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
Reading China’s White Paper
Commentary
Reading China’s White Paper
In an opinion piece in the Indian Express, Sam Roggeveen says China’s newly released Defence White Paper is nobody’s idea of light reading. But examined closely, it…
Australia, America's too-frugal ally
Commentary
Australia, America's too-frugal ally
In this opinion article in the Wall Street Journal (Asia), International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf and Military Fellow James Brown argue that the 2013 Australian…
Defence White Paper pulls its punches on China
Andrew O'Neil is Professor in the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University. The most striking feature of the 2013 Defence White Paper is the growing…
Syria: Claims, damned claims and reality
I wrote previously about the philosophical reluctance of President Obama to use US power unless key US interests were at stake. Martin Indyk's excellent talk at the Lowy Institute…
Sweet and sour in defence take on China
Commentary
Sweet and sour in defence take on China
In an opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review, Rory Medcalf, Director of the International Security Program, writes that the 2013 Australian Defence White Paper takes a…
Defence White Paper: One American's view
Michael Green served on the US National Security Council staff from 2001-2005 and is now Senior Vice President for Asia at CSIS and a non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute. …
Defence White Paper 2013: Treading water in the Indo-Pacific
The Australian Government was right not to set up grand expectations for its 2013 Defence White Paper released today. This is a less ambitious and in some ways more sophisticated…
Defence White Paper squibs key questions
Commentary
Defence White Paper squibs key questions
There's lots to like in today's Defence White Paper, but some big questions still remainJames Brown
First impressions: Defence White Paper
Herewith my initial thoughts on the Defence White Paper 2013, with the usual caveat that this is the result of a first quick read and thus subject to revision. All the talk…
Defence White Paper released
The full text is here, and the Minister has put out various supporting media releases. Stand by for our initial analysis.Sam Roggeveen