Organisation
Future Directions International
Acronym:
FDI
Future Directions International (FDI) was an independent, not-for-profit research institute. It was established in 2000, by Major General (Retd.) the Honourable Michael Jeffery (former Governor General of Australia), together with a small group of leading Australians, to conduct comprehensive research of important medium to long-term issues facing Australia.
FDI ceased operations in November 2021.
Report
Australia–India relations: poised for another take-off?
The indications that favour a new start for the bilateral relationship between Australia and India are explored in this paper, as are contra-indications – a summary of past failures.
Report
The Islamic Revolution’s impact on political Islam and the Middle East
This paper argues that the fear of a foreign invasion has driven post-Revolutionary Iran to pursue active contacts with terrorist organisations, but Tehran has also worked closely with Washington against al-Qaeda and in post-invasion Iraq.
Report
Evolving US strategic interests in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia and Iran
The Iranian Revolution in 1979 saw attitudes towards the US change in that country because of perceptions that it had worked with the Shah to subjugate Iranians. The current perception of the US in Saudi Arabia is a complex one - the US remains an ally but it is, in some ways, being replaced by...
Report
Water resources in Pakistan: scarce, polluted and poorly governed
This report outlines how Pakistan continues to experience acute water scarcity, largely driven by drought and intensive agriculture. The author argues that there are few effective channels to mitigate the water crisis and Pakistani governance is lacking.
Report
China’s Uighur strategy and South Asian risk
This report argues that China’s crackdown on the Uighurs could backfire against its Han population in Xinjiang and possibly elsewhere in China.