Democracy has been a victim of COVID-19

COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on democracy worldwide, but some democracies are more resilient than others.

Getting our own house in order

Strengthening Australia’s democratic institutions will help ensure that Chinese state and corporate interference does not divide our society or undercut our national interests.

Arvanitakis on American politics: Why bipartisanship is hard

Headlines highlighting President Trump’s erratic behaviour are masking a more worrying decline of faith in democracy and national unity across the free world. What are the factors driving us apart, and what, if anything, can we do about them?

Australian democracy demands a proper debate

Australian democracy is failing to deal with the complex interrelationships between coal and climate change, regional security interests, human rights and trade but today’s political culture of slogans and disengagement from proper debate and scrutiny makes it harder still.

Democracy is good for your health

Living in a democracy is closely linked with better health for adults thanks to an increase in government spending, according to international researchers.

Searching for Democracy 2.0 without losing Democracy 1.0

Reimagining and safeguarding democracy around the world requires new ways of thinking which chart a course between alarmism and complacency.

The entrepreneurs of hate

Where does hate come from, and why has it played such a role in recent political history? Ian Hughes’ new book “Disordered Minds: How Dangerous Personalities are Destroying Democracy: examines the issue in depth.

How democracy ends

The rise of populists, a growing number of authoritarian regimes and an apparent loss of confidence in democratic politicians have all contributed to the idea that democracy is in serious trouble.

Is our democracy broken?

While many Australians are still coming to terms with having five Prime Ministers in as many years, what does the future look like for the world’s sixth oldest continuous democracy?

Liberal democracy: just one option among many?

Democracy appears to be on the retreat around the world and the rise of economically successful authoritarian states is undermining the assumption that political and economic freedom are essential partners for national success.

Servant or partner? The role of expertise in our democracy

Should expert knowledge be limited to providing a servant role in a free society, or elevated to that of a partner? Darrin Durant, a lecturer at Melbourne University, examines the tension between democracy and technocracy.