What Australia can learn from the rise of populists around the world to avoid following Hanson down her rabbit hole | Julianne Schultz
Guardian AU
β’Sat, 04 Jul 2026 20:00:08 GMT
π° What Happened
In a powerful opinion piece published in Guardian Australia, academic and author Julianne Schultz argues that Australia must learn from the global rise of populism and authoritarianism to avoid following Pauline Hanson's One Nation 'down a rabbit hole.' Schultz points out that a quarter of the world's democracies are now led by authoritarian regimes, and that the transformation of media and communication has fundamentally altered the political landscape. She argues that traditional politicians and media institutions, which once operated with norms of accuracy and independence, are ill-equipped to counter the emotional, angry and ubiquitous communication style of modern populists.
π The Backstory
Pauline Hanson's One Nation has experienced a dramatic resurgence in Australian politics in 2026, with polls placing it ahead of the Liberal Party. This mirrors a global trend of right-wing populism that has seen figures like Donald Trump in the US, Marine Le Pen in France, and various authoritarian leaders rise to power. The piece appears against the backdrop of a deteriorating media landscape globally, where misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly through social media platforms, and traditional journalism struggles financially. Schultz draws on international examples β including the US, Brazil, Hungary, and India β to argue that Australia still has time to avoid the worst outcomes if it recognises the threat and adapts.
π― Why It Matters
With One Nation surging in Australian polls and a quarter of global democracies now under authoritarian leadership, Schultz's warning serves as a critical intervention in the national conversation about the direction of Australian democracy and the role of media in sustaining it.
In a powerful opinion piece published in Guardian Australia, academic and author Julianne Schultz argues that Australia must learn from the global rise of populism and authoritarianism to avoid following Pauline Hanson's One Nation 'down a rabbit hole.' Schultz points out that a quarter of the world's democracies are now led by authoritarian regimes, and that the transformation of media and communication has fundamentally altered the political landscape. She argues that traditional politicians and media institutions, which once operated with norms of accuracy and independence, are ill-equipped to counter the emotional, angry and ubiquitous communication style of modern populists.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation has experienced a dramatic resurgence in Australian politics in 2026, with polls placing it ahead of the Liberal Party. This mirrors a global trend of right-wing populism that has seen figures like Donald Trump in the US, Marine Le Pen in France, and various authoritarian leaders rise to power. The piece appears against the backdrop of a deteriorating media landscape globally, where misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly through social media platforms, and traditional journalism struggles financially. Schultz draws on international examples β including the US, Brazil, Hungary, and India β to argue that Australia still has time to avoid the worst outcomes if it recognises the threat and adapts.
With One Nation surging in Australian polls and a quarter of global democracies now under authoritarian leadership, Schultz's warning serves as a critical intervention in the national conversation about the direction of Australian democracy and the role of media in sustaining it.