Grattan on Friday: Same-sex marriage ballot captures attention of a public alienated from politicians
It's a rare example of direct democracy – albeit non-compulsory and conducted by mail.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Democracy
Displaying 1 - 20 of 430 articles
Study: More, and more diverse, US college students voted in 2016
Whether they were motivated by enthusiasm or ire toward the candidates, the 2016 election captured the attention of US college and university students nationwide.
Votes for corporations and extra votes for property owners: why local council elections are undemocratic
Queensland led the way in the 1920s – it's about time for the other states to catch up on reforming local council elections.
A council has been intercepting emails to elected officials – here’s why that matters
Liverpool City Council has been monitoring communications from citizens – who probably thought they were reaching out in confidence.
How tolerance enhances democracy and the quest for human flourishing
Schools and universities have a responsibility to protect students from hate speech while also exposing them to views that disrupt their ways of thinking and ideas of the world.
Colombia’s FARC rebels have rebranded as a political party – now they need a leader
Meet the Commoners' Alternative Revolutionary Force, Colombia's newest political party. To move beyond its violent past, the new FARC will need a charismatic leader who can win over voters.
‘Is truth overrated?’ What the experts say
We gave four scholars from different disciplines a chance to offer their opinions on this important question.
Venezuela: Why Trump’s sanctions won’t work
New US sanctions against Venezuela deliver a clear condemnation of the Maduro regime's authoritarian maneuvering but overlook two key problems: Russian meddling and the humanitarian crisis.
Has South Africa’s labour movement become a middle class movement?
The membership base of South Africa's trade union movement has undergone significant changes which begs the question: has it moved away from its working class roots to become a middle class movement.
Little prospect of regime change in Russia short of a popular uprising – and that’s unlikely
Vladimir Putin position in the Kremlin looks more secure than ever, and he has shut down almost all the avenues for a genuine challenge.
Bangladesh’s painful journey to democracy is still far from over
Two-and-a-half decades on from the end of military rule, Bangladesh faces many of the same critical problems it always has.
Lessons from South Africa: parliamentary conscience and the courage to rebel
The motion of no confidence against South Africa's President Jacob Zuma showcased tension at the heart of South Africa’s democracy. Should MPs have the right to vote according to their conscience?
Rwanda and Kenya kick off a clutch of African elections
The Singaporean model of 'democracy' is very much in vogue among sub-Saharan countries.
Why elections matter for democracy in Africa. The cases of Kenya and Rwanda
With frequent irregularities, it's easy to become cynical about elections in Africa. But polls are an essential component of the continent's growing democracy.
Imagining Russia post-Putin
Stepping back from the current crisis in US-Russia relations, a Soviet expert asks: what's in store for Russia in the long term, and is a peaceful transition possible when Putin's gig is up?
For many Mexicans, this government spying scandal feels eerily familiar
This is not the first time Mexico's government has been accused of spying on and harassing citizens whose activities it finds inconvenient.
Political irrationality is ruining South Africa, but can still be stopped
Democracy and good governance require politicians to engage in reasoned debate, informed decision making and measured judgements. This presupposes rationality. Is this always true?
100 years ago African-Americans marched down 5th Avenue to declare that black lives matter
Thousands marched in silence against racial violence after a riot left hundreds of blacks dead and thousands homeless. The demands of black people in 2017 remain the same as they did in 1917.
Hong Kong’s democratic struggle and the rise of Chinese authoritarianism
Hong Kong’s autonomy and democratic political system are under threat, and pro-democracy advocates are once again ready to act.
Brazil and Venezuela’s political crises are more alike than they seem
The spectacle of two countries confronting systemic corruption and bad government says a lot about the state of Latin American democracy.
Top contributors
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Professor of Politics, University of Sydney
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Assistant Professor in Politics, University of Canberra
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Associate Professor of Politics, Australian Catholic University
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Assistant researcher, University of Sydney
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Research Fellow, Sydney Democracy Network, University of Sydney
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Professor of World Politics, SOAS, University of London
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Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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Professor of International Politics, University of Western Australia
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Professor of Governance and Director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis and NATSEM, University of Canberra
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Emeritus Professor, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University
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Adjunct Professor, University of Sydney
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ARC Laureate Fellow, Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney and McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Harvard University
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Lecturer, Public Policy and Politics, University of Melbourne
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Honorary Senior Lecturer, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham
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Director of Postgraduate Studies, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex
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