Democracy
Opinion
Freedom of speech
Shouty protesters, Elon Musk and our dumb attempts at democracy
I was in the audience when Radiohead’s Thom Yorke called a heckler a coward. This episode got me thinking about freedom and protest – and how not to go about it.
- by Malcolm Knox
Latest
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Away from the ballot box, this vote is stacked for Trump
If the US Supreme Court is called on to make a ruling over the presidential election, Donald Trump can be confident it will go his way.
- by Geoffrey Robertson
Tony Wright’s Column
US Votes 2024
Would a democracy hot dog move enough Americans to vote down a tyrant?
One in three eligible voters can’t be bothered to have a say in US presidential elections. Yet voting can – and should – be a passion and pleasure.
- by Tony Wright
Opinion
US Votes 2024
‘Fascist’ Trump’s Garden party has echoes of America’s Nazi moment
The would-be US president admires fascists. That’s because he is one. It’s up to Americans to stop him.
- by Bruce Wolpe
Updated
Indonesian election
Once blacklisted from Australia, Western leaders now want this hard man ruler on their side
Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration as Indonesian president on Sunday caps a remarkable political comeback from years on Western blacklists.
- by Zach Hope
Opinion
US Votes 2024
160 million Americans will vote. Only 538 will choose the next president
They are the members of the Electoral College. And they, in turn, are chosen by the legislatures of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
- by Peter Hartcher
The next-gen leader and the forced video confessions on Facebook
Observers say Cambodia’s change in leader is just an extension of times before, where opponents were threatened with beatings, “only they are younger”.
- by Zach Hope
Opinion
Political leadership
They’re tackling Coles and Woolies, but who’ll dare break up the political duopoly?
A political system of two major parties – like a corporate duopoly – can be a comfortable place, but it’s not clear that the business model is working.
- by Sean Kelly
Democracy backsliding: Fewer people are voting, more doubt results
The Global Report on the State of the Democracy, which has measured democratic performance in 158 countries since 1975, is out. It has some good news too.
- by Jan Olsen
Defending our democracy: How a cranky uncle, Swedish inspo and ‘pre-bunking’ help out
Our home-grown election system is the envy of the Western world. Will it be enough to inoculate us from AI, fake news and other threats to our way of life?
- by Nick Bryant
Opinion
Opinion
Australia’s a democratic wonderland. A vote of thanks to one rather strange man
Curiouser and curiouser. How did the author of Alice in Wonderland influence Australia’s electoral system?
- by George Brandis
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/democracy-jfb