Nothing ‘hysterical’ in worrying about the global trend towards autocracy

In his column, Frank Furedi (“Climate of fear erodes power to tackle real pandemic problems”, 8-9/1) questions my contention that totalitarianism should be considered a potential risk alongside climate change, bioterrorism and nuclear war.

In my book, What’s the Worst That Could Happen: Existential Risk and Extreme Politics, I decided to include democratic collapse for three reasons. First, major backsliding has happened before. Immediately after the Civil War, multiple African-American legislators were elected to congress from southern states. But a backlash by the Ku Klux Klan and their allies meant that from Reconstruction to World War II, most black Americans in the south were denied the right to vote.

Second, there is now a clear agenda among conservatives in several countries to narrow the franchise rather than expanding it. Third, the Economist Intelligence Unit reports that the world has become more autocratic in recent decades – a pattern some have dubbed a “democracy recession”.

There’s nothing “hysterical” in worrying about the global trend towards autocracy. With a long tradition of democratic innovation, Australia is ideally placed to improve our own democracy, and work with other nations to strengthen democracy across the globe.

Andrew Leigh, shadow assistant minister for Treasury, federal member for Fenner

The Australian is to be congratulated for presenting all sides of the events of January 6, 2021. First, there was a balanced account by former Labor politician Peter Baldwin (“Is America still the land of the free? 1/1). Then there was the even-handed analysis of Joe Biden’ s speech attacking Donald Trump by Adam Creighton (8-9/1). And then Frank Furedi’s interpretation. Between the three of them, readers have been provided with sufficient information to make up their own minds on an event that has profound implications for the free world.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic

Choosing your friends

Apparently, European democracies have nothing to fear from ex-KGB operative Vladimir Putin and his billionaire soccer-loving mates. Forget the oppression of internal dissent and the use of a nerve agent to poison foreign nationals. The annexation of Crimea? As someone once said: “This is the last territorial demand I have to make in Europe.”

Noel Pearson writes (“How America lost Russia”, 8-9/1) that Bill Clinton as president imperilled the world by failing to bring Russia into Europe and quotes Paul Keating in criticising the inclusion of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic in NATO. Yes, Russia has the right to protect its borders. But its neighbours also have the right to choose their own friends and to resist totalitarian tanks. Just as they each did in 1939, 1956 and 1968.

Michael Doyle, Ashburton, Vic

Noel Pearson argues persuasively that the policy of allowing the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia is the wrong one. As he points out, Paul Keating has also argued against this. The problem for the Democrats, and Joe Biden, is having invested so much political capital in making Russia, and especially Putin, the big bogeyman they have to continue to portray them as the enemy.

An enemy responsible for everything bad that has happened in America from Trump’s election to the Capitol riots. Until they can admit the obvious falsity of these claims it’s hard to see them adopting a more conciliatory approach.

Bruce Armstrong, Buderim, Qld

Heartbreaking

I am appealing to every Australian who cares about our natural heritage. The federal government has given the green light to MMG mining company in Tasmania to start work on a tailings dam in the World Heritage Tarkine rainforest.

Why are we choosing a bit of extra profit for a Chinese state-owned mining company over our ancient rainforest? The company does have other options, and can build a tailings dam outside the Tarkine rainforest.

This isn’t about jobs or stopping the operation. If MMG wants our minerals then it can still build a tailings dam, or use other modern methods of discarding its waste thereby creating more jobs. Just please don’t build it in precious ancient forest.

You may think 285ha of rainforest doesn’t sound like much, but to stand in the centre of the proposed site is heartbreaking. It is an ancient forest of 500-year-old eucalypts, gnarled myrtles representing eons of time and unique ecosystems.

This tract of rainforest, like all rainforests the world over, is vital for the role it plays in addressing climate change. I am thinking of our children and our grandchildren.

Sarah Kersey, Devonport, Tas