Programs & Projects

The International Security Program

The International Security Program

The International Security Program looks at strategic dynamics and security risks globally, with an emphasis on Australia's region of Indo-Pacific Asia. Its research spans strategic competition and the risks of conflict in Asia, security implications of the rise of China and India, maritime security, nuclear arms control, Australian defence policy and the changing character of conflict. The Program draws on a network of experts in Australia, Asia and globally, and is supported by diverse funding sources including grants from the MacArthur Foundation and the Nuclear Threat Initiative. It convenes international policy dialogues such as the 2017 Australia-ROK Emerging Leaders International Security Forum and has a record of producing leading-edge, influential reports.

Experts
Latest publications
News and media
The language of Australia's new Defense White Paper: In tune with the US?
Commentary
The language of Australia's new Defense White Paper: In tune with the US?
In this article on The Diplomat's Flashpoints blog, Bonnie S. Glaser and Jack Georgieff compare the approaches of Canberra and Washington to China following the…
Defence in depth: The budget
Today we launch the first in a series of videos looking at Australia's defence and strategic policy. Entitled Defence in Depth, the videos feature interviews with defence and…
Defence White Paper round-up
Dougal Robinson is a Lowy Institute Defence Intern. The Australian Government's Defence White Paper is a week old. Islamabad noticed, as did New York. Here's a round-up of the…
Australia’s changing outlook on China: from strategic threat to strategic partner
Commentary
Australia’s changing outlook on China: from strategic threat to strategic partner
Writing on cogitASIA, the blog of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, Thawley Scholar Jack Georgieff writes on the current broadening…
China-PLA: 2nd comes right after 1st
Every year the US Defence Department releases a Congressionally-mandated unclassified study called Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China…
The Indo-Pacific pivot
Commentary
The Indo-Pacific pivot
In an opinion piece in the Indian Express, Rory Medcalf writes that Australia’s new Indo-Pacific defence policy recognises India’s eastward orientation.Rory Medcalf
Trailer: Captain Phillips
Captain Phillips tells the story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009, which was eventually brought to end by US Navy SEALs in what was interpreted as an early foreign policy…
Breaking down Australia's Defense White Paper 2013
Commentary
Breaking down Australia's Defense White Paper 2013
In this article on The Diplomat, Rory Medcalf looks at what the 2013 Defence White Paper says about China, the US, and its Indo-Pacific region.Rory Medcalf
Defence White Paper: Politics over strategy
Major Gen (Retd) Jim Molan is author of Running the War in Iraq. The Defence White Paper (DWP2013) has pretty well negated defence as a political issue. From the point of view of…
Spanner in the defence works
Commentary
Spanner in the defence works
In an opinion piece in The Australian, James Brown writes that when it comes to properly funding the ADF, big-ticket buys are only half the story.James Brown