As the first two decades of the 21st century come to an end, George Megalogenis considers Australia’s place as a middle power and the demographics that will change our parliament.

As Xi Jinping increases his power and ambition, there is tension over the influence China has in Australia. Progressive critics finds themselves aligned with right-wing voices.

As China seeks to assert dominance, Australia finds itself upping the stakes in a game it doesn’t want to play.

Before his death, the former president of Nauru explained how a deal with Australia to open a detention centre destroyed democracy in his country.