This publication reports on a conference that explored the relationship of arts and cultural initiatives to soft-power agendas which, along with ‘market’ and ‘audience development,’ often underpin the Australian government’s investment in international arts activities.

John Buckley, formerly Australia's Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, stresses that Australia cannot cope with irregular migration on its own. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are already particularly important in controlling the flow of asylum seekers to Australia, but receive very little credit. As the government grapples for a solution to the current impasse, what does...

With the government's White Paper on 'Australia in the Asian Century' imminent, Anthony Milner argues Australia must focus on more than our US alliance and China. We have never been a mere 'deputy sheriff' and this needs to be made especially clear today. Closer identification with ASEAN can gain Australia more clout in Washington and...

Provides Australia's first comprehensive view of how the most difficult year of recent times - in economic terms at least - has impacted on Australia-Asia engagement. The PwC Melbourne Institute Asialink Index is the first multi-indicator measure of engagement between Asia and Australia. The Index measures engagement between Australia and Asia over the period 1990-2009...

Stephen Howes, ANU Professor of Economics and key contributor to the Garnaut Climate Change Review, says an effective response to climate change requires a mix of unilateral and multilateral action - and individual countries must demonstrate good faith. Just as APEC has promoted unilateral trade liberalisation, it should encourage its member countries to compete with...