Articles | Lowy Institute

28 Mar 2019
Asia

Global Economy

Australia
Economic diplomacy: trade and infrastructure battles in Asia

Greg Earl

Australian business is not showing much faith in new free trade deals, meanwhile the Trade Minister debates “left wing”.
22 Mar 2019
Australia

India
Australia–India ties: closing the gap between intent and action

Natasha Jha Bhaskar

The potential of this relationship is often overshadowed by a severe lack of enthusiasm and episodes of prejudice.
22 Mar 2019
Australia

Papua New Guinea
Australia’s PNG gateway: far north Queensland

Shane McLeod

The far-north will be key to closer cross-border ties and Cairns hosted the Australia-PNG Emerging Leadership Dialogue.
21 Mar 2019
Syria

Terrorism

Australia
Who bears responsibility for the children of ISIS?

Rodger Shanahan , Jennifer Percival

There are 70 Australian minors affiliated with ISIS in Syria. Yet there is no policy or direction on repatriation.
21 Mar 2019
Australia

New Zealand

Türkiye
Australia-Turkey: Erdogan’s bitter legacy in present-day history

Daniel Flitton

The intemperate outburst over Christchurch is more a product of Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian rule.
20 Mar 2019
China-Australia Relations

Australia

China
Responding to China’s not-so-secret influence campaign

Euan Graham

There are downsides to China’s economic value proposition and politicians could do more to prep the public.
19 Mar 2019
Australia

Indonesia

New Zealand
Why Jakarta called in Australia’s ambassador after Christchurch

Ben Bland

With an Indonesian among the dead, some local politiking has mixed with sadness following the mosque attacks.
18 Mar 2019
India-Australia Relations

Australia

India
India: never quite in focus

Aarti Betigeri

India deserves sustained closer scrutiny, but with Australian media groups shuttering bureaux, attention is fleeting.
14 Mar 2019
Australia

Southeast Asia
Economic diplomacy: trade and traps in ASEAN

Greg Earl

Ecommerce is booming in Southeast Asia, posing a challenge for Australia where goods trade tends to dominate discussion.
14 Mar 2019
Trade

Australia

Indonesia
Australia and Indonesia trade: deal (not quite) done

Donald R Rothwell , Imogen Saunders

Elections in Indonesia and Australia alike could yet be a hurdle to ratification of a long-anticipated trade agreement.
13 Mar 2019
Australia
How open should Australia be about the China challenge?

Sam Roggeveen

Andrew Robb wants Australian officials to say more about China’s alleged behaviour.
12 Mar 2019
Pacific Islands

Australia

Australia and the Pacific
Canberra’s Pacific pivot is bereft of vision

Edward Cavanough

The government’s motivations appear sincere but are riddled with anxiety about the risks of investing in the region.
11 Mar 2019
Sustainability

Australia

Technology
An Australian model for the renewable-energy transition

Andrew Blakers

Australia is on track for deep and rapid greenhouse emissions reductions. Most countries can follow the same path.
11 Mar 2019
Australia
Matthew Flinders, national pride and dinner diplomacy

David Hunt

Scientific discovery has a long history of serving the high politics of state.
20 Feb 2019
Cyber Warfare

Cyber Security

Australia

Technology
Responding to cyber attacks: resilience and transparency is key

Dirk van Graver

Yes, Australia’s security was tested, but keeping it secret won’t help the public accept inevitable dangers to networks.
19 Feb 2019
Australia

Australian Public Opinion

Migration
Polls apart: how Australian views have changed on “boat people”

Alex Oliver , Kelsey Munro

Charged atmospherics over border security has plenty guessing about public attitudes, but the numbers tell a story, too.
14 Feb 2019
Australia

Australia and the Pacific

Papua New Guinea
The curious case of aid concentration in Papua New Guinea

Jonathan Pryke

The extreme concentration of aid from Australia to PNG stands out. It may be time for others to get involved.
14 Feb 2019
Diplomacy

Australia
The barely-noticed momentous change to Australian foreign policy

Donald R Rothwell

A seemingly minor move on Venezuela has potential ramifications for every country Australia has diplomatic ties with.
13 Feb 2019
Australia

Thailand
The long tail of the al-Araibi case

JJ Rose

A case where Bahrain didn’t need to win to send a chill of horror up the spines of other dissidents watching on.
13 Feb 2019
Australia

Migration
Doctors help the moral case for border security

Danielle Fitzpatrick

The medical evacuation bill is a really a debate on the limits of political discretion.
13 Feb 2019
Europe

Australia

Review
Film review: They Shall Not Grow Old

Joan Beaumont

Peter Jackson has reclaimed the voices of veterans, and with technical prowess offered a glimpse of the battlefield.
8 Feb 2019
Australia

Migration
Blocking asylum, by sea and air

Guy S Goodwin-Gill , Tamara Wood

Sometimes the dangers for refugees in transit are presented by the very people from whom they seek protection.
7 Feb 2019
Australia

China
China cabinet: Huang Xiangmo’s visa strife, and outlook downbeats

Kelsey Munro

Is Australia stepping up pushback against Beijing? And why is China worried about economic bad views?
30 Jan 2019
Defence & Security

Australia
What is the F-35 for, exactly?

Sam Roggeveen

Australia’s first two new stealth fighters have taken to local skies. Now what?
30 Jan 2019
Australia

Australia and the Pacific
Australia’s new Pacific Czar

James Batley

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s new Office of the Pacific is a sign of the step up being made real.
21 Jan 2019
India-Australia Relations

Australia
Australia articulates its Indian Ocean priorities

Dhruva Jaishankar

Payne emphasised that it is in Australia’s vital national interest for the Indian Ocean to remain open and peaceful.
16 Jan 2019
Australia

United Kingdom
Aid mergers: no unscrambling the egg

Jonathan Pryke

Boris Johnson should look to Australia before saddling the UK’s aid agency with a costly diplomatic merger.
14 Jan 2019
Pacific Islands

Australia
Morrison in Vanuatu and Fiji: broadening, not deepening

Jenny Hayward-Jones

Rather than another grand initiative for the Pacific, Scott Morrison should join up policy at home for deeper relations.
10 Jan 2019
Public Diplomacy And International Broadcasting

Australia
International broadcasting: the ABC vs the wisdom of the crowd

Geoff Heriot

An incoming Australian government should review and rethink the purpose of state-funded international broadcasting.
7 Jan 2019
Global Economy

Australia
Money talks, and Australia doesn’t have a G8 voice

Mike Callaghan

Getting a seat at the table won’t depend on rankings tables but what a country can offer to the group.
27 Dec 2018
Australia
Best of The Interpreter 2018: the revolving door at the Lodge

The Interpreter

Another year, another Prime Minister, and more upheaval at home to distract Australia abroad.
21 Dec 2018
Terrorism

Australia
The debate over Australia stripping citizenship from terrorists

Susan Hutchinson

International law obligations and there is little evidence that revoking citizenship reduces the terrorist threat.
20 Dec 2018
Pacific Islands

Australia
Stepping up on Pacific infrastructure

Roland Rajah

The advantage of concessional loans is grant funding by Australia can be leveraged into a much larger amount.
18 Dec 2018
Pacific Islands

Australia
What I missed this year: Australia waking up to the Pacific

Jonathan Pryke

Lowy Institute experts look back on what surprised them in 2018
17 Dec 2018
Diplomacy

Australia

Israel
Responses to Australia’s Israel capital decision

Daniel Flitton

How the world reacted to Scott Morrison’s decision to formally recognise West Jerusalem Israel’s capital.
14 Dec 2018
Australia

Iran
Australia jostles over its Iran policy

Daniel Flitton

The Jerusalem embassy debate has overshadowed a potential shift in Australia’s longstanding independent stance on Iran.
12 Dec 2018
Global Economy

Australia
The true cost of fast fashion

Rachel Mason Nunn , Jack Kincaid

Moves by countries such as Australia to adopt modern slavery laws are a small start in tackling a big global problem.
12 Dec 2018
Australia

India
How Australia should deepen ties with India

Aarti Betigeri

From Kohli to coal exports, Australia is reconsidering India’s potential as a key economic and geopolitical partner.
7 Dec 2018
Australia

Indonesia
Indonesia has a stake in Australia’s Lombrum plans too

Evan A Laksmana

The Australian debate over the Lobrum naval base almost entirely ignores Indonesia.
6 Dec 2018
Australia

Japan
Steady but slow in Australia-Japan security cooperation

Ian Hall , Michael Heazle

Abe’s recent visit to Darwin indicates that Canberra and Tokyo acknowledge the common security challenges they face.
5 Dec 2018
Australia
Australia’s new foreign-influence laws: Who is targeted?

Kelsey Munro

Australia is leading the democratic push-back against quiet intrusions from authoritarian states.
3 Dec 2018
Defence & Security

Australia
Veterans fight back against the marketing enemy at the gates

Rodger Shanahan

Veterans respond to the call for the public to thank them for their service.
30 Nov 2018
Iraq War

Australia
Review: lessons for Australia and Britain from Iraq War

Garry Woodard

A new book demonstrates Britain’s decision to go to war in Iraq was one of politics with unintended consequences.
27 Nov 2018
Australia

Indonesia
Israel embassy debacle: can Australia strongarm Indonesia again?

Ross Taylor

Should Morrison play hardball with Indonesia on the proposal to move the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?
23 Nov 2018
Pacific Islands

Public Diplomacy And International Broadcasting

Australia
Time we heard the Pacific’s take on the Pacific

Mary-Louise O’Callaghan

Should we really lament the passing of the old-fashioned foreign correspondent, or take a chance for something new?
22 Nov 2018
Australia

China
Barley and bases: China stings Australian farmers

Alice Slevison

China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of barley from Australia – agriculture or politics?
21 Nov 2018
Pacific Islands

Australia
Australia finds itself at a Pacific crossroads

Carlisle Richardson

Australia should foster more sustainable relationships in the Pacific.
21 Nov 2018
Australia
Australia’s Indo-Pacific health security initiative

Adam Kamradt-Scott

Australia’s new health security plan is a strong statement but requires ambitious investment to lock in early gains.
15 Nov 2018
Global Issues

United States

Australia
Chipping away at trust in democracy

Adam Henschke

Without a greater level of political care, threats to the brittle foundations of democracy will grow.
15 Nov 2018
Australia

Japan
Abe’s visit to Australia: raising the stakes

Lauren Richardson

A deal for more frequent and larger joint military drills with Australia is part of Japan’s push for stronger partners.