Writer
Allan Behm
Allan Behm heads the International and Security Affairs Program at The Australia Institute, Canberra
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The doomed conceit of a political AUKUS
Three years on, there is still no compelling argument, strategic or otherwise, for Australia’s acquiring eight Virginia-class nuclear-propelled submarines (SSNs). Nor is there any compelling calculation of the large lick of funding – $368bn and more – that the program will soak up. Only Defence seems able to command such stupendous outlays when childcare, aged Continue reading »
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“Acceptance” of Israel’s extreme brutality and “concern” at the slaughter of Palestinians are irreconcilable
Like most of the US allies, Australia is caught between a rock and a hard place. Continue reading »
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Australia-America odd couple relationship needs repair
The largely unrecognised risk to Australia that our powerful ally will strategically collapse through internal political stresses is greater than the much discussed threat of war with China. Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program, The Australia Institute, in conversation with Michael Lester about his new book The Odd Couple: The Australia-America relationship (Upswell Continue reading »
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Defence: who are we, what do we stand for?
Allan Behm, head of international and security at the Australia Institute, discusses foreign affairs, defence, AUKUS and security issues facing Australia. Behm poses the question: do we know who we are and what we stand for in attempting to secure our national interest? Continue reading »
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Who pays the piper…universities dance to the AUKUS tune
When AUKUS was announced, the ANU was quick off the mark to cash in. Continue reading »
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Webs and deceit: The politics of AUKUS
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive! Continue reading »
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AUKUS: Submarines on the never never, or castles in the sky?
AUKUS has landed – well, sort of. Continue reading »
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When ambassadorial style overshadows the diplomatic substance
Japan’s Ambassador to Australia, HE Shingo Yamagami, enjoys his media profile. He appears frequently on Sky News, advises Australia publicly on how it should manage its official relations with China, and describes himself as a former spymaster. Maybe the Ambassador aspires to be a legend in his own lunchtime. Continue reading »
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Paul Keating on Australia’s national interest, Taiwan, and the absurdity of war
Australia is still trying to find its place in Asia, Paul Keating says, which explains why we’re so preoccupied with Taiwan and China. Continue reading »
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Paul Keating on Australia’s national interest, Taiwan, and the absurdity of war
Australia is still trying to find its place in Asia, Paul Keating says, which explains why we’re so preoccupied with Taiwan and China. Continue reading »
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Scott Morrison’s giant nuclear election ploy that will put us in the front line against China
Australia’s decision to join with the United States and the United Kingdom to build Australian long-range nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) has little to do with the defence of Australia. Continue reading »
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Mischief, Disingenuousness and the ‘Doctrine of Ministerial Discretion’ by Bridget McKenzie.
“Things are seldom what they seem/skim milk masquerades as cream/highlows pass as patent leathers/jackdaws strut in peacock’s feathers” is an even more appropriate description of what’s going on in the Morrison government than it was for HMS Pinafore. Continue reading »
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War Crimes? What war crimes? Nothing to see here
Burying crimes under layers of legal process is tantamount to cover-up. And cover-ups destroy democracy. Just another one to add to the list of evidence showing the Morrison government’s problem with accountability – ‘sports rorts’ and the bonanza for Liberal donors from the ‘Leppington Triangle’ land deal being just two examples. Continue reading »
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War Crimes: Where does ultimate responsibility lie? Only a Royal Commission will determine the answer
The Brereton report has major deficiencies around where ultimate responsibility lies for war crimes in Afghanistan. To understand this and to eradicate the cultural and systemic causes of the alleged crimes, we need a Royal Commission. Continue reading »
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Intelligence is the servant of policy, not its substitute
Jack Waterford has provided a scathing assessment of the role of the intelligence and security agencies in Australia’s current contretemps with China. How should we evaluate the suggestion that the conduct of our international relations is driven more by intelligence than it is by policy? Continue reading »
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Securitisation: How to magnify problems rather than solve them
When governments have little idea of what constitutes a wicked problem, and even less idea of how to deal with it, their default position is to ‘securitise’ a problem – turning it into a problem to be solved by law enforcement, military and para-military methods. Continue reading »
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AUSMIN, ANZUS and the need for contemporary relevance
On Sunday afternoon, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence departed Canberra aboard a RAAF A-330 on their pilgrimage to Washington DC for the annual Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) talks. Continue reading »
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In the Australia-China relationship, name calling won’t help.
It is easy for governments to disguise their inability to manage the complex Australia-China relationship by resorting to finger-pointing and name-calling. Continue reading »
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Securitisation – Turning Problems into Threats
One of the more disturbing tendencies of modern governments is to transform policy problems into threats, thereby elevating them into the national security domain as the political rhetoric extends further into hyperbole. Continue reading »
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Time to rethink national security
Following the summer bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic has smashed even further the livelihoods and the lifestyles of many Australians. The hit to the national economy will be comparable to that of WW2. Continue reading »
