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Politics these days is like everything else in our lives: fast. News breaks, a situation changes, political leaders are constantly asked for their “position” on all kinds of issues. But as Andy Marks observes, sometimes there are moments that resist the rapidity of modern political discourse, and one of those is the drastic flaring of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
“There is no doorstop interview, social media post or snappy campaign slogan that can convey the depth of suffering of Palestinians or Israelis,” Marks writes. “This deviation in political tempo exposes the shortcomings of fast politics, when careful, wider deliberation has historically proven more salient.”
As the conflict dramatically ignited, politicians rushed to take firm positions. But as it goes on and becomes more complicated, and the extent of suffering on both sides is there for all to see, the tone can shift. And in the meantime, a range of internal party positions becomes apparent.
“Only time, and the shifting tempo of politics, will determine the prescience (or otherwise) of political views on the tragic events occurring in Israel and Gaza,” Marks concludes. “Who is right and who is wrong is unlikely to matter to those affected.”
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Amanda Dunn
Politics + Society Editor
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Andy Marks, Western Sydney University
Contending with the human misery of the latest conflict has proven politically fraught at all levels.
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Paul Rogers, University of Bradford
History is full of examples that show why a ground war in Gaza is a bad idea – but is the Netanyahu government listening?
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Dov Waxman, University of California, Los Angeles
Many people who aren’t Jewish are responding as if what’s been taking place is just another episode of Israeli-Palestinian violence. But it’s different for many Jews.
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Adam Gerace, CQUniversity Australia
The death of Matthew Perry has seen old and new fans reflect on the legacy of a television classic.
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Clare Dix, The University of Queensland; Stella Boyd-Ford, The University of Queensland
Many parents find themselves grappling with an avalanche of sugary treats at Halloween.
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Matthew Sharpe, Australian Catholic University
The Slovenian philosopher is one of the world’s most famous thinkers. But what does he actually stand for?
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Nick Fuller, University of Sydney
Ads for targeted fat loss, especially
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Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The governor’s remarks about the board “not hesitating” to raise rates further aren’t as clear cut as they seem.
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Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland; Emily Burch, Southern Cross University
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Politics + Society
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Thalia Anthony, University of Technology Sydney
The ABC Four Corners episode ‘Guarded’ shows an increase of private policing and security in the Northern Territory. These privatised security measures need legislation to ensure community safety.
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Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne
Ahead of Friday’s final election results, the most likely outcome is National and ACT will need to add NZ First to form a right-wing coalition government. These are the results and seats to watch.
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Health + Medicine
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Lauren Breen, Curtin University
Children experience grief much more commonly than most of us think. This is what they want to know.
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Environment + Energy
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Thomas Oliver, Australian Defence Force Academy; Bruce Thom, University of Sydney; Roger McLean, Australian Defence Force Academy
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Books + Ideas
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Shady Cosgrove, University of Wollongong
The narrator of Charlotte Wood’s new novel has shed her life to live with nuns. The world intrudes in the form of COVID, a mouse plague and recovered bones, delivered by someone from her past.
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