The politics of the World Cup

Editor's note

Politics and sport are meant to be separate. But in reality, they rarely are.

When the 2018 World Cup kick offs in Russia in a few days, most soccer fans will be thinking only of stoppage-time goals, dubious penalties and defence-splitting passes.

But as David Rowe writes, it’s also a good time to reflect on how politics has intruded on the World Cup in recent years and whether we need a better system for the host bidding process that sets higher standards for potential applicants.

FIFA has set new rules that require bidders to “formally commit” to sustainability and a respect for international human rights and labour standards. As Rowe argues, Russia is a problematic host on many levels, and it’s important for FIFA itself to commit to a strong reform agenda.

And our annual donations campaign continues this week. If you share our passion for quality, evidence-based journalism and you’d like to make a donation, you can do so here.“

Justin Bergman

Deputy Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

Emil Jeyaratnam/The Conversation; AAP images

Is Russia worthy of hosting the World Cup?

David Rowe, Western Sydney University

Scandal-plagued FIFA says it's committed to reform. Changing the way World Cup hosts are selected would be a start.

Health + Medicine
When possessions are poor substitutes for people: hoarding disorder and loneliness Melissa Norberg, Macquarie University; Jessica Grisham, UNSW To compensate for unmet social needs, people project lifelike qualities onto objects to feel connected. But this doesn’t fully meet people’s needs, so they collect more and more objects.

Education
Moral development: children become more caring and inclusive as they age Karri Neldner, The University of Queensland; Dan Crimston, The University of Queensland Children develop a sense of morality as they grow, similar to how literacy and numeracy skills develop over time and with practice.

Cities

Shoppers' movements might come down to fears of caves and the 'butt brush'

Svetlana Bogomolova, University of South Australia; Bill Page, University of South Australia

Marketers once liked to think they could virtually steer people through shops and malls. But it appears shoppers' movements, possibly driven by primal instincts, aren't so easily directed.
Five years on, NDIS is getting young people out of aged care, but all too slowly

George Taleporos, La Trobe University

The NDIS has started to reduce the admissions of young people with disabilities to aged care facilities, but more than 6,000 are still waiting for more suitable accommodation.
We can design better intersections that are safer for all users

Paul Salmon, University of the Sunshine Coast; Gemma Read, University of the Sunshine Coast

Collisions at intersections between motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians cause many deaths and injuries. Design that considers how each group approaches intersections improves everyone's safety.

Arts + Culture
To fix gender inequity in arts leadership we need more women in politics and chairing boards Jo Caust, University of Melbourne Women make up the majority of arts consumers and employees, but men dominate at every level of arts leadership.

Science + Technology

No launch from Australia: something missing from our plans for the new space race

Melissa de Zwart, University of Adelaide

Proposed changes to Australia's space activities legislation do little to inspire confidence in the government's approach to a commercial space industry.
We've designed a 'flux capacitor', but it won't take us Back to the Future

Thomas Stace, The University of Queensland; Clemens Müller, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Physicists have designed an electrical component that break's time-reversal symmetry. Not quite the time machine from Hollywood but it should help with communication technology and quantum computing.

Politics + Society

View from The Hill: Would Landbridge be on or off the government's register of foreign interests?

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

It is likely that the parliamentary intelligence and security committee will want more clarification on how things would operate in the grey area.
Shorten promises to reverse budget cut to the ABC

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Shorten has moved to make the ABC an election issue promising to reverse the Turnbull government's $83.7 million budget cut and to guarantee funding certainty over the broadcaster's next budget cycle.