Quillette Narrated Bondi Attack Exposes Australia's Multicultural Blind Spot
Dec 29, 2025
Alan Davison, a scholar and contributor to Quillette, dives into the implications of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on Australia's multicultural landscape. He highlights the increasing visibility of Islamic antisemitism and critiques the reluctance to confront ideological motivations behind such violence. Davison emphasizes the need for honest discussions about conflicting worldviews, urging the identification of specific drivers of antisemitism while protecting moderate voices in the Muslim community. Ultimately, he calls for a reevaluation of Australia’s approach to multiculturalism.
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Look Beyond Individual Pathology
- The Bondi attack exposed failures to examine ideological roots behind violence instead of treating perpetrators as isolated psychopaths.
- Alan Davison argues prevention requires tracing specific ideological and communal causes, not generic calls for unity.
Visible Ideological Currents
- Anti-Semitism in Australia has become more visible and is linked to ideological currents within parts of the Muslim community.
- Davison cites rallies, chants, threats and hostile conduct as evidence that a defined ideological current has local roots.
Multiculturalism's Avoidance Problem
- Australian multiculturalism often celebrates diversity while avoiding rigorous inquiry into conflicting communal values.
- Davison warns that suppressing contradictions fosters collective blindness and long-term vulnerability.