Civil Society
With freedom comes responsibility. A society of free individuals can only function if everyone respects the rights and liberties of everybody else. This means we have to voluntarily limit our own desires and monitor our own behaviour in the hope and expectation that other people will do the same in their relations with us.
But there is evidence that these informal norms governing our behaviour have been fraying over recent decades. The CIS asks what are the causes and consequences of the decline of civility and social cohesion, and what can be done about it?
The research also examines how government is weakening civil society by trying to eradicate risk from our lives and by 'crowding out' voluntary activity with state initiatives?
Publications
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The Fraught Politics of Saying Sorry for Forced Adoption: Implications for Child Protection Policy in Australia
| 19 Mar 2013 | Issue AnalysisMany Australians will believe a national apology for forced adoption is overdue. But there is a danger that the apology will... Read More...
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What’s New with Anti-Semitism?
| 13 Aug 2012 | Policy ForumCriticism of Israeli government domestic policy has intensified in Australia with the emergence of the international Boycott,... Read More...
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When Prophecy Fails
| 09 Sep 2011 | Special PublicationsIn their 2009 book, The Spirit Level, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett argued for the ‘benefits’ of income redistribution.... Read More...
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FEATURE: Beyond the Culture Wars - Arts Policy for a New Generation
| 20 Aug 2011 | POLICY MagazineArts policy can learn from sport's bottom up approach.
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FEATURE: Anti-Discrimination Law and the Attack on Freedom of Conscience
| 20 Jun 2011 | POLICY MagazineAnti-discrimination law is targeting belief as well as behaviour.
Opinion & Commentary
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Sorry, Mr Swan, the Australian fair go is still going strong
| 09 May 2013 | The DrumIn the lead up to what is likely to be a budget bloodbath on 14 May, Treasurer Wayne Swan has come out swinging. Instead ... Read More
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We are many: the futile fight over Australian identity
| 24 Jan 2013 | The DrumStop squabbling about what it means to be Australian. Our shared commitment to liberal democracy and individual freedom means ... Read More
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Coal hoax fails to dig deep without a martyr to the cause
| 15 Jan 2013 | The AgeProtesters need to face legal consequences to sway public opinion.... Read More
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Hummus, Hamas and the hopeless naive
| 18 Oct 2012 | Quadrant OnlineIn the wake of the violent Islamist riots, concerns that western governments will seek a political accommodation and try ... Read More
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Open up debate on welfare
| 10 Feb 2012 | The Canberra TimesPoor people are often those who miss out on adequate health care: people who can’t afford to go to private hospitals and ... Read More
Ideas@TheCentre
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After the riot: A civil discussion of multiculturalism
| 05 Oct 2012What does the recent riot mean for Australia’s status as a peaceful and harmonious multicultural society?...
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Restricting freedom is not the answer
| 21 Sep 2012The majority of Australian Muslims want to live here in peace but a sizeable minority has a darker purpose....
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Stick it to ‘em
| 12 Aug 2011Society’s lack of a moral compass led to the London riots....
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The class myth
| 05 Nov 2010The British will tell you that success depends on one's class and very little to do with education even though the evidence ...
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Income Management for all a courageous step forwards
| 25 Jun 2010Federal parliament this week passed laws that will subject non-Indigenous welfare recipients in the Northern Territory to ...
