asia's pandemic responses will prove their success beyond this pandemic.
  • Image Oxford Debate #3
    Discussion

    [WEBCAST] Oxford Debate: Will Europe Choose the U.S. Over China?

    Tuesday 6 Oct 2020
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Zurich Time
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    In our third Oxford Debate we are asking: Will Europe choose the U.S. over China? Debating the motion are experts from European think tanks, specializing on the E.U. and its relations to Asia and China in particular.
  • North Korea Subway
    Discussion

    [WEBCAST] Oxford Debate: Do North Korea and South Korea Want Reunification?

    Thursday 27 Aug 2020
    2 - 3 p.m.
    Zurich Time
    Calculate your local time »
    In our second Oxford Debate we are asking: Do North Korea and South Korea even want reunification? Experts on North Korea and South Korea will cover issues from human rights, security, national identity, regional and global stakeholders.

Related Videos

  • Has China’s Global Power Reached Its Peak?
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    Has China's Global Power Reached Its Peak?

    Listen to four stellar China experts debating the question whether China's global power has reached its peak. Clear, concise, well-thought-out arguments highlight both sides of the debate.
  • Oxford Debate: Has China's Global Power Reached Its Peak?
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    Oxford Debate: 'To Say China Has Reached Its Peak Is Both Unwise and Risky'

    In this Oxford Debate we discuss whether China's global power has reached its peak. How are the country’s economic problems affecting its influence in the region? Will China decouple from the global market?
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    Oxford Debate: 'China Simply Cannot Reach Semiconductor Supremacy by 2030'

    In this Oxford Debate we discuss whether China will be able to control the production of advanced semiconductors, or Taiwan's TSMC is already too far ahead for that. And what does it mean for the tensions in the Taiwan Strait?
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    Oxford Debate: 'India Fails The Test To Be A Democracy Every Day'

    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether India's status as a democracy is inevitably dwindling into nonexistence or whether this threat is overblown and the rankings merely reflect a temporary phase.
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    Oxford Debate: 'Patriarchy Is Everywhere, the Big Problem Is Institutions'

    In this Oxford Debate we are debating what quotas can do to remove the big hurdles for women in the case of Japan and South Korea. With Pallavi Aiyar, Se-Woong Koo, Young-Im Lee, and Satona Suzuki.
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    Oxford Debate: 'With the Belt and Road Initiative, China Pays for Worsening Its Own Image'

    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether China's Belt and Road Initiative is failing – or very much alive and thriving?
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    Oxford Debate: 'The Quad Is Part of the Debate, but Not a Driving Force'

    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether a strong Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between India, Japan, Australia and the U.S. is about to change the security balance in the region.
  • OxD 5 East Asian Governance
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    Oxford Debate: 'A Leader Makes Things Happen'

    In this Oxford Debate we are debating whether East Asia's pandemic responses will prove their success beyond this pandemic.
  • Oxford Debate 3
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    Oxford Debate: Will the U.S. and the EU Turn Into “Frenemies” Over China?

    In this Oxford Debate, experts from European think tanks debate about whether Europe will choose the U.S. over China. Participants include Ivana Karásková, Andrew Small, Alicja Bachulska, and Plamen Tonchev.
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    Oxford Debate: 'There Is a Shared Korean Identity and Culture'

    Dreams and Hopes vs. Realities and Stagnation in inter-Korean Relations: Ji-Young Lee, John Delury, Sandra Fahy, and Steven Denney debate over the motion "North Korea and South Korea want reunification."
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