The policy background to this assessment is that Russia’s outright invasion of Ukraine is an extremely dangerous moment for global security because Europe’s security order is now being fundamentally challenged with the real risk of escalation into a major war involving Russia and the United...

This annual poll reveals that in 2022, Australians report feeling unsafe, and as the potential for conflict in our region feels more possible. Support for Australia’s alliance with the United States has returned to a record high, with the majority of Australians now supporting increased...

This analysis examines lessons from Russian air, ground, cyber and other domains following Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It asks: What are some of the most important military lessons from the first three months of the war? What do these lessons suggest about the...

The Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine is primarily a human tragedy. It also has manifold implications for global policy-making. This report seeks to inform the international investment policy community hosted at the OECD about: the main implications for investment policy; measures, impacts and trends that...

This paper explains the erroneous assumptions that the Kremlin made about Ukrainian identity that informed its decision-making and laid the foundations for its war against Ukraine.

This report explores children at risk of recruitment and use by armed forces or armed groups.

In this paper, the author answers the questions what are India's strategic objectives now that the US has withdrawn from Afghanistan? And what options could it pursue in the future now that the Taliban is again on the march?

This study shows that the emergence of trade union organizations and social movement organizations in the post-war era played an important role in shaping Iraq’s current political, social, and economic landscape beyond the meta-narratives of war and sectarianism.

Wars often arrive unexpectedly, and their nature and scope are rarely understood before they start. This paper aims to provide a structured way of thinking about mobilisation policymaking and planning that takes this inherent uncertainty into account.

In a world facing new and shifting sources of conflict, including disinformation and polarizing rhetoric around conflict, this ICRC survey explores the attitudes of over than 16,000 millennials in 16 countries and territories - roughly half in peace, and half experiencing conflict.

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) interrogated disaster risk reduction financing, policy and programming to understand the role of conflict, fragility and violence in disaster risk. The review of over 50 years of research shows how conflicts are deeply embedded in societies and can exacerbate vulnerability...

This paper argues that since the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, it is increasingly recognized that addressing internal displacement requires close collaboration between humanitarian and development actors, and, depending on the circumstances, between disaster risk reduction (DRR) and peace-building actors.

This paper argues that as competition with China intensifies, future unmanned warfare can address key strategic and anti-access challenges for the United States, Australia and like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific.

This paper argues that any war between India and Pakistan would be very detrimental to both countries.

The fourth industrial revolution involves the continuous and cyclical flow of information and actions between the physical and digital worlds. This revolution can potentially create a hyper-connected defence-industry-research-academia ecosystem able to continually innovate.

This paper argues that the United States should pursue an exit strategy that is based on realistic timelines, supports a viable peace process that achieves a legitimate, representative Afghan government, seeks to protect the political and social gains made over almost 20 years, and provides...

This Centre of Gravity discussion paper examines military expenses funding, arguing for direct war taxes and conscription or systems of national service.

This report, drawing upon disability-inclusive methodologies of co-creation, development and engagement, maps the lived experiences of women with disabilities living within the war-affected areas of Sri Lanka.

Rodger Shanahan and John Blaxland argue about whether Australia should maintain military operations in the Arabian Peninsula or focus on threats closer to home.

This report documents how hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured since an offensive began in June (2017) to recapture Raqqa, the 'capital' and main stronghold of the armed group, Islamic State (IS).

In the battle against Islamic State in west Mosul, Iraqi and US-led coalition forces failed to take adequate measures to protect civilians.

Australia and other Western countries have to come to terms with their limited role in shaping the outcomes of the battle for hegemony in the Arab Middle East.

Building on his in depth reporting in Mosul in late 2016 and early 2017, Matt Brown explores the fight for this vital city in Iraq and the challenges that face the Iraqi Army, Iraqi people, their government and the wider coalition forces, including Australia, who...

The Defence White Paper brought down earlier this year (DWP 2016), the seventh of its kind, appeared shortly before the 40th anniversary of the first, which was tabled in parliament by the Defence Minister, James (later Sir James) Killen, in November 1976. For a governmental...

Between June and September 2016, over 17,000 people in 16 countries were asked to share their views on a range of issues relating to war. Key findings People living in countries affected by war believe the law matters. Over two thirds of all respondents think...