Geoff Boucher examines problems of social cohesion in multicultural societies. He argues that just defending the liberal multicultural model is an inadequate response to the neoconservative (assimilationist) backlash. Instead he advocates building a cosmopolitan public culture fostered by intercultural dialogue, based on a progressive republican perspective.

Tim Soutphommasane contends that the expression of cultural diversity means very little if it is not understood as part of a broader social justice agenda that seeks to ensure all Australians, regardless of their background, receive a fair go. If we are to value diversity, let us value difference for the sake of integrating all Australians into a community of citizens defined by shared civic values and a historical tradition built around a common public culture.

Before we can reinvigorate Australian democracy we need to understand why citizens become disengaged, writes James Arvanitakis.

How can political parties work out what the citizens of Australia really want from their health services? Gavin Mooney thinks the answer lies not in opinion polling or sham ‘consultations', but in citizens' juries.

Consumer and community voices need to be centrally involved in both discussing and influencing government decision making. Tony McBride outlines a plan for involving Australian citizens in the health reform process

Canada's Romanow Commission points the way for Australia's own health reform process, argues John MacKean

The biggest problem affecting the planning of Australian health services is the failure to set priorities in a rational, informed and comprehensive way. Priority setting is about making choices based on resource limitations; not only choosing what to do but also what not to do, writes Gavin Mooney