Articles | Lowy Institute

1 Jun 2023
Indonesia

Technology
Indonesia’s digital success deserves more attention

Hilman Palaon

India and China get the plaudits, but Indonesia is also taking impressive digital strides capitalising on local talent.
31 May 2023
India

Multilateral Institutions
India’s diplomatic poise: Not just about photo ops

Ved Shinde

Delhi’s foreign policy has matured at pace, showcasing the art of engaging everyone and being close to no one.
31 May 2023
Iran
Reviving hope in Iran: Why the “Woman Life Freedom” movement lives on

Laetitia Nanquette

Iran is again undergoing a revolution and joy, once sparked, will not be extinguished.
31 May 2023
Al Qaeda

Emerging Threats

Islamic State

Terrorism
Misogyny is often the connection between overlapping far-right ideologies

David Wells

A holistic approach to addressing violent extremism starts with confronting deep-seated societal issues.
30 May 2023
Technology
How can we regulate AI? Let’s just ask it

Lydia Khalil , ChatGPT

Even leading developers want to pause the revolution underway. So what insights does the machine offer on itself?
30 May 2023
Solomon Islands
An inside look at the role of media in Solomon Islands’ national security landscape

Gina Kekea , Anouk Ride

Asking hard questions also means knowing what information to trust and having faith journalists will also be respected.
30 May 2023
Myanmar
Myanmar’s intelligence war: the battle of wits and wiles against the junta

Andrew Selth

In a country where spies and informers have been ever-present, the opposition has built its own intelligence apparatus.
29 May 2023
Thailand

The Americas
What Thailand’s youth leaders can learn from Chile’s radical government

Adhiraaj Anand

The Move Forward Party hope to remake politics but that means carrying people along.
29 May 2023
Indonesia
After Jokowi: What Indonesia’s next president could face in foreign affairs

Warief Djajanto Basorie

Between Myanmar, China and a neighbour with ambitions for nuclear subs, an already full agenda awaits.
29 May 2023
Administration
King’s Birthday public holiday

The Interpreter

Monday is a day off work in Australia, normal publishing will resume Tuesday.
29 May 2023
Afghanistan
Dealing with the Taliban to stop a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan

Chayanika Saxena

The basic needs of Afghans cannot be ignored.
26 May 2023
Laos

Sustainability
Home grown: Building a stronger food system in Laos

Genevieve Donnellon-May

Reducing reliance on imports should be the aim in ensuring the country is not hostage to global market volatility.
26 May 2023
India

Vietnam

Review
India’s underperforming ties to Vietnam

Jitendra Nath Misra

India’s weak cultural imprint fragments into insignificance faced with China’s.
26 May 2023
Central Asia

China
Explaining China’s Central Asia pivot

Xiaoli Guo

Beijing’s ambition with its western neighbours is more about heading off US influence than a quest to dominate.
25 May 2023
Asia

Diplomacy

G20

Global Issues
Economic diplomacy: Taking cover from the summit war of words

Greg Earl

Proliferating regional institutions risk becoming shooting stars, with a long trail of bureaucratic half-lives behind.
25 May 2023
Asia

Diplomacy
Decoding diplomatic dynamics in Asia: The numbers tell a captivating story

Susannah Patton , Jack Sato

China, Japan and Indonesia each lead the US with a higher tempo of top-level diplomatic activity in the region. But defence ties differ.
25 May 2023
Australia in the World

Australia
Where has Australia’s foreign policy ambition gone?

Connor O’Brien

Labor has adopted a status quo attitude to the world, lacking a vision for reshaping global affairs.
24 May 2023
North Korea

South Korea

Nuclear Weapons
North Korea/South Korea: Who’s threatening who?

Khang Vu

The prospect of using nuclear weapons to coerce behaviour has limits.
24 May 2023
Technology
The Quad needs to talk security for subsea cables

Aishwarya Acharya

The infrastructure that underpins the digital age needs special protection in international forums.
24 May 2023
India

G20
A G20 presidency to build Brand India as a champion of the Global South

Parama Sinha Palit

Narendra Modi is aiming to enhance India’s reputation abroad while winning valuable political capital at home.
23 May 2023
Australia

Terrorism

Russia

Ukraine

International law

War Crimes

Africa
It’s time Australia branded Russia’s Wagner Group a terrorist organisation

Isabella Currie , Matthew Sussex

A record of abuses in conflicts from Ukraine to Africa makes designating the Russian group the right choice.
23 May 2023
Iran
Even under sanctions, Iran is expanding a network of friends

Nadeem Ahmed Moonakal

Membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation offers Iran the chance to consolidate markets.
22 May 2023
India

Australia

Human rights
Albanese should raise human rights concerns with Modi

Elaine Pearson

Australia must not to repeat the mistake of allowing the promise of trade to override a need to stand up for values.
22 May 2023
Russia

Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is spurring a transition of global order

Ian Hill

We’re only beginning to grasp the far-reaching ramifications from escalating tensions and economic disruptions caused by Moscow’s belligerence.
22 May 2023
Indonesia
The danger of anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia’s election campaign

Johannes Nugroho

Identity politics has been deployed to rally public support and smear rivals.
19 May 2023
India

Japan

Australia

Global Issues

United States
Building a Quad that lasts to the next generation

Kate Clayton , Eleanor Shiori Hughes

Joe Biden won’t decide the future of the Quad. But he and the other engaged leaders can help foster it.
19 May 2023
Indonesia

Australia
First Nations diplomacy can transform Australia’s relationship with Indonesia

Ridvan Kilic

If stronger “people-to-people” links are the aim, experience from the world’s oldest living culture offers a guide.
19 May 2023
Australia

Technology
AI vs democracy: the battle is already here

Anton van den Hengel

The first disruption was to the business model of journalism. Australia has yet to heed the warning.
18 May 2023
Australia

Defence & Security

New Zealand
Remembering Australia’s “other” alliance

Joanne Wallis , Anna Powles

New Zealand has dropped off the radar in modern strategic discussions despite the long history of trans-Tasman ties.
18 May 2023
China

Taiwan

Coronavirus

Multilateral Institutions
Why the WHO needs Taiwan

Joel Keep

Taiwan’s early warning and pandemic response should be offered as a model to the world, not hostage to China’s whim.
17 May 2023
China

European Union

France

Germany
Europe’s divisions over China could hamper G-7 unity

Dominique Fraser

If European capitals, Brussels, and Washington are not aligned, immediate economic interests will overshadow common, long-term goals.
17 May 2023
Australia

Diplomacy

Papua New Guinea

United States
Biden’s trip cancellations reveal pitfalls of a crowded diplomatic calendar

Daniel Flitton

Bailing on Australia and PNG highlights the growing risk of disappointment when leaders are clambering to summits here, there, everywhere.
17 May 2023
Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste update: Parliamentary elections and a roadmap to ASEAN membership

Parker Novak

The real political wrangling will follow the ballot. The President meantime is advancing a long held regional ambition.
16 May 2023
Thailand
Thailand’s election: will the country move forward?

Susannah Patton

The Kingdom’s conservative forces may have little option but to give way to the elected parties, at least for now.
16 May 2023
Australia

Diplomacy
Indigenous Voice: Getting ready to explain to the world if Australia votes “No”

Hugh Piper

The referendum is a pivotal moment for global perceptions of Australia. Diplomats must be ready whatever the outcome.
16 May 2023
Aid & Development

Australia

Australian Foreign Aid
Life in Australia’s aid program - but not as we know it

Grace Stanhope

The cost of development measures is being spread across government in creative ways, making coordination harder.
15 May 2023
China

China's Economy

China's Government

China-India Relations

India

WTO
Foreign policy China-style: beyond protocol and alcohol

Ved Shinde

Southeast Asian nations are realising that forming balancing coalitions will be their best bet in dealing with Beijing.
15 May 2023
Timor-Leste
New party offers chance for disability inclusion in Timor-Leste

Mario F Da Costa Pinheiro

A promise to send a person with disability to parliament following the election can galvanise action.
15 May 2023
Afghanistan

China

Russia

Ukraine

Iran

Saudi Arabia
China to the rescue, with peace plans for Saudi, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan – up to a point

Henry Storey

These diplomatic gambits all carry a message. But conflict resolution isn’t necessarily the main one.
12 May 2023
Global Economy

IMF
Taming international capital flows

Stephen Grenville

Emerging economies have borne the brunt of “easy money” economics, but past wisdom is catching up.
12 May 2023
North Korea
My decade watching the Korean peninsula: the delicacy of peace

Khang Vu

Lessons from starting out a career analysing one of the most dangerous flashpoints in global politics.
12 May 2023
Australia

Defence & Security
Australia’s future security: Where the Defence Strategic Review falls short

Bec Strating , Joanne Wallis

An integrated National Security Strategy could consider all the tools of statecraft rather than a defensive mindset.
11 May 2023
Australia

Australia's Economy
Economic diplomacy: Paying for a new security era

Greg Earl

The budget contains some tantalising hints about future foreign policy, offset by some doleful old realities.
11 May 2023
Australia

United Kingdom

Multilateral Institutions
Australia: The lynchpin of a modernised Commonwealth

Sam Bidwell

A network of middle powers and small states supporting one another. What’s not to like?
11 May 2023
China

Pacific Islands

Solomon Islands
The disproportionate attention on the Solomons-China security pact

Ilan Kiloe

A tendency to “securitise” problems via a geopolitical lens only downplays legitimate aspirations of local communities.
10 May 2023
Pakistan

Russia

Energy
Pakistan’s gamble with Russian oil

Adnan Aamir

Any deal will be hindered by US sanctions, refining challenges, transportation costs, and payment concerns.
10 May 2023
Asia

Global Economy

Global Economic Governance

Multilateral Institutions
Malaysia’s Anwar seeks Asian Monetary Fund and “dedollarisation”

Shankaran Nambiar

By reviving an old idea, Malaysia’s PM hopes to be in the driver’s seat for regional economic leadership.
10 May 2023
Global Economy

Geo-economics

United States
Biden’s quiet economic revolution

Nick Bisley

The guiding hand of the state is back as geopolitics rules.
9 May 2023
Australia

Diplomacy
DFAT: Show me the money

Daniel Flitton

Reports of a boost to spending to Australia’s diplomatic machinery need to be judged against what has been cut before.
9 May 2023
China

India

Environment

Sustainability
Hydro-hegemon? Complexities of shared rivers between China and India

Genevieve Donnellon-May

Alarm about China building dams upstream of Brahmaputra River must be tempered by India’s own record on water-sharing.