James Curran

James Curran is Professor of Modern History and senior fellow at Sydney University’s US Studies Centre. He is writing a book on Australia’s China debate for New South Press.

James Curran is the AFR’s International Editor and Professor of Modern History at the Sydney University.

James's recent articles

Trump’s shadow is all over this election

Trump’s shadow is all over this election

The president is bringing out the differences between political cultures and traditions in Australia and the US, especially in attitudes towards what government can and should do.

Trump’s tariffs deliver a harsh truth for Australia

Trump’s tariffs deliver a harsh truth for Australia

Too little thought has been given to the future of the Australian economy against the backdrop of a protectionist America.

James Curran's closing remarks to the Sovereignty and Security Conference on 31 March

James Curran's closing remarks to the Sovereignty and Security Conference on 31 March

The sense of urgency and rapid change that has pervaded the discussion today [31 March] has not obscured the fact that, as we know, this issue of the abrupt change in the relationship with the United States has been coming since at least Trump’s first term. And really from the disaster of Iraq and the 2008 global financial crisis.

The fundamental problem at the heart of defence policy

The fundamental problem at the heart of defence policy

The noise over meeting US demands on military spending underlines the fundamental problem at the heart of Australian defence policy: there is no strategy.

Albanese is as misinformed on the US alliance as live-fire drills

Albanese is as misinformed on the US alliance as live-fire drills

The petulant demand of tribute to the Trump empire and his transactional ethos surely now challenges the agreed balance sheet between Australia and America.

What if there is no way of Australia placating Trump?

What if there is no way of Australia placating Trump?

As a quick study in the psychology of Australia-US relations, last week had it all.

Paul Keating says Trump may avoid a major war

Paul Keating says Trump may avoid a major war

Donald Trump’s “snatch-and-grab” foreign policy rejects the belief in US primacy and exception that was sliding towards a military confrontation with China.

Will Trump’s hard line on Beijing ‘blow up’ Canberra’s China policy?

Will Trump’s hard line on Beijing ‘blow up’ Canberra’s China policy?

Canberra insiders fear the second coming of Donald Trump could bring pressure on Australia to disown its “stabilisation” policy with Beijing.

Who can best manage Trump – Albanese or Dutton?

Who can best manage Trump – Albanese or Dutton?

A week out from the presidential inauguration in Washington and what stands out is the sheer mischief and wildness of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, like two schoolboys running amok in the tuckshop of world politics.

Marching blindfolded into the new Cold War

Marching blindfolded into the new Cold War

Just before Christmas, the Albanese Government released the findings of a report into how much funding the federal government contributes to those institutions around the country that research and report on the contemporary challenges facing Australian strategic policy.

Anthony Albanese has yet to grow into the prime minister’s job

Anthony Albanese has yet to grow into the prime minister’s job

The prime minister is a political operator rather than a visionary. His inability to persuade and sustain arguments is beginning to show.

Would Trump or Harris keep the US out of new wars?

Would Trump or Harris keep the US out of new wars?

Donald Trump wants to end the conflict in Ukraine, but would have fewer guardrails in office. However, Kamala Harris might take a harder line on China than we think.

Forked tongue foreign policy

Forked tongue foreign policy

Asia posturing. At least the Americans discern no contradiction in Australian strategic policy, but the government continues to contort its messaging.

Howard still ducks Iraq question

Howard still ducks Iraq question

Former prime minister John Howard has defended his record on committing Australia to the Iraq war. But we are no closer to fully understanding his reasons.

History damns John Howard on Iraq war

History damns John Howard on Iraq war

Missing cabinet documents relating to the 2003 Iraq war are unlikely to reveal the impulses that drove John Howard to a disastrous foreign policy decision.

AUKUS gets embedded but no clear rationale

AUKUS gets embedded but no clear rationale

Labor has its political fix on national security. But what has been deferred once more is a fully developed explanation of the policy in real defence and strategic terms.

NATO hasnt got our back as some think

NATO hasnt got our back as some think

Anthony Albanese demonstrated that in some respects he remains a prisoner of his predecessors national security policies. Amid the glamour of Europe, he revealed once more that Canberras security agencies still control how Australia projects itself to the wider world.

Its back to diplomacy as destiny

Its back to diplomacy as destiny

While some commentators hoped that the new Albanese government might immediately reset ties with Beijing, such expectations were both undefined and unrealistic.

'New cold war' in the South Pacific exposed

'New cold war' in the South Pacific exposed

Having preened on the global stage for standing up to Beijing, the Morrison government has now been shown to have little influence in the region most crucial to our security.

Quad in trouble in new cold war.

Quad in trouble in new cold war.

For those in Australia clinging to the Indo-Pacific as the titular proof of a new regional zeitgeist, where India is concerned, they are relying on a strategic partner that simply does not exist.

PM's playing of China card trashes national interest.

PM's playing of China card trashes national interest.

Geopolitics Recent rhetorical pyrotechnics reveal the dissolution of any prudent, rational, bipartisan dimension in the Morrison governments China policy.

Albanese should start by opening door to a China reset

Albanese should start by opening door to a China reset

If he prevails at the ballot box, the Labor leader should quickly make a speech recalling Labor's very different relations with Beijing

Morrison turns China threat into an election wedge

Morrison turns China threat into an election wedge

Borrowing from the Vietnam War-era Coalition playbook, the prime minister is putting domestic politics ahead of long-term policy for dealing with Beijing.

Australia gets caught up in Washingtons China blame game

Australia gets caught up in Washingtons China blame game

The US is ignoring the rain of shrapnel that falls onto allies including Australia from its trade clashes with China.

Inside Paul Keating's historic and prophetic security deal with Indonesia

Inside Paul Keating's historic and prophetic security deal with Indonesia

When, as prime minister, Paul Keating secured the 1995 security agreement with Indonesia, he ensured Australia would be surrounded by allies as China rose.

Can Biden lead the world with a hole in America's middle class? (AFR Dec 20, 2020)

Since Joe Bidens US election win a wave of relief has washed over the foreign policy commentariat. The storyline appears set: with adults back in the room, Washington will relight multilateralisms torch while displaying a surer touch on alliance management and strategic competition with China.

Whats old is new again: Problems of the past and the future in Australia-China relations

The process of conceptualising a new framework for Australian strategic policy will again be full of tension between the pulls of history and the imperatives of geography; between what is and what we would wish to be, between experience which calls for prudence in protecting the national interest and hopes, even if tentative, that a better world can be made.

Trumps legacy to us (AFR Oct 26, 2020)

Consider the atmosphere now pervading Australian domestic and international life. Trump has alienated the Australian population further from the US.Diplomacy The US President has done precious little for the alliance. And four more years of strategic meandering would leave us even more uncertain about its future.

A dialogue of the deaf as the noisy hawks circle (AFR Sep 16, 2020)

Now that the Australia-China relationship has hit a new low, the timings right for charting a way out of the current impasse.

Australia at risk of losing subtlety in dealing with China (AFR, Sept 1 2020)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's tough realism on China has sent strong signals to Beijing about where Australia stands. But the danger now is one of being locked into an entrenched position.

On being very different countries: AUSMIN and Chinas rise (UTS Australia China Relations Institute August 4 2020)

During discussions with American thinkers, analysts and officials in New York and Washington DC in late 2017, one particular conversation gave a chilling insight into how some see the ultimate strategic calculations in US China relations.

'Haunted' Morrison adds more fuel to the Asia-Pacific fire

We now know a little more about the prime ministers fleeting, but significant references to the 1930s in his speech launching the defence update last week.

Washingtons Cold War with Beijing exposes its true view of Australia

Even before the onset of coronavirus, it had become something of a truism to talk of USChina relations plunging into a new era of heightened geopolitical competition.

JAMES CURRAN. Canberras wolverines threaten our connection (AFR 8.5.20)

Beijing deserves scrutiny for little transparency amid the pandemic, but Australias proposal for an inquiry is badly timed.

JAMES CURRAN. COVID-19 triggers a reset of domestic and international institutions

As governments try to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, they must have a view of the immediate future if they are to act rationally.

JAMES CURRAN. China challenge needs clever diplomacy not shrill crusades(AFR 21.1.2020)

Some Australian politicians are convinced that China is waging political warfare against us. But where is the evidence that they are winning?

JAMES CURRAN Our China panic is stepping into the world of paranoia (AFR 10.12.2019)

The China debate is close to losing all sense of rationality and proportion. Where's the confidence in our institutions?

JAMES CURRAN. Julie Bishop: buffeted by headwinds.

Few can quibble with the accolades that Julie Bishop has received in recent days for the manner in which she performed the role of Australian foreign minister. The first woman to hold the position, she graced the world stage with a mixture of professionalism and poise, dignity and discipline. No one can doubt Bishops ability to master a brief or effectively prosecute the national interest.

JAMES CURRAN. New series. We can say 'no' to the Americans.

James Curran spoke to the National Press Club, Canberra, at the launch of his new book 'Fighting with America' on 8 December 2016. The alliance is stronger and healthier for its disagreements.

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