Defeating the dictators

A new book by Charles Dunst, a foreign policy advisor to Colorado Democratic Senator Michael F. Bennet, outlines a number of ways by which democracies can combat the threat of rising authoritarianism.

When Conspiracies Meet: Donald Trump and the JFK Files

Donald Trump announced plans to release classified JFK files. Dr Binoy Kampmark, lecturer in Global Studies at RMIT, considers what the documents may reveal.

The birth of Trumpland: Notes on an inauguration

With the country ridden by woe and revulsion; with the discontent so profound and vicious, the Trump presidency began. It did so by way of comparison – of the chalk-cheese variety. In 2008, when the shining armour of Knight Obama took centre stage, there were sighs, ecstatic releases, heavy exhalations of hope. The theme, then, to start this presidency: numbers of attendees.

Posing the unthinkable: Resettling refugees in Australia

In a recent ABC ‘Lateline’ program, Paris Aristotle of the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture said he had never anticipated that offshore processing facilities would become long-term warehouses for refugees without genuine resettlement options. Binoy Kampmark says his perspectives have shown a distinct lack of imagination.

Killing carp in Australia: Genocidal fantasies down under

Science Minister Christopher Pyne recently announced a plan on how to get rid of European Carp from the Murray Darling Basin using a strain of herpes. Binoy Kampmark says evidence suggests that such a plan will not work.

Julian Assange, the UN and meanings of arbitrary detention

A UN panel found that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces a rape allegation in Sweden, was "arbitrarily detained" in Ecuador's London embassy. Here’s Binoy Kampmark's take on sex, politics and allegations around the man responsible for some of the most controversial disclosures of classified data in history.

Year of Disenchantment: Memories of 2015

2015 was another year which saw its share of calamities, its historical follies heaped up. But it will take some time to know where the consequences will come home to roost, says Binoy Kampmark.

The Paris aftermath: global manhunts, halting refugees

After the Paris attacks, legitimate asylum seekers to Europe are suspected of taking the seed of criminality with them. Binoy Kampmark fears that liberal Europe, deemed deluded in its compassion, is gradually giving way at the seams.

The fall of Tony Abbott

Malcolm Turnbull has been elected as Australia’s 29th Prime Minister after a leadership spill against Tony Abbott on Monday afternoon. Binoy Kampmark has the details.

The acceptable face of racism: Islam and Reclaim Australia

Federal Coalition MP George Christensen spoke at a rally of the anti-Islamic movement Reclaim Australia in Mackay, with similar events happening across Australia this weekend. Binoy Kampmark says political figures like Christensen are driven by fanciful fears and ruthless political cynicism.

Branding war: Anzac vulgarity and the cult of austerity

Woolworths was forced to take down its “Fresh in Our Memories” ANZAC Day ad campaign after it was criticised as tasteless. Binoy Kampmark says commercialising war for profit is nothing new.

The political year that was

Last year saw a range of worrying political and military activities worldwide. Binoy Kampmark predicts that this year is bound to follow the rhythm of violence and tumult that came in 2014.