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—into a leadership crisis. This Strategic Insights, authored by Rod Lyon and...

This policy analysis examines the current debate over what sort of great power China is likely to become. It looks at Chinese grand strategy, use of force, leadership style and domestic behaviour to gain a better understanding of China’s future role as a strategic actor. It explores the possibility of a future bilateral strategic partnership...

This report argues that Australia will increasingly have to find its security in a world of power shifts and greater interconnectedness. The paper provides a global overview and considers such issues as US influence, warfare, the proliferation of WMD, terrorism, Iraq and the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Asian security environment, North Asia, Southeast...

Australia is one of the US's closest allies, and its interest in America's role in the world is both direct and immediate. Regardless of who wins the election,the US is not about to disengage from the world. Still, there are possibilities for important shifts in US strategic behaviour. 'Alternative Americas' exist, and we explore some...

This Policy Analysis explores the broad issue of nuclear weapons and their role in the international security environment. It is a complicated issue, and has been for over sixty years. Within the space of a month in the second half of 1945, the United States successfully tested the world’s first nuclear weapon (on 16 July)...