Events in recent weeks have seen one of the most tense and tumultuous periods in international relations of the past decade. The standoff […]

Season’s Greetings from the Australian Institute of  International Affairs Victoria Informed citizens can make a difference in the world.  We are a non-partisan […]

In this election, voter attention is focused on issues that influence both daily life and Australia’s long-term direction. This evolving political landscape is being shaped by widespread demand for meaningful change, particularly among younger voters who are expressing growing dissatisfaction with the status quo.

In his inaugural address on 10 November 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasised the importance of forging a “natural alliance” with the Kurdish nation. While not specifying which segment of Kurdistan his office seeks to engage with, the statement raises an important question: how can a sovereign state establish an alliance with a non-state actor?

While the on-going Russo-Ukraine war has obvious consequences for East-West relations, the impact of this conflict on Russia’s relations with regional partners is often over-looked. Despite notable successes in rebuilding influence, Russia’s regional leadership is under pressure.

A lack of transparency around Australia’s military exports leaves the government exposed to criticisms that Australian-exported weapons could be used in conflicts like Gaza. Without change, Australia's credibility as a sponsor of the rules-based international order is at risk. 

The 14th of July 2021 was a very significant date in terms of EU environmental policy. The European Commission published a series of proposals to revise EU legislation with the aim of reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the European Union by at least 55 percent by 2030.

Allan Gyngell, immediate past president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, will be remembered as one of Australia's greatest thinkers on foreign policy. But his impressive and unparalleled contribution to the practice and debate on Australia's place in the world never overshadowed his humility and kindness.

Australia's soft power capability derives in-part from its ability to distribute information coherently, correctly, and functionally. Over the years, the connective tissue between policy aims and values in this space has loosened to the detriment of Australian interests.  

Despite having no indigenous population, Antarctica has sometimes been referred to as having a legacy of colonialism. However, there is debate as to whether Australia has facilitated, or been an object of, this colonialism.

The recent decision to assemble a group of experts to evaluate the serious claims of human rights violations in Nicaragua has renewed hopes of justice. But this development poses a challenge for the international community.