It wouldn’t happen in Australia: can the centre hold?

How does distrust in democratic institutions and political leaders affect social cohesion in Australia?  

Is the rise of authoritarianism within democracies a symptom of broader systemic problems?  

How can democratic institutions in Australia counter challenges like terrorism, radical extremism, and threats to cybersecurity? 

In this episode, Misha Zelinsky, Lydia Khalil, and James Paterson join Jane Halton to discuss the current challenges and threats to democracy and its institutions, particularly in Australia. 

Professor Jane Halton AO PSM FAICD is a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC). 

Misha Zelinsky is an Expert Associate at NSC. 

Lydia Khalil is a Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute. 

Senator James Paterson is the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and the Shadow Minister for Cyber Security. 

Show notes:  

• Full version with Q&A – It wouldn’t happen in Australia: can the centre hold? 
• Keynote addresses by the Hon Clare O’Neil MP and Secretary of Department of Home Affairs, Stephanie Foster PSM at Securing our Future 
• Edelman Trust Barometer
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

Note: This episode was recorded during NSC’s Securing our Future conference on 9 April 2024.  

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.