Boris on the ropes

Boris Johnson’s previously unshakeable public persona has been tainted by the tawdry Brexit spectacle, and he could potentially be the shortest surviving UK prime minister since 1827.

Britain left bereft by Brexit

Whatever sort of Britain emerges from the other side of Brexit, it’ll have a reduced role and reputation in Europe and perhaps the world.

Bringing Hong Kong back from the brink

Hong Kong’s current crisis is the result of the absence of politics. The chief executive and the cabinet were never elected, are unrepresentative and do not have to answer to ordinary Hong Kongers. Average citizens also feel they have no stake in a leadership system that ignores their needs, serves mostly the wealthy elite, and is answerable only to Beijing.

Hong Kong: The canary in the coal mine

Hong Kong continues to be wracked by civil unrest as its people protest against Chinese oppression. How did it come to this, what does it signal, and where is it likely to end?

It’s a numbers game of two halves

Manchester City won last year’s English Premier League and have a 36.5 per cent chance of coming top again, according to the numerical analysis of University of Adelaide’s Professor Steve Begg.

Which side are we on?

The protests in Hong Kong started over CEO Carrie Lam’s extradition bill and have turned into a defining issue for the trajectory of China as a state and a society, and for the Chinese state’s relationships internationally.

Balancing the rise of China

It’s clear that China wants to become the predominant power in Asia. Why should that be a concern for Australia? The answer goes to the heart of the intersection of our interests and values in foreign policy.

Putin and Xi plot an oppressive digital future

China and Russia are very different nations in many ways, but both are ruled by authoritarian regimes determined to assert themselves on the international stage while crushing political dissent at home and both use the internet to achieve their goals.

Australia needs a clear and consistent China policy

Our government should take a leaf out of China’s book by strongly promoting our national interests, speaking plainly in defence of our core values, and explaining our strategic priorities to the domestic public.

Thirty years after Tiananmen it’s time to face facts and join forces

Thirty years after Tiananmen we need to spend less time trying to fix China and more time shoring up our ability to take care of ourselves, our societies and all of our citizens.

Tiananmen Square, 3–4 June 1989

The Chinese Communist Party goes to extraordinary lengths to suppress discussion of the brutal student massacre which crushed pro-democracy protests 30 years ago, but memories of the tragedy remain as intense as ever.

Australia’s “strategic personality” in a changing world

Beyond the tourist images of barbecues and beaches, what is Australia’s ‘personality’ in international affairs, and how might that change in the future?