Turning 70: Xi Jinping’s People’s Republic of China
During the era of Sovietology, experts would pour over images of the gathered politburo in Red Square, gazing with grey monolithic interest upon the military […]
Articles by Dr Binoy Kampmark
The President Did It: Donald Trump’s Phone Around
When the squalid, absurd and occasionally hilarious accounts are compiled by a sober mind, the Trump administration will stand out as much gargoyle with more […]
Dangerous Detentions: Julian Assange and Remaining in Belmarsh
Much ink has been spilt in textbooks describing situations where autocratic states can behave badly. They abuse rights; they ignore international law and they ride […]
When Convenience Counts: Leaking, Whistleblowing and the Democrats
The entire Trump presidency has been a sequence of “watch this space” moments. Dismissals and political executions; attacks and distractions; gestures of deal making and […]
Jacques Chirac: The Art of Being Vague
The tributes have been dripping in heavy praise: former French president Jacques Chirac and mayor of Paris, the great statesman; the man who said no […]
Scott Morrison’s China Thesis
China has rattled Western observers for centuries, and the idea that it might be approaching a level of formidable heft is troubling to those who, […]
Railroaded by the Judges: Boris Johnson fails in the UK Supreme Court
It delighted Labour supporters and party apparatchiks who had been falling over each other in murderous ceremony at the party conference in Brighton: Prime Minister […]
Tempered Emergency: The Climate Change Summit in New York
It had a good deal of desperate scolding. Sweden’s Greta Thunberg assumed the role of punishing advocate, a Joan of Arc of fury. The main […]
Normal Intrusions: Globalising AI Surveillance
They all do it: corporations, regimes, authorities. They all have the same reasons: efficiency, serviceability, profitability, all under the umbrella term of “security”. Call it […]
Rotten in Tunisia: The Corrupt Rule of Ben Ali
He was the prototypical strong man softened by tactical reforms, blissfully ignorant before the fall, blown off in the violent winds of the Arab Spring. […]
Extinction Rebellion: Leaving it to the Students
The protestor of school age sported a placard featuring a distorted caricature of Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison: “Scomo was liking it hot.” A glorious […]
“Strong Men” in Europe: Tony Abbott Visits Hungary
“I extend a special welcome to Australia’s former prime minister. It is in part due to his tough policy that we regard Australia as a […]
Lotteries and Rights in the Sporting Life
The pigeon flapped in desperation, moving across Melbourne’s lavish Capitol Theatre in fits and starts. It was more alarmed than anything else at the address […]
Fake Arguments on Fake News
The constipated tedium that follows each call, denial and condemnation after another round of fake news and its giddying effects has become daily fare. Entire […]
Oiling for War: The Houthi Attack on Abqaiq
The attack on the world’s largest oil processing facility at Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia southwest of Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran had a few predictable responses. […]