The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast

As ethno-nationalists continue their march across much of Europe, what has become of the once predominant political movement in Europe — Christian Democracy? From its origins in Catholic teaching, with a focus on social welfare, the political ideology swept across Europe in the aftermath of World War II. It symbolised political stability, social support and the promise of a brighter, united future. But in the era of identity politics, does Christian Democracy have a future?
PLUS
Clive Hamilton, retiring Professor of Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University and founder of the Australia Institute, on the end of his controversial career in public life.
GUESTS:
Jan-Werner Muller, Professor of Politics, Princeton University. Author of the new book, Street, Palace, Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces and a recent essay for Foreign Policy magazine. 
Clive Hamilton, retiring Professor of Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University and founder of the Australia Institute.
This program was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

As ethno-nationalists continue their march across much of Europe, what has become of the once predominant political movement in Europe — Christian Democracy?
While it might share a religious origin, it is worlds away from today's abrasive Christian nationalism. 
Christian Democracy was the driving force behind the rebuilding of Europe in the wake of World War II; bolstering welfare states and helping to create the communal organisation that would become the European Union. 
But today, the influence and appeal of Christian Democracy has significantly diminished. 
Does it have a future in an increasingly volatile political climate?
Guest: Jan-Werner Muller, Professor of Politics, Princeton University. Author of the new book, Street, Palace, Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces and a recent essay for Foreign Policy magazine.
This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

In the early 1990s, a young economist and philosopher anticipated the end of Labor's era in government and asked what came next for Australian politics. 
Clive Hamilton then set up the Australia Institute. 
It became the country's premier centre-left think tank. He later became Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University. 
Despite being a man of the left, Clive began to despair about the state of progressive politics, especially the movements around gender and sexual identity. 
Clive's retiring from academic life but his voice remains as prophetic as ever in the battle of ideas.
Guest:Clive Hamilton, retiring Professor of Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University and founder of the Australia Institute.
This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

Who are the real leaders behind the current MAGA movement in the US? There's no doubt that Trump has amassed a significant, largely male support base. But there's a growing movement of politically-engaged conservative Christian women who are challenging long-held stereotypes and proving to be a formidable force in right-wing politics. They have modelled themselves on a prominent figure of the Old Testament and are reshaping perceptions of what it means to be on the religious right.  
GUEST
Katie Gaddini, associate professor at University College London and author of Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right.
This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

Australia’s Law Reform Commission is due to release its review of surrogacy laws this week. Surrogacy advocates have lobbied hard to allow commercial or compensated surrogacy for women who bear children for couples who cannot, or choose not to, have a natural pregnancy. But the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women is urging the federal government not to liberalise the laws. Reem Alsalem says it will lead to the exploitation of poor women. She was in Australia recently and met the commission to put her case.
PLUS
For the first time since the 1930s, a far-right party is poised to take government in a German state. In the weekend elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Deutschland won 44 per cent of the vote. The party’s unmistakably, and unashamedly, anti-Islam, but its relationship with the Christian churches is also severely strained. 
AND
As the war in Sudan continues into its fourth year -- with a death toll as high as 400,000 – violence has come to the last refuge. In the Nuba mountains, Christian and Muslim Sudanese have traditionally lived in peaceful co-existence, and in roughly equal numbers. But the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has set up a de facto government, principally to control the abundant resources of the mountains. 
GUESTS:
Reem Alsalim  is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
Jan-Werner Mueller is a Princeton University political scientist and one the world’s leading experts on the far right. His latest book is called Street, Palace, Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces.
Mohaned El Nour is a distinguished Sudanese human rights lawyer who works with the group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.   
STATEMENT FROM THE AUSTRALIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION
The ALRC typically establishes an advisory committee for each inquiry. Advisory committee members are selected for their expertise and experience relevant to the area of law under consideration, including expertise in regulation, research, policy, or practice. An advisory committee is not intended to represent all stakeholder groups involved in an inquiry, as the ALRC consults more broadly through a range of other mechanisms.
The role of an advisory committee is solely advisory. Advisory committee members provide feedback and share their views. Their input is one of many sources that inform the ALRC's work. The ALRC always consults broadly and hears from a range of views. We do so through public submissions (open to anyone with an interest in an inquiry), consultations, surveys, webinars, round-tables, and other stakeholder engagement activities. Advisory committee members, like all consultees, have no decision-making role. The views of any consultee or advisory committee are informative but are not determinative.
All inquiry decisions are made by the ALRC's President and Commissioners. In developing recommendations, the President and Commissioners consider the totality of the evidence before them, including submissions, consultations, research, and the ALRC's independent analysis.
This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation