Discussion & Debate
A collection of Pursuit articles that drive and inform respectful public discourse on some of the world’s most challenging issues and events.
Trump + Twitter: Unfettered honesty or unchecked vitriol?
Donald Trump uses Twitter avidly to set policy, but also attack his opponents. Whether he’ll be reined in when he moves into the White House is anyone's guess.
The state of the science in an age of cannabis liberalisation
University of Melbourne Psychiatrist Prof David Castle discusses how cannabis represents both a public health risk and a wide-ranging therapeutic opportunity.
Liberal Democracy: Why we may be losing it
Liberal democracy may not be a strong as we think it is as University of Melbourne research suggests that falling public support can be a harbinger of losing it
Are universities part of the populism problem?
Universities are key drivers of educated debate, so amid rising populism, what have they been doing asks University of Melbourne expert
Is populism pushing Europe’s left-wing parties into long-term decline?
To challenge the rise the populist Right in some European countries, the Left needs a stronger vision, like social democratic parties had in the Post-War years.
Overturning history
June could see the legal overturning of Roe v. Wade which gave American women control over their fertility, bodies and lives says University of Melbourne expert
The undoing of Roe v. Wade
A University of Melbourne expert says the US Supreme court decision on Roe v. Wade may embolden conservative activists to overturn other liberal decisions.
When women’s rights collide with doctors
Victorian doctors can conscientiously object if a woman wants an abortion; but some see this as the right to obstruct, University of Melbourne research finds.
Should Australia have a Bill of Rights?
Some argue Australia's legal system needs better human rights protections; a University of Melbourne expert says we can learn from the US Bill of Rights.
Religious freedom: One right among many
A University of Melbourne expert argues the tension between rights like religious freedom and equality reflects the need for an Australian bill of rights.