UNder pressure

With United Nations bodies laying off staff following United States funding cuts, it’s fair to ask if the multilateral system – where countries work together towards common goals – is still functioning.

Taking stock of the WPS agenda

Women, Peace and Security (WPS) is at a critical juncture, facing significant challenges to its relevance but as we approach the agenda’s 25th anniversary, we should double down rather than step away from WPS commitments and issues.

Horizon Europe

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to commit to a security and defence partnership with the EU is a timely recognition of Australia’s national interests and should be applauded.

Delegated diplomacy

The last decade has seen a substantial rise in scholarly writings on the value of diplomacy. American political scientist David Lindsey’s Delegated Diplomacy: How Ambassadors Establish Trust in International Relations contributes to this trend, arguing that diplomats remain important in the making of world politics and do so in surprising and paradoxical ways.

Grading the G7

The 2025 G7 Summit was overshadowed by war, wildfires, and walkouts—most notably President Trump’s abrupt exit before launching strikes on Iran. What was meant to be a forum for unity on trade, energy, and climate instead exposed the deep fractures defining today’s global order.

Celebrating cultural diversity

As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the UNESCO 2005 Convention we must also renew our commitment to its principles, and to reaffirm the vital role that each of us plays in advancing the diversity of cultural expressions.

Asian democracy

Since the early 2000s, the world has witnessed a deepening democratic recession, and Asia is no exception. Compromised political freedom, constitutionalism and competitiveness characterise many democratic states across the region, while authoritarian states remain deeply entrenched. Still, there are glimmers of hope, as enduring public support for democratic ideals signals that even seemingly stable autocracies may not be immune to sudden change.

Fighting international crime

If the US no longer sees global crime networks as a threat, Australia must. The world’s new transnational crime syndicates don’t just smuggle drugs—they destabilise regions, corrode institutions and erode sovereignty. And they are increasingly doing so in the service of states that seek to undermine the liberal order Australia depends upon.

Protecting Israel

Israel has dominated Iran in recent days, destroying swathes of Iran’s military capacity as well as decimating its nuclear programme. Iran’s retaliation – based on raining down missiles on Israeli cities – has also fallen short thanks to Israel’s sophisticated and well-organised defence systems.

The big picture

The current conflict between Israel and Iran war highlights the danger of a piecemeal approach to statecraft, as calls for an immediate ceasefire disregard the much greater danger posed by Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Australia’s role in a shifting world order

With global conflict escalating and civilian protections eroding, Australia has a strategic opportunity to assert leadership in upholding international humanitarian law.

A world split assunder

Elisabeth Braw’s insightful 2024 book, Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided World, has proven remarkably prescient in understanding the turbulent global landscape of 2025.