The pivotal events of the 21st century Asia-Pacific will depend on factors that are only dimly perceived today. This paper outlines two possible strategic futures for the region. Today’s Asia-Pacific is, by consensus, in a state of flux. At the start of the second decade of the 'Asian century', it’s instructive to look back at...

Since the start of the Pacific war in 1942, Australia has relied on the military capacity of the United States to underwrite its security. Our alliance with the US is our key strategic partnership and the central pillar of our national security policy. It makes sense, therefore, to keep an eye on developments in US...

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 remain so for the remainder of the century. In the decades ahead, development and demographics will drive two profound changes in Australia’s strategic environment. First, emerging countries like...

This ASPI Special Report examines defence funding as of late 2008 taking account of the government’s mid-year budget revisions, the latest Defence Annual Report, and the Global Financial Crisis. For eight years now, Australia has been pursuing its largest military build-up since the Vietnam conflict. Underpinned by 3% real growth in funding guaranteed to 2017...

This report contains two papers that examine Australia's ability to fund defence into the future and the costs of various future ADF force structures. The first paper, authored by Mark Thomson, explores defence spending into the future and finds that there is no fundamental reason preventing greater expenditure if the government identifies a strategic need...