19 Dec 2022
A focused direction for the Quad
Doubling-down on existing initiatives – rather than new goals – will see the grouping deliver tangible public goods.
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19 Dec 2022
China’s catch-up game in the Middle East
For all the promises and praise, there is little prospect of displacing deep ties between the Gulf nations and the West. -
19 Dec 2022
Christmas in Ukraine: hope, defiance, determination
Celebrating under a shadow cast by war. -
16 Dec 2022
Beyond binary choices in Australia China relations
Trade partner or security threat? Might we escape the trap of over securitisation with more diversity in leadership? -
16 Dec 2022
A changing aid landscape in the Pacific
Budget support was favoured during the pandemic, with loans — which must be repaid — also overtaking grants. -
15 Dec 2022
Economic diplomacy: From pollie crises to polycrisis
There are political bunfights, strategic challenges and wicked problems, but let’s not “overcrisify” the world. -
15 Dec 2022
Allies, algorithms and safety online
Echo chambers of extreme content are a growing concern for governments and regulators around the world. -
14 Dec 2022
A step-up for China’s involvement in the Middle East
Beijing will not soon supplant Washington as a dominant security partner – but the Arab world sees a chance for leverage. -
14 Dec 2022
Why the cryptocurrency ecosystem is a house of cards
The tumultuous picture surrounding cryptocurrencies this year has been sobering – a contagion of negative effects. -
14 Dec 2022
It’s complicated: psychology and national security decisions
Thinking about the plethora of security threats all at once is hard – which can increase the risk of bias intruding. -
13 Dec 2022
2022: A global turning point
Looking at trends and contours that have coalesced this year to make international politics more contested and unpredictable. -
12 Dec 2022
North Korea’s “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” goes ballistic
Does the appearance of Kim Jong-un’s “beloved” middle child signal more than just succession planning? -
9 Dec 2022
US-Australia alliance: beyond sentiment
Of supporters or sceptics alike, new research shows most Australians view the alliance via a cost-benefit analysis. -
9 Dec 2022
MP slush funds used to maintain power in PNG
The more cash, the more chance of an incumbent ruling party’s success at elections. -
8 Dec 2022
AUSMIN: the submarine conundrum
It’s a big challenge to manage the ambition for nuclear-powered subs and still juggle other crucial defence decisions. -
8 Dec 2022
We need to talk about war decisions
Australia has just embarked on a parliamentary inquiry into how it makes choices about when and why it goes to war. -
7 Dec 2022
All in the family: North Korea’s means of nuclear survivability
Kim Jong-un’s daughter reveal might be about keeping a trusted finger on the nuclear button more than succession plans. -
7 Dec 2022
Australia could lead the way on Rohingya crisis
Canberra is well placed to broker a new deal for resettling the region’s most vulnerable refugees. -
6 Dec 2022
The US may force the Philippines’ (willing) hand
A visit by VP Kamala Harris has revitalised a military pact and shown how Bongbong Marcos views America’s regional role. -
5 Dec 2022
Islands as stepping stones for India-Australia collaboration
The Indian Ocean region is too large for any one country to manage but cooperation on island territories would help. -
5 Dec 2022
Why outsourcing counter-terrorism online won’t work in future
Policing online hate speech currently falls into a murky space shared between governments and big tech. -
2 Dec 2022
Kevin Rudd on Jiang Zemin, steward of China’s rise
Jiang offered rare colour as a leader who saw a “strategic opportunity” for China in engaging with the world. -
2 Dec 2022
Australia wants to attract the world’s best? Make it easier to migrate
An overdue review can start fixing national skills shortages by smoothing the way for workers and families to settle. -
1 Dec 2022
Economic diplomacy: Scoring goals outside the stadium
Shifting geopolitics and economics make picking the diplomatic champion from the Qatar World Cup more challenging. -
1 Dec 2022
Anwar’s victory not the only Malaysian shockwave
A dramatic rise in the Islamist vote in the Muslim-majority country is the biggest outcome of the election. -
30 Nov 2022
Supporting the kind of region we want
In tougher strategic times, ASEAN stands as a crucial forum to ensure competition doesn’t tip into confrontation. -
30 Nov 2022
Australia–India: “Hands Across the Water”
Naval port visits send important signals and contribute to the thriving bilateral relationship. -
29 Nov 2022
Iran: Deep state, shallow protests
In a case of better the devil you know, potential for the country’s current unrest to be regime-changing is low. -
29 Nov 2022
Getting the narrative right: China’s media reach in Indonesia
Beijing is weaving its story into hearts and minds in the region via influence campaigns that could impact democracy. -
28 Nov 2022
Redemption complete? Australia’s image and the end of “sandpaper gate”
The only truly national sport is bound to local identity – but believing in exceptionalism is a dangerous game. -
28 Nov 2022
Confident, competent, inconsistent: Australia’s strategic personality
Canberra’s report card receives a solid “pleasing result” on Southeast Asia, but a “could do better” on the Pacific. -
25 Nov 2022
Riots serve an unexpected lesson in the Pacific
A new report on civil unrest in the region calls for a longer and wider lens in analysing reasons and rationales. -
25 Nov 2022
Fruits of labour: Guatemala’s 30 minutes with the PM
With farmers in Australia crying out for more workers, some outside-the-box thinking could help. -
24 Nov 2022
Defence and development reviews: bringing parallel tracks together
A cultural change in the way Australia’s approach to the world is formulated and prosecuted. -
24 Nov 2022
Worth a thousand words: what Kim Jong‑un’s daughter photo tells
The leader’s strategy is long-term, both for the continued rule of North Korea and its nuclear ambition. -
23 Nov 2022
Papua New Guinea: lessons of the last decade in four charts
Translating economic semantics into higher incomes, better living standards and good governance is the next step. -
22 Nov 2022
India’s military: a tech leap risks a nuclear chasm
India’s conventional military modernisation means grappling with the accelerated danger of nuclear miscalculation. -
22 Nov 2022
The militarisation of motherhood: repatriating ISIS’s Western women
A “victim” versus “fighter” dichotomy must be overcome to understand the strategic role envisioned for women. -
22 Nov 2022
Europe must fully embrace nuclear energy
With Russia’s stranglehold on the region’s energy, it is time to add a second shade of green. -
21 Nov 2022
Ukraine: No end in sight
A ceasefire proposal would likely be rejected as a Russian ploy, yet with winter closing, neither side can expect let up. -
21 Nov 2022
Will the new US Congress still pay for its Pacific promises?
The Biden administration has staked $810 million on a regional strategy and now must ensure bipartisan support. -
18 Nov 2022
Strengthening disaster resilience in the Pacific
The aftermath of Tonga’s massive volcanic eruption holds valuable lessons as climate change risks also grow. -
17 Nov 2022
Putting a stop to destructive anti-satellite weapons tests
Australia is helping bolster an emerging global norm that will secure space for the benefit of all. -
17 Nov 2022
Economic diplomacy: Charging up old ties with Jakarta
Australia has stepped up a trade diversification push despite the first moves towards reconciliation with China. -
17 Nov 2022
The city that throbs with fury
Six weeks on from a shocking stadium disaster, mourning signs in Malang tell an angry message for Indonesian politics. -
16 Nov 2022
“Big differences to manage”: Albanese and Xi put a value on diplomacy
The government can say Australia didn’t have to give up interests or values to restart dialogue. -
15 Nov 2022
Malaysian Chinese community to shape national poll
Electoral mathematics means politicians are faced with a choice between communal politics and multiculturalism. -
15 Nov 2022
Putting food at the heart of China-Indonesia relations
Beijing sees Indonesia as a major contributor to its food security and this has found receptive ears in Jakarta. -
15 Nov 2022
Refugees may become victims of Malaysia’s electoral politics
The plight of Myanmar Rohingyas exposes Southeast Asia’s disjointed policies and fragile human rights protections. -
14 Nov 2022
The race for lithium
Global energy transition relies on a resource that Australia holds in abundance. But supply chains and policy are key.