Save Democracy

What about voting? Democracies do it differently, and reforms in one place can spread to another. With democracy under threat, some countries are questioning whether their version of voting needs a closer look.Australia is where the 'polling booth' comes from, amid other electoral innovations. Election day in Australia is often a festive affair. You can find out online which polling booth is throwing a barbecue. I kid you not.Enjoy this 30min journey into the remarkable story of what makes the Aussie system so distinctive and arguably more resilient in an era of democratic decline.In this episode, I interview Melbourne-based political historian Judith Brett. Judith wrote the book on this subject: "From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage..." and it's a fascinating and often funny read. As well, a chapter focuses on the horrendous history of the denial of the right to vote for indigenous peoples.A warm thank you to subscribers of this channel! You are helping to keep this podcast on the road! For video, images, graphics etc, subscribe to the youtube channel. youtube.com/@SaveDemocracypodcastAny questions re the Save Democracy podcast, email Katherine Davies (Host and creator), at [email protected] to Judith's book: https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/from-secret-ballot-to-democracy-sausage-9781923670099Guest BioEmeritus Professor of Politics from La Trobe University, Judith Brett is a political historian. She is the author of Robert Menzies' Forgotten People (1992), Australian Liberals and the Moral Middle Class (2003), and The Enigmatic Mr Deakin (2017) which won the 2018 National Biography award. She has written four Quarterly Essays, including The Coal Curse: Resources, Climate and Australia’s Future. In 2019, she published From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia got compulsory voting. A second, updated edition was published in 2026. A collection of her writing was published under the title Doing Politics: Writing on Public Life, in 2021. Her most recent book is Fearless Beatrice Faust, a biography of the second wave feminist who founded Australia's Women’s Electoral Lobby.The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company.Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities.CreditsMusic from Uppbeat: Niafunke by ArnitoImagesHouse of CommonsPeaceful protest by Katherine DaviesUkraine Remembers the Heavenly Hundred 2020 by Vladyslav Musiienko (Dreamstime)Voting from SDI Productions (iStock)Election day from David Redfearn CC by SA 2.0First Past the Post Ballot paper 2021 UK local elections Coventry by domdomeggFPP graphic re 2024 UK general election from the Electoral Reform SocietyAlternative or Preferential Vote Ballot paper for Higgins, Victoria House of Representatives, AustraliaFPTP Vs PR graphic re results of 1993 NZ general electionLandscape by Inge Hogenbijl (Dreamstime)Polling booths Vanuatu by Graham Crumb (Imagicity)democracysausage.org website imageimage montage from instagram.com/ausdemocracysausage

Defend yourself against emotional hijack, or, in the technical term, "malign cognitive influence", as it's coming after you! your vote, your money, your time, and your identity!For a healthy democracy, we need to protect and nourish our own agency, and preserve independence of thought. This half hour may well help you strengthen your defences.Joining host Katherine Davies is Cambridge University Professor Alan Jagolinzer, the founder, chair, and coordinator of the annual Cambridge Disinformation Summit, a leading, global gathering of academics, tech whistleblowers, and policymakers. This episode focuses on one aspect of disinformation - emotional hijacking.Podcast websitehttps://www.savedemocracy.today/If you'd like to help keep Save Democracy on the road, please subscribe to our YouTube channel (free, just one click, hit subscribe) https://www.youtube.com/@SaveDemocracypodcastReferences from episodeDavid Stillwell Tedx Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7a5yQ3Xn44Sarah Wynn Williams Careless People (Former Facebook Executive) https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250391230/carelesspeople/Jonathan Metzl on social identity, Dying of Whiteness https://www.jonathanmetzl.com/book/dying-of-whitenessGuest bioAlan Jagolinzer is Professor of Financial Accounting, Vice Dean for Programmes, and Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Financial Reporting & Accountability at the Cambridge Judge Business School. Formerly at the University of Colorado and Stanford University. Recipient of the Stanford University MBA Distinguished Teaching Award and the Cambridge MBA Teaching Award. Former Academic Fellow at the International Accounting Standards Board.Alan has published research on insider trading, corporate governance, and the efficacy of international and U.S. financial reporting standards. He is currently examining university governance, disinformation, crypto coin influencer networks, and populist threats to market regulatory institutions.He convenes the Cambridge Disinformation Summit and chairs the Summit’s project committees on grade-school critical thinking and literacy, protecting global academic independence from populist, political and influencer threats, and developing and disseminating business leadership curriculum regarding information threats and responsibilities.He has served on advisory boards to the UK [financial reporting standards] Endorsement Board and Bellingcat. He was previously an active-duty pilot in the United States Air Force, flying T-37, T-38, and E-3 AWACS aircraft.https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/people/alan-jagolinzer/https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambridge-disinformation-summit-2027/The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company.Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities.CreditsMusic from Uppbeat: Niafunke by ArnitoThumbnail building image: Palinchak from Dreamstime

This episode may surprise you and leave you with a greater sense of agency. How can you engage effectively with your rep (or MP), and raise an issue with your parliament (or the equivalent in your country) - what’s good to know? Cristina Leston‑Bandeira is a leading authority on citizen engagement with parliaments and representative assemblies. Cristina advises legislatures worldwide, authors practical guides, and leads research on making parliaments more accessible.Enjoying the pod? Please consider subscribing to our youtube channel. It helps us stay on the road!https://www.youtube.com/@SaveDemocracypodcastWarning: Petitions are sometimes created by people who have suffered tragic loss and wish to prevent others from suffering the same. In this episode, the guest refers to two examples which some listeners/viewers may find distressing, especially if not forewarned. Specifically, the sensitive material in this episode refers to parents who have lost their children (issues: water safety and suicide).Guest BioCristina Leston-Bandeira is Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds and Co-Director of the Centre for Democratic Politics. She is Deputy Chair of the pioneering International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN), which she co-founded with the UK House of Commons Service, and chaired from 2020 to 2026. Professor Leston-Bandeira has worked on parliaments for over 30 years, having authored more than 60 academic publications, and was the first female academic Chair of the UK Study of Parliament Group. She is a leading scholar on parliaments and public engagement and was awarded the UK Political Studies Association 2025 Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize for her outstanding professional contributions to political studies.This Leeds profile page below has a link to the guides (for parliaments) on citizen engagement (2nd paragraph under Research Interests) that Cristina mentions in this episode of Save Democracy:https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/88/professor-cristina-leston-bandeiraThe information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company.Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities.CreditsMusic from Uppbeat: Niafunke by ArnitoPodcast website: savedemocracy.today

The reach of authoritarian states will surprise you. In democracies around the world, HRW research reveals the silencing of citizens by the Chinese state. The fear employed? The threat to friends and family back in China. The how? Getting people inside the diaspora to spy on each other.For our interviewee, it's personal. China Researcher for Human Rights Watch, Yalkun Uluyol, has no idea where his father is. And for Yalkun, it's his profession, documenting testimony around the world. In ~30 minute episode (video version on youtube with images, maps and graphics), find out the extent to which authoritarians will go to silence nationals wherever they are.If you like our podcast, please subscribe to our youtube channel.https://www.youtube.com/@SaveDemocracypodcastYour click is a huge support and will help others find the podcast.Guest bioYalkun Uluyol is the China researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). His research and publications primarily focus on China and a wide range of topics, including international political economy, foreign policy, civil and political rights, religious freedom, forced labor, and transnational repression.Prior to HRW, Yalkun was a researcher investigating Uyghur forced labor and global supply chains at the Forced Labor Lab at Sheffield Hallam University. He was also a co-founder of the project - Uyghur Rights Monitor - leading research on government officials and entities complicit with atrocities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.Yalkun holds a bachelor's in economics from Istanbul University and a Ph.D. in International Relations from Koç University. Yalkun speaks Uyghur, Mandarin, English, Turkish, and Arabic.References1) Human Rights Watch report "We Will Find You - A Global Look at How Governments Repress Nationals Abroad" referenced in interview:https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/22/governments-target-nationals-living-abroad2) HRW News Release, Aug 27, 2026:https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/27/china-decade-of-impunity-for-crimes-against-uyghurs3) SOAS article "Democratic neighbours as a challenge to the autocratic superiority tale":https://blogs.soas.ac.uk/china-institute/2022/04/25/democratic-neighbours-as-a-challenge-to-the-autocratic-superiority-tale/4) CFR article "Taiwan's Democracy is Thriving in China's Shadow":https://www.cfr.org/articles/taiwans-democracy-thriving-chinas-shadowClarificationRe: 'about 35% of solar panels are coming from Xinjiang'Xinjiang accounts for about 35% of the world's polysilicon and 32% of global metallurgical grade silicon production, materials essential to the manufacture of solar panels (95%). Crawford A. and Murphy L.T. (2023) "Over-Exposed: Uyghur Region Exposure Assessment for Solar Industry Sourcing," Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Hallam University Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice.The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company.Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities.CreditsImage of Uyghur crowd and musicians. Copyright (UNESCO) ICH Protection and Research Centre, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of ChinaSatellite image of a political education camp in Hami, Xinjiang. Copyright Shawn Zhang.Image of men seated in rows: Government social media post in April 2017 shows detainees in a political education camp in Lop County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. Xinjiang Bureau of Justice WeChat AccountWorld map of Uyghur diaspora created by Save Democracy using mapchart.net and data from Uyghur Human Rights Project uhrp.org/report/diasporaScreenshot of HRW article https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/16/australia-chinese-government-menaces-uyghur-diasporaImage of Tara Zhang Yadi, copyright ChineseYouthStand4TibetImage of the CCP in the Great Hall, Beijing, copyright Mirko Kuzmanovic dreamstime.comImage of umbrellas protest, July 2019 Hong Kong, by Ng Chun Yin, licensed from ShutterstockScreenshot of HRW article https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/21/hong-kong-activists-convicted-for-tiananmen-vigilsImage of Jimmy Lai from Doughty Street Chambers article https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/dark-day-anyone-who-believes-truth-freedom-and-justice-jimmy-lais-family-react-his-convictionCFR and SOAS article screenshots, and HRW We Will Find You 2024 report cover, referenced aboveGraphic of Top 10 Origin States Transnational Repression screenshot from Freedom House https://freedomhouse.org/article/ten-findings-ten-years-data-transnational-repressionMusic from Uppbeat: Niafunke by Arnito and Unseen by Abstract Aprils

A non-partisan pressure group wins a tough high stakes campaign in the UK parliament, defending democracy. How did they do it? Alongwith a coalition, and plenty of grit and relationship building, amid many setbacks, they just kept getting back up again, and again and again, fighting for the foundations beneath the feet of the British people.Enjoy an inspiring 30 minutes with a passionate lifelong campaigner, Shaun Roberts. Shaun joined the non partisan pressure group, Unlock Democracy, in 2021, to lead their campaigning, engagement, advocacy and digital work. Shaun has a long track record of developing and delivering successful campaigns in both the political and non-profit sectors, and internationally.Shaun is interviewed by Save Democracy's Host and Creator, Katherine Davies. Enjoying the pod? Please help others find us by subscribing to our YouTube channel or sharing the pod with a friend. The podcast website is at savedemocracy.todayAlong with Youtube, the Save Democracy podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Substack Partnerships - If you're with a university, foundation, or ethical global company, interested in exploring a podcast partnership with Save Democracy, email Host and Creator, Katherine Davies: [email protected] podcast is on all major platforms, youtube and substack.Unlock Democracy: https://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company.Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities.Music (Uppbeat): Niafunke by ArnitoImagesA screenshot from The Telegraph: "Either the Electoral Commission reforms or we will abolish it" by Amanda Milling, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, Published 29 Aug 2020Image identifying some of the organisations that were part of the coalition fighting to restore the independence of the UK's electoral commission, courtesy of Unlock Democracy