https://www.scmp.com/rss/521589/feed Sohail Akhtar is a researcher and author with Lowy Institute Australia. Based in Melbourne his work explores the intersection of geopolitics, Public Policy, and regional cooperation, with a focus on Australian Politics. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sohail Akhtar Sohail Akhtar It is sometimes argued that democracy suffers when autocrats manipulate legal frameworks or when institutions are weakened. Yet in liberal democracies such as Australia, a quieter but similarly corrosive danger is emerging: the normalisation of street-level hostility. This hostility, particularly towards migrants from the Indo-Pacific region, is an early warning signal of democratic erosion. In late August, thousands joined coordinated rallies across major Australian cities under the banner of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3325677/australias-anti-immigrant-rage-sign-democratic-erosion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3325677/australias-anti-immigrant-rage-sign-democratic-erosion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Sohail Akhtar Sohail Akhtar The significance of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s six-day visit to China cannot be overstated. It was not only his first visit to China after his re-election, but also the fourth meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Bilateral ties had previously been marred by bitter trade disputes and mutual recriminations, which have improved since Albanese took office in 2022. While Albanese’s visit was a continuation of his efforts to strengthen ties with China and secure economic gains,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3318603/australia-should-continue-engaging-china-its-own-terms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3318603/australia-should-continue-engaging-china-its-own-terms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:30:08 +0000