In political science, legitimacy describes the circumstances giving rise to the right to rule over a society. This article considers different concepts of ‘legitimacy’ and their contribution to understanding the difference between the power to govern, and the right to do so. It considers certain moves in Australia to expand the protective role of government.

This report presents findings of a rapid review of evaluations of programs that aim to improve civic and political participation carried out in the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Member States of the European Union and the European Free Trade Agreement, Australia and New Zealand.

This study investigates community discourses around democracy, with the aim of understanding how different segments of the Australian community talk about democracy.

During 2020 states the world over learned just how challenging it can be to organise full, free, and fair elections in the middle of a pandemic. This paper provides an overview of lessons from the Asia-Pacific region, which highlight innovations and emerging good practice, as well as growing issues of concern.

Young people’s politics are emerging in a time of significant social, cultural, technological and economic change. As such, this review focuses on Australian young people’s civic and political attitudes and practices in the context of the broader global forces that shape them. This review reports on the scholarship published between 2009-2019, and reflects on the...