This Special Report, authored by Athol Yates and Anthony Bergin argues that it’s time for Defence to more fully incorporate domestic disaster assistance tasks as part of its core business.

Defence is likely to be used more frequently in the future to assist in domestic disaster management. There...

This Special Report argues that it is time for a fresh approach by the Australian Government  to prepare the grounds for a more effective re-engagement with the Government of Fiji. Eliminating some of the negatives in the current bilateral relationship is a necessary first step toward re-engaging posit...

The world stands on the cusp of a new era in nuclear relations—one in which Asia is likely to become the dominant influence on global nuclear arrangements. The old, bilateral nuclear symmetry of the Cold War is giving way to new mult...

This Policy Analysis, authored by Kelly O'Hara and Anthony Bergin, examines the information sharing vision of the new National Security CIO in light of reforms made towards a more joined-up national security community. It argues that information sharing should be a high priority for i...

Defence procurement decisions must balance cost, risk and capability. One way to minimise risk is to acquire equipment that is ‘off-the-shelf’—that is, equipment that is already proven and, in many cases, already entering service with other nations. That can give us assuredness of price and schedul...

The Defence White paper announced that the future submarine fleet would consist of at least twelve submarines that would be able to perform a wide range of missions and carry a varied array of weapons and sensors. As described, the resultant boats are likely to be the largest, most complex and, at $3 billion each, t...

This Strategy report provides an indepth Australian perspective on the global financial crisis (GFC) and its consequences. How China and the US behave as they come out of the financial crisis will have global ramifications, but in few places are the stakes higher than in Australia.

The author, Profess...

Right now the main focus of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) mission in Afghanistan is to raise the effectiveness of an Afghan National Army brigade so it can assume primary responsibility for security in Oruzgan Province, thereby creating the conditions for a withdrawal of Australian forces over the medium term. ...

This Special Report, authored by Athol Yates and Anthony Bergin, warns that as a result of climate change, disasters are likely to become larger, more complex, occur simultaneously and in regions that have either not experienced the natural hazard previously or at the same intensity or frequency.

The...

This report, authored by Mark Thomson, looks at demographics and security from an Australian perspective.The economic and demographic transition of countries from poverty to prosperity has been a driving force of history over the past two centuries, and is set to rem...

This year the Rudd government will issue a counter-terrorism white paper. In the preparation of the new white paper, this Policy Analysis, authored by Anthony Bergin, examines what Australia can learn from the UK approach with respect to domestic counter ext...

Following the response to the 2020 Summit’s recommendations, the Rudd government has agreed to establish a Deployable Civilian Capacity (DCC) for the rapid deployment of civilian experts to assist in international disaster relief, stabilisation and post-conflict reconstruction efforts.

This Policy An...

This Policy Analysis, authored by Dr Anthony Bergin, examines the political situation in Fiji following a Presidential announcement last Friday which abolished the constitution, assumed all governing power and revoked all judicial appointments. He examines international reactions to the coup and outlines options for...

This Policy Analysis, authored by Andrew Davies, examines China's latest paper in its series of biennial Defence White Paper.

While still guarded in many respects, the White Paper exhibits greater transparency than some of its predecessors, something the West has been requesting. But more tra...

Australia claims jurisdiction over more of the earth than any other country—around 27.2 million square kilometres or 5% of the planet, ahead of Russia and the US. Of this, our maritime domain is around 4% of the planet’s oceans. This Strategy, authored by Sam Bateman and Anthony Bergin,...

This Policy Analysis, authored by Rod Lyon and Kellie Kayser, assesses how much change we are seeing in US strategic policy under the new administration in Washington.

President Obama has already begun a campaign to ‘renew’ American global leadership after the Bush years. He has been expl...

Since its inception, the internet has been used by terrorist groups around the world to disseminate propaganda and tradecraft materials. But as the internet has evolved in recent years, it is being used more and more as a...

North Korea, marginalised as an issue in recent years by a host of other problems, looks likely to return to the forefront of international concern in 2009. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already noted that North Korea might be sliding—much earlier than expected&...

The Almanac, authored by Raspal Khosa, is a unique publication that brings together a wealth of information across the full-range of Defence activity in a single, easy-to-use reference source. It is an up-to-date, fact-filled resource that places otherwise difficult to find Defence information at the reader’s ...

The 1.5 Track Security Dialogue is an initiative of ASPI and the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). It aims to assist the two governments to address and explore, through frank and sustained exchanges, their respective policy approaches and options on global, regional and local security issues.

Pa...

This report of an Independent Task Force examines the contribution that business can make to Australian disaster management. The Task Force makes a number of important recommendations to integrate the private sector into our disaster response capabilities.

Task Force members were Anthony Bergin, Alex Candetti,...

This report examines the utility of employing cost-benefit analysis for measuring national counter-terrorism expenditures. In a period of global financial turmoil and economic uncertainty, governments need better metrics and more rigorous assessment tools for national security planning.

The report, authored by...

Armed forces around the world are making increasing use of part-time personnel to sustain operational deployments and to deliver levels of capability beyond those possible with their full-time forces.

The report, written by Andrew Davies and Hugh Smith, argues that some changes could help the ADF Reserve forc...