Thailand's pro-democracy advocates may be idealists, but they are also realists with an active and popular movement. Their political claims are based on a way of thinking that centres on a notion of a better and fairer society first sought and won in 1932. 

The recent election results in New Zealand illustrate the clear divisions between the parties on economic issues, the environment, indigenous rights, and how open the economy should be. The centre-right, three-party coalition between National Party, Act Party, and New Zealand First will need to cross these divisions if it is to be successful. 

Australia faces the new abnormality of a long-term weather system where geoeconomics and “sloppy protectionism” predominates. Navigating the “polycrisis” will require diversification and slightly more than simply hoping Washington will steady the ship of political upheaval.

Todays youth will be the ones to deal with the climate challenges of unfettered growth and capitalism. Making sure they are at the table in political discussions is imperative.

The current approach of the Arab League to Israel-Palestine issues serves more as a diplomatic veneer rather than a catalyst for meaningful change in the region. The search by some for normalisation of ties with Israel has for the time being prevented a broader barrier to tangible outcomes. 

The real message of Falepili seems to have been missed in Australia’s negotiations with Tuvaluans. While a transactional relationship is implied, this should be free in giving, not a consequence of vulnerability.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese at APEC Summit and addresses G20 Virtual Summit, new sanctions to target Hamas members, Wong and Marles 2+2 in Delhi, and more.

Trade-offs are coming that Australia is not prepared for and that will test the social license of our leaders. Yet arguably our decision-making institutions are not structurally configured, and we as a nation are not culturally prepared, to manage this complexity and uncertainty.

Vladimir Putin may be hoping for a negotiated settlement on Ukraine, with the support of a weakened and defensively apathetic Europe. A revived Saint-Malo Accord may make this more difficult, a prospect the United Kingdom’s new foreign minister will certainly be trying to bolster.

In absence of a plan B for the 2024 presidential elections, support for Machado in the primary elections has brought afloat, yet again, the self-sabotaging tendencies that have characterised the Venezuelan opposition bloc over the past two decades.