Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton fears the rise of authoritarianism and illiberal democracies like Russia has left the world at a dangerous crossroads.
Speaking in Sydney on the second and final night of her fleeting visit to Australia to promote her book about her failure to defeat Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential election, Mrs Clinton warned of the "rising tide of illiberalism", particularly in Asia.
Mrs Clinton said liberal democracies like Australia and the US were locked in a global struggle with illiberal democracies, countries where while people may get to vote, they have few civil liberties and lack full knowledge about the activities of those in power.
She said Russian President Vladimir Putin's authoritarianism was "rippling out from the Kremlin" and emboldening right-wing nationalists, separatists, racists, and neo Nazis across Europe and beyond.
"I believe our world is at a crossroads and what we do next week not only as governments but as business leaders, media, influencers and ordinary citizens matters enormously," Mrs Clinton said on Friday.
"In Asia we see strains of illiberalism challenges confronting democracies in places like the Philippines and Cambodia and in (Chinese) President Xi's recent effort to abolish term limits and consolidate power.
"The consequences of democratic backsliding in this region have enormous global significance."
Mrs Clinton said repeated calls for the US to use a "steady hand" when it comes to talks with North Korea about dismantling its nuclear weapons development and testing program.
"I am pleased to see diplomacy blossoming with Korea but I hope we all remain clear eyed about how hard these negotiations will be and how often North Korea has broken promises," she said.
"And we should be careful not to confer too much prestige or legitimacy on Kim Jong-un without seeing concrete concessions, let alone making concessions of our own.
"And it's crucial US troops remain on the Korean peninsula so the United States remains a Pacific power and a guarantor of peace for our friends and allies."
The 8000 attendees paid between $195 and $495 for tickets to hear Ms Clinton speak at the function organised by Australian business events group The Growth Faculty.
