Twenty years ago the Berlin Wall fell and communism in Eastern Europe crashed down with it. Except, capitalism and democracy are less popular now in Russia, Czech Republic and East Germany than they were in 1991. What, greed isn’t good?
Democracy
Click the vote: politics 2.0
Can an open source government work? An electorate in NSW has $300,000 and an online public vote system for choosing which local programs get funded. Want a new oval? Get voting.
Bill Clinton: How to export democracy
Bill Clinton on the trouble with selling other countries on constitutional democracy: you have to look after the “losers and the loners”.
Fiji’s constitutional coup
Soldiers in newsrooms, judges sacked, constitution in tatters … but life goes on in Fiji.
…and the Gold Walkley for Journalistc Leadership goes to…
John Hartigan!
Governments should prep for the next vaccine scare
Judging by the experiences in the UK and USA, we will be in for some major challenges if a vaccine scare gets traction in Australia, writes Julile Leask.
Mark Davis: The Land of Plenty
Australia’s particular democratic ethos isn’t simply a matter of headline-making achievements. It extends through to the way in which day-to-day life is lived by ordinary people, writes Mark Davis.
Whither the Democrats?
The inaugural meeting of the Australian Lobster Party…
Islam and democracy: six speakers, four brains
Tonight sees the first Australian Intelligence Squared debate. The sell-out debate topic is “Islam is incompatible with Democracy”, and it should be interesting, writes Irfan Yusuf.
America still holding out against Pakistani democracy
This week’s visit to Pakistan of two high-ranking US policymakers raised some expectations that they might be carrying the message to General Musharraf that it was time to quit, writes Charles Richardson.
Why China won’t hold Tibet forever
In the longer term, Tibet’s prospects are not so grim, writes Charles Richardson.
Mysteries of Democracy – The Recyclable Cardboard Polling Booth
We still don’t understand how they know…
The Burmese people have had enough
Dr Monique Skidmore details the historical roots of the current Burmese protest and where it might lead.
