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Why has social cohesion — a concept researchers still can't agree how to measure — become one of the most contested ideas in Australian politics?
What separates the multiculturalism built by successive Australian governments from the harder, more exclusive boundaries being drawn by Pauline Hanson and Tony Abbott today?
And with the political cost of saying the unsayable at an all-time low, can government and society rebuild trust before the fracture gets worse?
Dr Michael Zekulin joins Mark and Marija to unpack why "social cohesion" has become the buzzword of the moment, as Pauline Hanson returns from a UK tour with Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage, and Barnaby Joyce warns against fraying community bonds.
Listen here: Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Dr Michael Zekulin is a Senior Lecturer in the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. He specializes in research on terrorism, radicalization, and CVE strategies. He has published extensively, contributed to policy papers, and is a recognized public speaker and media contributor on security matters.
Dr Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.
Prof Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the Australian National University after a high-profile journalistic career culminating in 6 years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.
This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.