BY CAITLIN GRAHAM – It is no secret that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is attempting to consolidate his position as leader of Russia well into the future. He has held onto the presidency since 1999, with the only exception being Medvedev’s presidency from 2008-2012 in … Continue readingALEXEI NAVALNY | THE FIERCEST OPPOSITION TO PUTIN RUSSIA HAS SEEN
The January 6 Insurrection, which culminated in the storming of the United States Capitol Building by far-right groups, was termed by FBI Director Christopher Wray as an act of “domestic terrorism”. The Insurrection demonstrated not only the fragility of democracy but also cautioned against misguided beliefs that far-right extremism could never penetrate western democracies. This article will observe the rise of far-right extremism in Australia and consider the possibility of similar acts being committed domestically. … Continue readingFAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM — WHY AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS
BY JESSIE WEN -#StopAsianHate has become one of the trending hashtags on the internet across social media platforms, catalysed in response to the killing of 6 Asian women in a massage parlour at the hands of a 21 year old white male in Atlanta, Georgia. The incident has added lost lives to the growing list of violent Asian hate crimes seen in the United States, and globally including Australia. … Continue readingANTI-ASIAN HATE – IT’S AN AUSTRALIAN ISSUE TOO
He is someone who does not take easily to compliments, but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, … Continue readingVALE HRH PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH | A LIFE OF DUTY & SERVICE
BY GURSEWAK SINGH – Earlier this month, farmer rallies on the outskirts of New Delhi surpassed 100 continuous days of protesting. Instigated by farmers from across India, the protesters seek to repeal three pieces of legislation passed by the Indian Government which they view as encroaching on the stability and security of the more than 100 million farmers in India. The farmers’ protests provide an opportunity to not just explore the incredibly important agriculture sector in India but also the anti-democratic tendencies of the Indian Government and how the farmers protest has stuck around to become an anomaly in a series of protests against the Government.
… Continue readingTHE FARMERS ENDURE – THE PROTESTS THAT FAIL TO BE QUASHED BY INDIA
Read Pivot’s background article on the Syrian Civil War here. 3,652 days. 400,000 deaths. 5,600,000 people have fled Syria. 6,000,000 internally displaced. The Syrian Civil War has reached a new milestone. 15 March signifies a decade since the wars’ inception in 2011. Regrettably, you may … Continue readingTHE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR | A DECADE OF RUBBLE
BY DEVAN PHILLIPSON – In March 2011, Syria fell to the wave of revolutionary sentiment brought about by the Arab Spring. Dictator President Bashar al-Assad faced a massive pro-democracy movement which quickly radicalised and militarised following repression from the Syrian government. Armed militias formed in quick succession and Syria descended into a fully blown civil war. Yet, despite the wave of popular support for the pro-democracy movement, the Assad regime stands on the verge of victory ten years later. How did we exactly get here? … Continue readingTHE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR | TEN YEARS OF HELL
The Post-War Era has seen the advent of regional integration through formal and informal multilateral organisations. While those such as the European Union and African Union are well known, the Australian Government should give further attention to those organisations within our geographic proximity, which play … Continue readingFRAGMENTATION OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM | CONSEQUENCES FOR AUSTRALIA
EDITORIAL – Donald John Trump will join the club of one-term presidents when he leaves office at midday on 20 January. He has become the 14th man to lose a re-election bid (10 if you do not count those presidents who also lost their party … Continue readingBALD EAGLE WOUNDED | AMERICA’S DEMOCRACY UNDER TRUMP
In 2015, the European migrant crisis reached its peak, with 1,015,078 individuals seeking refuge across the continent. Since then, the European Commission declared the migration crisis to be over in 2019, as the rest of the world largely forgot about the humanitarian crisis lingering on Europe’s foreshores. However, the fire that ripped through the largest refugee camp, Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos on 8 September 2020, has gained global attention and reminded the world of the humanitarian disaster that remains. … Continue readingTHE HIDDEN REFUGEE CAMPS OF EUROPE