Special Interests

Democracy promotes itself as the best political system because it gives ordinary people a say. But vested interests with deep pockets can direct and dominate 21^st century democracy. The perception that democracy is becoming a system for the few and not the many is one of the major reasons for citizen disengagement and distrust.

money politics, political donations, special interests

Money Talks Loudly in 2014 US Congress Elections

October 30, 2014

Anthony Zurcher in a blog for the BBC reviews the burgeoning infuence of campaign finance in deciding the result of the 2014 US Congressional elections.

Opinion

lobbying, transparency

Is Lobbying Good for Democracy in the European Union?

In an online forum called Debating Europe, citizens put their views and questions to European Parliament MPs on the impact of lobbying on the political process.

Opinion

policy making, accountability, data mining, government surveillance

Big Data a Threat to Open Democracy

October 22, 2013

Evgeny Morozov argues in MIT Technology Review that governments gathering huge amounts of personal information is a major threat to democracy.

Opinion

transparency, accountability, asylum seekers, state capacity

Manus Island Takes Australia to the Edge of Outsourcing

March 6, 2014

By creating multi-billion dollar contracts with large multinational firms for the handling of asylum seekers, the Australian government has pushed us to the edge of outsourcing, writes Janine O'Flynn of the University of Melbourne.

Opinion

policy failure, climate change, money politics

Democracy Failing to Address Climate Change

September 5, 2014

Peter Burdon from the Adelaide Law School asks whether democracy is fit-for-purpose to deal with climate change.

Opinion

money politics, lobbying

The Unmatched Power of Corporate Lobbying

April 16, 2015

Lee Drutman from the New America Foundation looks beyond campaign contributions to the oversized, and less visible, power of corporate lobbying on policy making.

Opinion