Controversy about James Cook offers a window into the way certain politicians can imagine themselves as supporters of national sovereignty while defending imperialism and colonialism.
Category: Ideas
Sanders and the debate over “electability”
On the eve of the South Carolina primary, Democrats are still trying to work out how "electability" works, and how much it matters.
Two concepts of progressivism in Iowa
All eyes are on Iowa, with a lot of attention paid to the two candidates on the left of the field. But are they on the same "left"?
The revolt of the cosmopolitans
One of the key trends of 2019 has been increased political polarisation between city and country.
What Bernardi means (reprise)
Cory Bernardi leaves politics, with his mission largely fulfilled. The Australian right has been remade, if not exactly in his image, at least in something uncomfortably like it.
Left, right and Brexit
Try yourself out on a 3-dimensional political diagnosis, and think about what this might mean for party realignment in Britain and elsewhere.
Why Poland matters
Polish voters have the opportunity tomorrow either to deliver a check to the worldwide campaign to wind back liberal democracy, or to give it further momentum.
More thoughts about judicial review
The decision about prorogation is not the only controversy Britain's supreme court has engaged in recently. An attempt to rein in the intelligence services raised some similar issues.
China, seventy years on
The Chinese Communist Party today celebrates 70 years of power as perhaps the most successful totalitarian movement of modern times.
The Senate faces its enemies, again
Plans are again afoot within the Australian government to try to cripple the democratic nature of the Senate. But there is an alternative direction that reform could take.
The World is Not Enough 