In the second part of his piece for the Foreign Policy Rethink series, Geoff Raby examines how China is constructing a competing global order and reshaping the institutions that underpin international relations. (more…)
Category: Politics
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Poorly designed campaign finance laws weaken our democracy
The High Court’s ruling on Victoria’s electoral laws shows how poorly designed campaign finance rules can undermine both fairness and the reforms they were meant to achieve.
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The forgotten war Australia would rather not remember
Michael Piggott’s ‘New Feller Master: Beyond the Trenches Australia’s Neglected WWI Story’, details Australia’s occupation of New Guinea and challenges familiar national narratives – confronting uncomfortable truths about power, race and legacy.
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Lovin’ democracy? You’re probably doing all right, then
Australia remains one of the world’s stronger democracies, but rising economic stress and inequality are shaping how people feel about it.
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Tune in, turn on, and drop out: the case for legalising psychedelics is stronger than ever
Decades of prohibition have failed to stop psychedelic drug use while blocking research and treatment options, raising questions about the basis of current laws.
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Non-discrimination is a core Australian value. We must defend it
Policies which link migration to “values” undermine a fundamental principle of Australia’s immigration system – fairness without discrimination.
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Tehran demands hundreds of billions in reparations. Guess who will pay?
If Iran succeeds in extracting reparations for the US–Israeli war, it would mark an historic shift in how power and accountability operate in the international system.
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The return of great power relations: What can middle powers do? Part 1
As part of the Foreign Policy Rethink series, Geoff Raby examines how Trump’s shift to great power politics is reshaping the global order and forcing middle powers to rethink their strategy. (more…)
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A prime-time hit job on renewables falls apart under basic facts
Spotlight’s TV report on renewables and EVs collapses under basic fact-checking, highlighting how misinformation is shaping Australia’s energy debate. (more…)
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The diesel shock shows why government must help freight electrify
As diesel prices surge, freight operators face mounting pressure, highlighting the urgent need for immediate support and a longer-term shift to electrified transport.
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Study warns of terrifying Atlantic Ocean current collapse
New research shows a critical Atlantic Ocean current system is weakening faster than expected, raising the risk of irreversible climate disruption. (more…)
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On immigration, we’ve heard this before – and we were wrong then too
Warnings about immigration echo almost word for word the fears once directed at post-war arrivals – fears history has already discredited. (more…)
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When prisons expand, policy has already failed
Plans to convert a Covid quarantine facility into a prison reflect a justice system responding to pressure with infrastructure instead of addressing the drivers of incarceration. (more…)
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Labor’s foreign policy no longer matches the world it faces
In the second on our Rethinking Foreign Policy series Kym Davey says Labor’s foreign policy platform is out of step with current realities – clinging to US alliance settings while ignoring its own commitment to self-reliance and the opportunities of the Asia-Pacific. (more…)
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Why has populism’s influence increased politically
Claims that rising inequality is driving populism overlook the evidence – stagnant wages and falling living standards are the more likely cause. (more…)
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It takes two to make alliances and the US may run away first
As US commitment to alliances wavers, Australia faces urgent questions about its security, independence, and place in a rapidly shifting global order. (more…)
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Duniam contradicts Taylor on Coalition immigration policy
Recent comments from Coalition Shadow Immigration Spokesperson Jonno Duniam expose inconsistencies in the party’s immigration policy, raising questions about feasibility, cost, and intent. (more…)
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As warnings mount over Trump, Cuba pays the price
A renewed US oil embargo on Cuba is deepening hardship on the island, reflecting a long-standing pattern of intervention driven as much by ideology as strategy.
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You can’t rush peace: the fatal flaws in the US–Iran talks
The collapse of recent US–Iran talks highlights how flawed negotiation design – not just substance – can doom peace efforts from the start.
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Plan B: insulating ourselves from the US
P&I today begins a major new series – rethinking Australia’s foreign policy. The United States is becoming more erratic and less reliable, and Australia must respond by insulating itself – strengthening regional ties, rethinking defence settings, and reducing strategic dependence, according to John Menadue.
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AUKUS and the sunk cost trap beneath the surface
As warfare shifts decisively toward autonomous and distributed systems, Australia’s massive investment in nuclear submarines risks locking in a costly and inflexible strategy. (more…)
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Albanese and Anwar align behind Pope’s call for peace
Australia and Malaysia have signalled support for a diplomatic path through escalating global tensions, backing Pope Leo’s call for peace and restraint.
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Can the US public service survive the Trump era?
Public administrators in the United States are exploring how to reshape the civil service as a pillar of American democracy. (more…)
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How China really works – rules from above, reality from below
The Chinese Government is often described as ruling with an iron fist, but the way rules and policy are interpreted on the ground can be quite different.
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Women are reshaping the workforce – but power hasn’t followed
Women are increasingly dominant across education and the workforce, but leadership, workplace structures and social attitudes have failed to keep pace.
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How the Greens could win 25 per cent of the vote
The Greens need to get out of their own bubble and do some very serious soul searching if they are ever to have broad appeal, argues a co-founder of the Queensland and Australian Greens, Drew Hutton. (more…)
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Cricket has survived every crisis – but this one may be different
Cricket has adapted and survived for centuries, but a new struggle over control – combined with climate pressures – may test the game in ways it has not faced before.
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Environment: Class and race fuel climate collapse in Northern Territory
From devastating floods in the Northern Territory to the global failure to curb fossil fuels and the human cost of shipbreaking, environmental damage is accelerating – and hitting the most vulnerable hardest. (more…)
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From feminism to the manosphere – where to now?
Patricia Edgar reflects on a lifetime shaped by feminism – and asks why, despite its gains, relationships between men and women now feel more fractured than ever.
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The bad, the worse, and the need for glee – Message from the Editor
It has been a week where a number of world ‘leaders’ have exceeded even the lowest of expectations. Clearly the lion in this fight is Donald Trump as Jesus, but there are some other really notable, local contenders. (more…)