In ‘New Medievalism’, the Future Human team find out how globalisation is powering the explosive rise of modern feudal societies and micronations who challenge the sovereignty of nation states. They range from Brazilian gangs who trade drugs internationally while providing favela dwellers with rudimentary welfare, to ultra wealthy American entrepreneurs are planning to establish inhabitable nations in the middle of the sea.

Host Jack Roberts is joined by John Rapley, a correspondent for Foreign Affairs magazine who is writing a book on the New Medievalism phenomena, and also Future Human stalwarts Ben Beaumont-Thomas and Oliver Beatty. They discuss the characteristics of new medieval cultures from Jamaica to Senegal, investigate how informal economies develop amongst gangs and other subcultures and question the implications for Britain’s recession hit society.

We also hear from the BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Amelia Hann, who gives an insider’s insight into gang life across the globe, and also the distinguished BBC business broadcaster Peter Day, who makes the case that NGOs and banks are the true modern medieval powers.

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