Global events such as the election of Donald Trump in America and the popular rise of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany have shown that democracies around the world are experiencing democratic backsliding. In an era where even Australia’s democratic system faces significant challenges, democratic security presents a fresh security lens with which democratic decline can be explained, targeted, and resisted.  

What if an unpredictable leader chose to block Australian access to ChatGPT? Or if the owner of a […]

Negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine is a formidable challenge as the war enters its fourth […]

The 2024 Nauru-Australia Treaty focuses more on Australia's own strategic objectives than helping Nauru develop sustainably. Nauru's attempts to raise funds have led to significant issues, emphasising the need for cooperative solutions rather than exclusively self-focused strategies.

In the beginning, there was the state—conceived in masculine metaphor. The nation as father, as protector, as sovereign force. This gendering of political power was no accident but deliberate architecture, adding into the collective consciousness the notion that governance belongs naturally to the man, and that diplomacy speaks in a masculine voice. Five centuries ago, Machiavelli sketched political power in The Prince, imagining the state as a body requiring a centralised force, but also suggested that we practice politics every day. Marching into Women’s Month, we are faced with a chance to celebrate and hone The Woman.

Europe faces an undeniable shift in its security landscape. The Trump administration’s ambiguity around NATO and Article 5 has exposed the risks of over-reliance on the US. While NATO remains crucial, increasing European defence spending and calls for greater autonomy from significant EU leaders signal a shift toward a more self-sufficient security framework. The EU has evolved from an economic organisation at its conception into a political organisation, with the right leadership and careful planning, it could evolve again to include a military organisation.

The semiconductor dynamic between China and Taiwan operates within a three-tier paradigm encompassing cultural, military, and techno-economic dimensions. Taiwan’s export-driven, semiconductor-centric economy is a double-edged sword—serving as both a shield of technological supremacy deterring Chinese aggression and a vulnerability due to its lack of economic diversification for long-term stability.

Ukraine’s e-governance platform, “Diia,” has proven essential during the war, showcasing the power of digital innovation and resilience. Australia can learn from Ukraine to strengthen its digital infrastructure, improve public trust, and ensure strength in future crises.

With China’s rapid Electronic Vehicle (EV) expansion squeezing global markets and Donald Trump’s tariff threats looming, Western automakers face mounting challenges. To survive, the industry must balance geopolitical tensions, rethink supply chains, and adopt a more pragmatic approach to the EV transition.

Disinformation threatens Australian democratic processes. The failure of the proposed Disinformation and Misinformation bill highlights the urgent need for balanced regulation ahead of the 2025 elections.