Skip to content
Inside Story
Current affairs & culture from Australia and beyond
About
Subscribe
Login
Search
Search
Menu
About
Subscribe
Login
Search
Search
politics
Essays & Reportage
The chronicler we deserve?
Matthew Ricketson & Rodney Tiffen
22 February 2018
Michael Wolff’s book owes a large debt to the ethically grounded work of the journalists he professes to disdain
National Affairs
The long road to a hybrid Senate
Paul Rodan
20 February 2018
How did Australia’s upper house evolve into a part-elected, part-nominated body?
Books & Arts
The politician as hero
Jane Goodall
19 February 2018
Television
| Bob Hawke was a remarkable politician — but what does that tell us about his impact?
National Affairs
Why the ABC was right — eventually
Peter Brent | Mumble
19 February 2018
The mystery is why Emma Alberici’s article was published in the first place
National Affairs
The Coalition goes existential
Peter Brent | Mumble
17 February 2018
The week’s events raise the age-old mystery: exactly what is this strange beast?
National Affairs
How Victoria’s Liberals went feral
James Murphy
16 February 2018
A looming court case is further evidence of a deep divide within a once-powerful election-winning machine
National Affairs
Standing by your man
Brett Evans
16 February 2018
Barnaby Joyce isn’t the only political figure in a spot of personal bother
International
Midterm minefield
Lesley Russell
16 February 2018
Can the Democrats break Republican partisanship in the run-up to the November elections?
National Affairs
Will the Greens rebound in Batman?
Tim Colebatch
15 February 2018
The bookies are backing the Greens at next month’s by-election in inner-Melbourne. But the contest is more complicated than punters might think
National Affairs
The coat-tail senators
Jeremy Gans
12 February 2018
Thanks to section 44 (and resignations), the current Senate might be the least democratic in Australian history. But it can be fixed
Books & Arts
A losing game? Social democracy’s trial by ordeal
Frank Bongiorno
11 February 2018
Books
| Centre-left parties are struggling everywhere. Can they adapt?
National Affairs
In Batman, the known unknowns provide plenty of uncertainty
Peter Brent | Mumble
8 February 2018
The battle for the inner-Melbourne seat is no ordinary by-election for Labor
International
The return of Wang Qishan
Kerry Brown
6 February 2018
Despite his age, the former anti-corruption chief looks like returning to a key position in the Chinese leadership
National Affairs
Are we overthinking referendums?
Peter Brent | Mumble
2 February 2018
Conventional wisdom advises against holding referendums at election time. Conventional wisdom is wrong
National Affairs
The popular Mr X
Rob Manwaring
26 January 2018
To call Nick Xenophon a populist is to miss the reasons for his remarkable rise
National Affairs
Our global backyard
Frank Bongiorno and Darren Pennay
26 January 2018
What happens when Australians are asked to name the most significant historical events of their lifetimes?
National Affairs
It’s time for a new “unifying moment”
Mike Steketee
23 January 2018
Evidence suggests that Australians aren’t strongly wedded to celebrating a national day on 26 January
National Affairs
Labor’s turn?
Peter Brent | Mumble
19 January 2018
Is a Shorten prime ministership just a matter of time?
National Affairs
Peter Dutton for prime minister!
Peter Brent | Mumble
12 January 2018
With the right team, the next election could bury race-based campaigning once and for all
International
The battle for the “real” Malaysia
Amrita Malhi
12 January 2018
This year’s election will be a fight not only for government but also over the legacy of the country’s most successful party
International
Fire and fury on the campaign trail
Lesley Russell
11 January 2018
The electoral prospects are hard to read as the United States enters midterm-election year
International
Timor-Leste’s parliamentary endgame
Michael Leach
5 January 2018
Only presidential action will resolve the impasse brought on by last year’s inconclusive election
Books & Arts
An Iced VoVo and a broken heart
Frank Bongiorno
5 January 2018
Books
| Beyond the headlines it generated, Kevin Rudd’s memoir helps explain why he lost the prime ministership
Correspondents
Iran: why it’s been different this time
R. Tousi
4 January 2018
The latest protests reveal rising discontent outside the major cities
International
The Germany of 2017
Klaus Neumann
22 December 2017
As the shape of the new government becomes clearer, Germany’s longest-running police show illuminates the political challenge ahead
International
Remembering Watergate in the age of Trump
Sally McCausland
22 December 2017
Podcasts
| It started slowly, but became the best-known of all political scandals
National Affairs
Broad church blues
Paul Rodan
21 December 2017
The Coalition has weathered periods of disunity before, but this time there’s the added problem of ructions within the National Party
National Affairs
Bennelong break
Peter Brent | Mumble
18 December 2017
A temporary reprieve for Malcolm Turnbull was also a reminder of Bill Shorten’s limitations
National Affairs
Is Malcolm Turnbull out of the danger zone?
Rodney Tiffen
15 December 2017
Political year in review
| A lack of state or federal leadership coups made for an unusual year in Australian politics. And the strangeness didn’t end there
National Affairs
Queensland: a final note on preferences
Tim Colebatch
14 December 2017
The detailed figures are out at last, and they confirm that One Nation’s preferences barely mattered
Newer posts
Older posts