Why Britain pulling out of the EU won't give it complete control over its affairs

Jan 28, 2016 02:34 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

For years, crusaders of the Eurosceptic cause have claimed that all the evils of the world will disappear once Britain leaves the European Union. British fishermen and women will be able to fish as much cod as they like...

Trump and the GOP: the Silent Majority versus the establishment

Jan 28, 2016 02:00 am UTC| Politics

While Donald Trump continues to hold a commanding lead among Republicans in the race for the 2016 presidential nomination, National Review, the countrys leading conservative magazine, thinks otherwise. In a special...

Trump, Clinton narrowly lead in Iowa with five days remaining

Jan 28, 2016 01:59 am UTC| Politics

The Iowa caucuses will be held on Monday 1 February. The caucuses begin at 7pm Iowa time (12 noon Tuesday Melbourne time). There is some attempt at persuasion before people vote at the caucuses, causing minor delays, so...

Coalition tensions expose the flaws of the same-sex marriage plebiscite

Jan 28, 2016 00:49 am UTC| Politics

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the Australian people will have their say on same-sex marriage in a plebiscite after the next election. But Coalition senator Eric Abetz claims he and other Liberal MPs do not have...

The good old days: how nostalgia clouds our view of political crises

Jan 27, 2016 05:35 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

After five prime ministers in five years, many fear that Australias political system is irrevocably broken. The Conversation, in partnership with Griffith Review, is publishing a series of essays exploring the problems...

Africa’s 2015 election experiences present dilemmas for 2016 polls

Jan 27, 2016 05:30 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

This year, like 2015, promises to be yet another busy year in Africas electoral democracy stakes. More than a third of the continents 54 countries will conduct polls. All elections are important, but in some countries...

US Election Series

Trump's rhetoric may topple adage that there's no such thing as bad publicity

Jan 26, 2016 11:23 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Is there such a thing as bad publicity? Donald Trumps campaign appears to be a test case in whether this old adage is true or not. His business interests are intricately linked to the Trump brand, which has been taking...