2025 in Review: The fading West, a cautious Labor win and an uncertain world |
From the erosion of Western authority to Australia’s election result, 2025 exposed deep shifts in global power, alliance politics and the limits of domestic reform.
Two events stood out in 2025. Internationally the first was the continuing eclipse and decline of western leadership. The second was a surprisingly strong result for the Albanese government in the May election.
In the West and particularly in conservative circles we have viewed China through a Cold War and ideological lens. Conservatives assert that China is dominated by Marxism-Leninism. Invariably it is the “communist” government of China. They want us to believe that there is a contest in the world between democracy and autocracy and democracy is sure to win. In our ignorance and arrogance, we assume the Chinese people will become card carrying democrats like ourselves.
We now must admit that we are profoundly wrong.
The jaundiced view of the world is fed by the colonisation of Australia’s intelligence and security services. Overwhelmingly the Five Eyes to which Australia is a member receives 90 per cent of its input from America and particularly the CIA. It is not surprising that our government and the media are highly influenced by the propaganda coming out of Washington, particularly as regards China.
Kishore Mahbubani has pointed out that China’s success is rooted in centuries of Chinese history, Confucianism meritocracy and competence. China has become a case study in effective governance. Meritocracy not ideology is driving China.
China’s economic success was outlined recently by Alan Kohler in the ABC. He said “China now dominates in every technology that defines the modern world. China leads in seven out of eight AI categories, 13 out of 13 advanced materials and manufacturing technologies, in all seven categories of defence space robotics........