The Australian Treasury’s initial purpose was to be a bookkeeper and budget manager for the new commonwealth government.  A couple of decades later, the inadequacy of Treasury in providing meaningful economic policy advice to the government during the Great Depression was a catalyst for the development of a more substantive policy role.

Trump’s “America First” policies have paved the way for regional powers to assert their own local agendas.  Sreeram Chaulia examines how four of these regional powers are faring.

While Australia’s commemoration of the centenary of the First World War is now over, it behoves us to remember that, in Turkey’s case, the significant dates are 1911-23, rather than 1914-18. Jeremy Salt has written a compelling book that contextualises the experience of the Ottoman Empire in that conflict, the precursor to the emergence of modern Turkey.

A close examination of ports and other infrastructure projects in Indonesia and Australia brings to light a paradox of success for global shipping networks and raises questions about how future infrastructure projects should be funded, built, and eventually managed.

Robert Bowker uses long-secret cabinet notebooks to throw light on Australian political decision-making in the Suez Crisis of 1956, when Prime Minister Menzies took out insurance with a great power partner by giving conspicuous but token support for British action against Egypt, at some cost to Australia’s international reputation.  

Vogel offers a holistic and historical perspective on the relationship between China and Japan. This perspective forms a useful basis to examine the state of modern Sino-Japanese relations.

Pemberton's collection of books offers many competent perspectives on the state of international relations in the post-WWI epoch, with certain and typographical errors undermining its cohesiveness.

Richard Gate's memoirs are a fascinating overview of his overseas postings presented in an episodic fashion. From his upbringing to his posting in post-war South Korea, this book is a realistic portrayal of diplomacy and foreign policy.

Srinivasan, Mayall, and Pulipaka offer a thorough insight into how cultural values, supranational institutions, and ideology influence foreign policymaking.

David Cameron’s memoir appropriately highlights the successes of his Conservative government but is marred by his twisted justifications of the Brexit referendum.