Trump first

Trump’s “America first” foreign policy is a cloak for his all consuming ‘Trump first” agenda and, like his domestic policies, aims to wrong-foot traditional norms and institutions to tighten his authoritarian control.

Reviewing Australia’s foreign policy planning

Last updated in 2007, Allan Gyngell and Michael Wesley’s book on “Making Australian Foreign Policy” offers a fascinating glimpse into the past but also underlines the need for a fresh assessment to reflect the fast shifting power dynamics and emerging threats of today’s world.

Geoeconomics is driving foreign policy

Economics has become the driving force of foreign policy, with trade and commerce replacing traditional diplomacy as key instruments of statecraft, exemplified by the US-China trade war and countries like India recalibrating their strategies to align with shifting economic and strategic imperatives.

Rethinking Pax Americana

The United States is behaving erratically and imprudently, not least by lashing out at its allies and partners and by confusing financial markets, as Trump rails at what he sees as foreign freeloading on American might.

Caught between two giants

Australia’s foreign policy has balanced pragmatism in dealing with powerful, but authoritarian China and loyalty to the liberal west, led by the USA, but Donald Trump’s transactional diplomacy may force a reappraisal.

Understanding “strategic culture”

Michael O’Keefe’s new book on Australian foreign policy making offers a detailed overview of Australia’s main diplomatic relationships and strategic culture.

The horror of dealing with Trump

Former Australian defence minister Christoper Pyne has compared the experience of dealing with US President Donald Trump’s administration to watching the supernatural horror film The Conjuring.

Three different views from Shangri-La

The optimism expressed by Kevin Rudd about the ‘Asian Century’ and close relations with China has been tempered in recent years by a more realistic appraisal of China’s true intentions and the need to protect Australia through stronger ties to traditional allies.

Penny Wong’s Pacific scorecard

With Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the helm of foreign policy, the Albanese government has set a strong standard for rebuilding diplomatic ties with Australia’s nearest neighbors in the South Pacific.

America’s illusion of grand strategy

Richard Hanania, the author of Public Choice Theory and the Illusion of American Grand Strategy, argues that America’s international strategy is shaped by political pressures at home as much as threats and developments abroad.

The four ages of American foreign policy

Michael Mandelbaum’s latest book takes readers through America’s rise from settler-nation to superpower over the past 250 years.

Labor refreshes foreign policy

Over a hundred days into Labor’s Federal term, have there been changes of style or substance in Australia’s foreign policy?