The Salvatore Babones Newsletter

DHARMA DEMOCRACY: How India Built the Third World's First Democracy

The statistics said that Indian democracy should never have survived. The statistics were wrong.

May 16 • 

Salvatore Babones

April 2025

My big "India book" is coming out next month

Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy will be published in May by Connor Court

Apr 7 • 

Salvatore Babones

January 2025

Mark Zuckerberg has made the internet safe for democracy

"Liberty will never more be without an asylum." - Lafayette on the creation of the United States

Jan 8 • 

Salvatore Babones

November 2024

The 2020 election saved American democracy ...

... for the return of Donald Trump

Nov 6, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

Where I Stand on American Politics

I'm proud to nail my colors to the mast. Wikipedia: please take note.

Nov 1, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

October 2024

They wanted to make history. They got Kamala Harris.

It's time to revisit my November 2022 "Philistine" column for Quadrant magazine.

Oct 26, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

September 2024

Why India Embraces Russia

India's avuncular prime minister Narendra Modi is famous for his hugs. Or some would say: infamous.

Sep 4, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

August 2024

On the Western Foundations of Indian Nationalism

As India celebrates 77 years of independence, a look at the construction of "India" as a national idea

Aug 15, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

June 2024

Indian Political Reform Set Back by a Decade

A mature democracy needs a robust opposition

Jun 8, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

India's Elections: Is Patriotism the Key to Democracy?

Patriotism may be the reason why Indian democracy has survived when all its neighbors' democracies have failed

Jun 6, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones

May 2024

April 2024

Invitation: Melbourne Symposium on Intellectual Freedom in the Academy

Please join me in Melbourne on Tuesday, May 21 for a discussion of academic freedom in Australia and abroad

Apr 8, 2024 • 

Salvatore Babones