World Affairs
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Russian Duma elections mark a watershed moment in Russia-West relations
Russia, confident that it has seen off major US challenges to its sovereign independence, looks forward to its growing world role following significant elections on Sunday. Continue reading »
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Cavan Hogue: Chile coup was another example of Australian support for US interests
National Archives documents released last week revealed how closely Australia’s overseas spy agency worked with the CIA in the lead-up to the 1973 coup in Chile. Former diplomat Cavan Hogue reflects on the political and social environment at the time. Continue reading »
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Think tanks have put British democracy at risk. We have the same problem.
It’s arguable that Britain’s path to this point — where it is at risk of decaying into a ‘competitive authoritarian’ regime — can be traced back to the first of the ‘conservative’ think tanks. Continue reading »
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70 years and several sea changes later, ANZUS Treaty serves a different world
When the ANZUS Treaty was signed 70 years ago, Japan was considered a dangerous aggressor, and China was a friend. Continue reading »
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America’s wars in revenge for 9/11 caused nearly a million deaths
Countless innocent people died in the 20 years of war the United States launched in the name of its 9/11 dead. Tens of millions of innocent people were displaced. Continue reading »
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German Social Democrats’ success would have a ripple effect in EU and beyond
On current trends the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) is likely to lead a coalition government after the federal elections on September 26. Continue reading »
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Australian government’s secrecy obsession and the role of ASIS in the overthrow of Chile’s Allende
Freshly declassified National Archives documents show just how closely the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) worked with the CIA in the lead-up to the coup-d’état in Chile in September 1973. Continue reading »
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Afghanistan intervention marks the beginning of the US’ decline
It is time to forget the idea that the whole world should conform to the principles and values for which America alone stands, no matter how admirable they may appear to be. It was never feasible and it is conducive of conflict. Continue reading »
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Foreign judges on Hong Kong’s top court give backing to judiciary
One of Hong Kong’s greatest assets has always been the rule of law. What better way, therefore, for anybody wishing to harm Hong Kong than to undermine its legal system. Continue reading »
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‘Fortress USA’: How the September 11 terror attacks produced a military industrial juggernaut
The best chance to reverse the militarisation of the US state is policy guided by the radical proposal that life is indeed precious. Continue reading »
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Biden’s folly: a virtual summit with real consequences
President Joe Biden will convene a ”virtual Summit for Democracy” in December – a brave and foolish move, given the political paralysis and discord in the US. Continue reading »
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Afghanistan, the aftermath: Recognition or engagement?
What are the options for states, including Australia, in their dealings with Afghanistan following the retreat of the previous government and the assumption of power by the Taliban? Continue reading »
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Why the West lost in Afghanistan: too much nation building or not enough?
Now that Afghanistan is back in the hands of the Taliban and the West is in humiliating retreat the search for answers about what went wrong and who is to blame is gathering steam. Continue reading »
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Afghanistan shows white privilege in action on the geopolitical stage
The rapid collapse of the US-backed government in Afghanistan and the consequent yet predictable torrent of responses from Western media and politicians demonstrated just how entrenched the Western worldview in projecting its “right” to be the leaders of the world. Continue reading »
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Human rights by US vice president: the last refuge of scoundrels
Kamala Harris’s trip through South-east Asia, touting the US’s commitment to human rights, was full of ironies. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong’s success continues despite foreign critics.
China has its own version of good governance and understanding of civil society, law and order and financial system. Dismiss them at your peril. Continue reading »
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Afghanistan, ‘anarchy’ and confecting a China threat
Readers of The Age and Sydney Morning Herald were recently treated to a lesson in international relations theory. Continue reading »
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Quarantine, what quarantine? Nicole Kidman, expats and white privilege
The unsaid but common understanding about foreigners in many parts of the non-Western world is that there is one group of them who can get away with a great deal: white people. Continue reading »
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Resilience via poetry, a South Sudanese story
Behind the stay-at-home Covid restrictions, the mental health of thousands is threatened. Cries for help multiply. To virus induced threats, including isolation if schools and universities stay closed, migrants must also deal with the trauma of past events plus the stigma of not always feeling accepted in a new country. Like Achol Arop. Continue reading »
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Why has the good war ended so badly?
The Afghanistan war, conceived in the traumatic aftermath of 9/11 has ended 20 years later in a misconceived traumatic withdrawal. Continue reading »
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Genocide by big pharma. Millions will die
Big pharma is fiercely opposing measures to scale up production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. This corporate genocide must be named. Stop protecting crooks. Continue reading »
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In Indonesia: Pray, don’t spray, papa’s hurt
Indonesian President Joko Widodo hasn’t gone so far as to ban outlets that publish unflattering portrayals — yet. Watch this space. Continue reading »
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There are much greater threats to Australian security than the Chinese military
As a middle power, Australia should be strengthening international organisations and a global community, rather than treating our alliance with the US as the foundation of our foreign policy. Continue reading »
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Australia should learn from Korea on managing a relationship with China
China was the elephant in the room for the discussions Marise Payne and Peter Dutton had with their Korean counterparts in Seoul. Korea’s extremely complex bilateral relationship with China is so different from our own. Continue reading »
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Obsessing over confrontation with China leads to arid policy grounds
Shaping Australia’s China policy is complex enough without chasing impractical outcomes. Peter Hartcher and Geoffrey Barker are concerned about the threat from China but pursuing a confrontational strategy has shortcomings. Continue reading »
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History repeats as Morrison provokes China hostility
The official visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014 was the high point in Sino-Australian relations. It has been all downhill ever since. Continue reading »
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Anti-Palestinianism is as damnable as anti-Semitism: a statement is long overdue
Before endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s definition of anti-Semitism, politicians in Australia and other western countries should consider the implications for the rights of Palestinians. Continue reading »
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The Singapore mouse that taught the China elephant
Compare Singapore’s dextrous diplomacy with the clumsy manner in which the Australian government handles its relationship with China. Continue reading »
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When politics fail: The folly in under-funding the ABC’s international services
The ABC is under such constant pressure and threats from government (as well as relentless attacks from hostile media and other organisations such as the IPA), it’s not surprising that public attention is almost exclusively on the domestic service. Continue reading »
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Common prosperity should be valued in China and not disparaged by critics
Recent news on China has been replete with items about “cracking down” on the rich, celebrities, the use of videogames by young people and growing inequality. Continue reading »
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Our two ministers just passing by in Indonesia – got a mo?
Marise Payne and Peter Dutton’s Jakarta visit was flagged as an ‘exclusive’ in an AFR curtain-raiser implying a renaissance in relations between Australia and Indonesia. That expectation came to naught. Continue reading »
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Bruce Haigh: We have been used again by America, this time in Indonesia.
Indonesians wonder why we fear China so much, when they don’t? Continue reading »
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What are the recent Chinese policy changes really about?
Something extraordinary seems to be happening in China recently, so extraordinary that many are scratching heads asking what this is all about? Continue reading »
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John Menadue-At last,Australia backs Covid vaccine patent waiver. Better late than never
People’s vaccines may yet become a reality. Let’s hope so despite opposition by Big Pharma and rich countries. Continue reading »
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Australia’s China experts feel the chill
Academics resisting Canberra’s line on national security fall under suspicion. Continue reading »
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Payne and Dutton’s high-stakes Indonesia visit must accelerate relationship
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton are due to meet their Indonesian counterparts in Jakarta for vital talks. The stakes are high. Continue reading »
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Australians must ask why we haven’t spoken out on Israeli squatter settlements
Australia ratified the Fourth Geneva Convention in 1958. So why do we question the ICC’s jurisdiction over war crimes committed in Palestinian territories? Continue reading »
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Xi Jinping wards off China-style populism
The focus on egalitarianism and crackdown on conspicuous consumption is just Beijing’s way of dealing with the inequalities associated with globalisation that have disrupted Western politics. Continue reading »
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