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The conviction of former US police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd may not, on one level, seem surprising — after all, prosecutors said Chauvin had knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. But history, Clare Corbould writes, shows us otherwise.
In the US, the idea Black bodies contain violence waiting to be unleashed has long justified police violence. It is also the reason African Americans have been disproportionately targeted in law-making, neighbourhood patrols, indictment, plea bargains at trial, and juries’ and judges’ decisions.
Why does this happen? Corbould argues it comes down to profit: the US justice system, including for-profit prisons, reform programs and law systems, generates enormous revenue for a small group and pays the salaries of literally millions more. She contends that “where African-descended people were once enslaved to provide cheap labour, they are now policed, charged, indicted and incarcerated at staggering rates. Could this be the time to consider the idea — outlandish on the surface — of abolishing the police?
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Amanda Dunn
Section Editor: Politics + Society
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AAP/AP/Pool court TV
Clare Corbould, Deakin University
The conviction of a former police officer for murder is unprecedented - and an indication of the long, brutal history of racism in US law enforcement.
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A woman reacts to the news that Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts in the murder of George Floyd.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Alexis Karteron, Rutgers University - Newark ; Jeannine Bell, Indiana University; Rashad Shabazz, Arizona State University; Ric Simmons, The Ohio State University
Scholars of policing, law, race and Minnesota history explain the landmark guilty verdicts handed down in the trial for the murder of George Floyd.
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Patrick Stokes, Deakin University
Philosopher Peter Singer has helped launch a new, pseudonymous journal for the discussion of unpopular views. Will this be a boon for free inquiry, or a way for researchers to shirk responsibility?
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Bianca De Marchi/AAP
Matt McDonald, The University of Queensland
The world, accustomed to Australia's shifty climate stance, is unlikely to fall for Morrison's diversion tactics at Biden's climate summit this week.
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Stella Prize/The Conversation
Julia Prendergast, Swinburne University of Technology; Catherine McKinnon, University of Wollongong; Donna Lee Brien, CQUniversity Australia; Gay Lynch, Flinders University; Julienne van Loon, RMIT University
Our experts cast their eyes over this list of contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and non-fiction which undertakes impressive trapeze acts across genre boundaries.
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Shutterstock
Stephanie Brown, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Deirdre Gartland, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Children exposed to intimate partner violence were two to three times more likely to have impaired language skills, sleep problems, elevated blood pressure and asthma.
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Education
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David Carroll, Monash University; Kris Ryan, Monash University; Susan Elliott, Monash University
Completing two degrees at the same time can increase graduates' rate of success in finding full-time work by up to 40%.
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Pi-Shen Seet, Edith Cowan University; Janice Jones, Flinders University
While skilled migration can help fill short-term gaps, Australia needs a more sustainable, long-term approach to skills matching and development to make the most of the people who are already here.
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Science + Technology
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Nathan James Enriquez, University of New England; Nicolas Campione, University of New England; Phil Bell, University of New England
So how accurate is the T. rex's running speed in that famous Jurassic Park jeep-chase scene?
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Environment + Energy
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Nicolas Pirsoul, University of Auckland; Maria Armoudian, University of Auckland
New Zealanders pay the costs of poor environmental and infrastructural governance, but have little opportunity to influence policy in the first place. Here's how that could change.
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Ana Manero, Australian National University; Anneliese Sytsma, University of California, Berkeley; Margaret Shanafield, Flinders University; Sally Thompson, The University of Western Australia
Some flood dangers can be hard to spot initially – to planners, developers and home-buyers. Sometimes, the danger comes from underground.
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Health + Medicine
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Evangeline Mantzioris, University of South Australia
From orange juice, to tea and coffee, to alcohol — different drinks can have different effects on iron absorption. This is worth thinking about if your iron levels are low.
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Nicholas Steyn, University of Auckland; Michael Plank, University of Canterbury
Although most border workers are now vaccinated, regular testing remains essential to guard against the risk of a major outbreak in the community.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The Morrison government has cancelled the belt and road agreements Victoria has with China.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Scott Morrison says he hopes to focus the conversation at this week's Biden climate summit on the question of how to achieve net-zero emissions.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Michelle Grattan discusses the Australian military with executive director of the Australia Defence Associate, Neil James.
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Tony Walker, La Trobe University
The Chinese president has used a major address to reassert China's role as a rising superpower and its willingness to be front and centre on major global issues, including climate change.
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