The Australian-Filipino strategic partnership is contrived in hypermasculine terms. This has potentially catastrophic consequences for the region and the planet.

Common consensus holds that China’s recent trade coercion campaign against Australia failed. Yet the consensus view misses important political effects and economic costs of coercion.

The recent US Senate hearings on social media and children safety shed light on the risks for children of cyber bullying, cyber harm, and cyber grooming. Australia has made considerable progress in keeping kids safe in cyber space but can do more to adopt best practices from other nations. 

Prabowo Subianto has won Indonesia's presidential election. Who is he, what will Joko Widodo's influence be, and what does it mean for Indonesian democracy? 

This week in Australian foreign affairs: PM joint statement on Israel's ground offensive in Rafah; new support for Ukraine; Australia to support 250 Pacific athletes to join Olympic Games in Paris; new support for PNG Rugby, and more.

Joko Widodo will end his presidency with an ominous legacy, dynastic building and corruption. Many are concerned a broader erosion of democracy will follow the elections. 

In his third edition of “India after Gandhi,” historian Ramachandra Guha argues that India is now in the middle of its fourth crisis since independence. While India may navigate its way through, this crisis will leave deep scars. 

Russia's once friendly relationship with Israel has soured demonstrably, with public support for Hamas now unquestionable. This move represents a broader geostrategic aim that attempts to position Russia as a peacemaker and the ongoing US-Israel-western response as the problem. 

In her book, Séverine Autesserre investigates the persistence of an “unlikely peace” in certain conflict-ridden areas like Idjwi in Congo and Somaliland in Somalia. She argues that locally-led grassroots peacebuilding efforts uphold a unique peace in these regions.

As the 2024 election in the US approaches, trust in government and media is eroding. Regulating Big Tech to make sure they and their algorithms are held accountable is paramount. 

As OECD countries move forward with marriage equality, Japan’s stance remains unchanged, with the ruling party’s religious alliances suggesting a reason for the status quo. But the majority of Japanese favour legalisation.