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Is there a set of universal values common to all humanity? If so, what are they? And can they be a basis on which to construct a new world order and lasting peace?

These questions will be debated by the former leader of the Liberal Democrats and former High Representative of the International Community and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lord Ashdown, and by leading academic and writer on the Middle East, Dr Eugene Rogan.

Ashdown believes that there are universal values and aspirations that we share with other communities across the world and that these common interests will help us to provide governance in a world that is globalising rapidly and in which power is shifting away from the Atlantic and towards a multi-polar world. Ashdown’s roles as a diplomat and as a peace broker in the Balkans give him a unique insight into bringing communities together.

Rogan asks if universal values are a common denominator around the world, arguing there are culture-specific values that people are willing to fight and die for. He cites events such as recent violence in the Muslim world against parodies of the Prophet Muhammed. These values change over time in countries and are different between countries. And he warns of the danger of the West dressing up our values as universal and of imposing them on other countries.