On deterrence

The discussion of deterrence in the Government’s new defence review opens an interesting debate on the use and relevance of the concept to the future of warfare.

Putin’s desperate nuclear gamble

Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in return for a worthless guarrantee from the USA and Russia of its independence and freedom. Now, as Putin’s aggression rebounds against him, the Russian dictator is playing the nuclear card to bully the civilised world.

Geo-politics on planet virus

We’re still in the early days of what might prove an 18-month battering of the international order, and aggressive states such as China and Russia may look to exploit western weakness with audacious power-grabbing moves.

Who’s in the driving seat?

Global leadership works best when liberal great powers embrace a shared, inclusive vision of global order, jointly manage the challenges to that order, and fund the public goods that underpin it. Lately, things haven’t been going so well.

Australia’s “strategic personality” in a changing world

Beyond the tourist images of barbecues and beaches, what is Australia’s ‘personality’ in international affairs, and how might that change in the future?

Can ‘revisionists’ rule the world?

A world disordered by the joint efforts of Russia and China to diminish US power and influence — accelerated by some of the US’s own actions — seems to be the near-term reality we’ll be living through.

Strengthening the nuclear order

Nuclear weapons are once more a focus for public and political debate. Great-power competition has returned, leading to more fractious strategic relationships among the P5—the recognised nuclear weapon states—and the competitive modernisation of nuclear arsenals.

Hard times in Australian strategic thinking

A stronger defence force is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for achieving the sort of world that Australia want. Partnerships have also been central to our strategic success, and will remain so, but they must be partnerships we have chosen of our own free will.

In defence of nuclear deterrence

Deterrence is not without its problems—it’s merely the defence doctrine of choice for a competitive, heavily armed world. Is it going to save us from all war? No. But hopefully it can save us from the most serious sort of war, namely great-power war.

Australia and the shifting regional order

How should Australia deal with the rise of China? Our objective should be to shape a regional balance of power more favourable to our interests, recruiting new supporters to the coalition of powers that favours a stable, prosperous and liberal Asia.