Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how a dominant power can exert a  cultural influence on its empire. An empire rests on many things:  powerful armies, good administration and strong leadership, but perhaps  its greatest weapon lies in the domain of culture. Culture governs every  aspect of our lives: our dress sense and manners, our art and  architecture, our education, law and philosophy. To govern culture, it  seems, is to govern the world. But what is cultural imperialism? Can it  be distinguished from cultural influence? Does it really change the way  we think and should we try to prevent it even if it does? 

With Linda  Colley, School Professor of History, London School of Economics; Phillip  Dodd, Director, Institute of Contemporary Arts; Mary Beard, Reader in  Classics, Cambridge University.