Akaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism Akaash Maharaj

The court ruling that police powers must be subject to public accountability is a victory for democracy, but the devil will lurk in the details of the government response.

I emphasised that while the arc of history may bend towards justice, there is nothing inevitable about progress. Societies can and do regress, as well as progress.

Addressing the United Nations was one of the more intimidating experiences of my life. I spoke on behalf of GOPAC's global alliance of parliamentarians, on our work to bring kleptocrats to justice.

The greatest threat to our democracy is not barbarians at the gate, but politicians amongst us ready to pursue their ambitions by demonising anyone who dares to stand up and speak out.

In modern military conflicts, the challenge has moved beyond winning the war, to surviving the peace.

An oft-overlooked aspect of the Indian independence movement shows that the path from hero to villain can be nothing more than hubris, and that no cause is so great that it should be pursued without humility.