Senate crossbenchers take the first steps on lobbying reform – now to ensure it succeeds
Giving Australia's lobbying laws teeth, and a sizeable regulatory jaw to occasionally brandish them, is a major step in the right direction.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Democracy
Displaying 1 - 20 of 444 articles
Catalonia and Kurdistan find the road to statehood filled with obstacles
Winning an independence referendum is the simple bit – It's no easy trick to assert yourself on the world stage.
Political Islam navigates and changes Indonesia’s democratic landscape
Political Islam utilises Indonesia's democracy to pursue its ideals, changing the democratic landscape. Attempts to exclude the movement from democracy are counterproductive. What to do?
Ancient Greek wisdom for today’s leadership crisis
The ancient Greeks knew what made a good leader. Why does it seem we have forgotten their lessons?
How can the European Union be more meaningful for its citizens?
Despite the peace and prosperity brought about by the EU, it continues to be seen as remote and antidemocratic. How can this be fixed ? One possibility is the creation of a Commissioner for Happiness.
Cambodia heads towards one-party state – and a democratic crisis
Dark days lie ahead as democracy is dismantled.
In Latin America, is there a link between abortion rights and democracy?
Seventy-five percent of all abortions in Latin America are illicit. In Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, where abortion is totally illegal, the bans correlate with a generalized failure of the rule of law.
Catalonia’s referendum unmasks authoritarianism in Spain
Why did the Spanish state forcefully quash Catalonia’s referendum for independence? It is rooted in the country’s nearly 40-year dictatorship and its transition to democracy.
Africa leads the way in election technology, but there’s a long way to go
African democracies are embracing electronic voting far more confidently than the West.
The pathologies of populism
Current events show that the old problem of populism is making a comeback, and that populism is indeed an autoimmune disease of our age of monitory democracy.
In Central Europe, militarised societies are on the march
Politicians are promising to advance their countries' international positions through nationalist militarisation and celebration of virile men.
Young Australians are engaged in political issues, but unsure how democracy works
Young people have a poor understanding of Australian democracy, which must be redressed by the education system if they are to become full citizens.
Kurdistan: after vote for independence, what’s next?
It seems almost inevitable Iraqi Kurdistan will separate from the rest of Iraq – but going it alone will be hugely difficult.
The world needs a new generation of citizen lobbyists
At a time when our political future is uncertain, the only way to guarantee change is to do it yourself.
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.
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.
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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Professor of World Politics, SOAS, University of London
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Research Fellow, Sydney Democracy Network, University of Sydney
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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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