3 questions about China growth (1)
Q1. What's the story with Chinese growth?Xi Jinping: A debacle, not a crisis
The Chinese Government continues to keep its citizens and the rest of the world in the dark about the health and whereabouts of China's leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, who has not been seen in public since 1 September.The drones are coming
The ABC's Mark Corcoran has an enduring interest in the subject of drones, as evidenced by the recent piece he produced for Foreign CBob Carr has a foreign affair (1)
Six months ago on 13 March, Bob Carr was sworn in as senator and foreign minister in one of the quickest personal transformations Canberra has seen for many a day.Reader ripostes: The G20 and the Papuan flag
Below, Edwin Crump on Papua's Morning Star flag. But first, Michael Gaskin writes:Wednesday linkage: Super Trawler, Xi Jinping, Burma, Papua and more
Real change: CSIS experts have some interesting observations about Burma following their recent visit. (Thanks Milton.)US-China economic ties: Overrated
Dominic Skerritt, who has just finished an internship with the Lowy Institute, is a former military intelligence officer with postgraduate qualifications in international law and international relations.Defence: Planning for the unknowable
The link I posted this morning to an article onUS v China: Trade recipes for Asia
Asia's free trade future has become a contest between Chinese noodles and a US steak dinner.Tuesday linkage: The euro, Cultural Revolution, economics lessons and more
Practical steps the intelligence community could take to improve its predictions.G20: How many around the table?
The G20, the pre-eminent forum for global economic cooperation, has its share of detractors. Australia, as the 2014 host, will be in the thick of this criticism and needs to work out hoThe future of intelligence (part 2)
In part two of my interview with world renowned intelligence expert and Visiting Professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies Dr Jennifer Sims, we discuss the close relationship between internet penetration and government instability.Monday linkage
US airport security: 'As far as I know, the vast airport apparatus has not stopped a single incident of mayhem; the foiling of plots comes from other forces, such as advance intelligence or actions on boardThe coming food crisis
Yesterday, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its food price index for August, which showed the overall index of pricesReader riposte: Australia UNSC bid
Alison Broinowski writes:Papua incendiary influence
Recent events have again underlined the incendiary influence of the Papua conflict in Australia-Indonesia relations.Julie Bishop turns the tables
Last week we put on a slightly unusual event, inviting Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop to put veteran journalists Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann in the hot seat over their novel 'The Marmalade Files'.India linkage: Economic growth, McDonald, Narendra Modi and more
Danielle Rajendram is a Research Associate in the Lowy Institute's International Security Program whose work focuses on India and China-India relations.Australia economy: Crash or crash through?
Roger Donnelly is Chief Economist with the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.Those stage-managed conventions
I've been following some of the coverage of the Republican and Democratic conventions, and one line of criticism that's surprised me is that these events are not stage-managed enough.American exceptionalism in US foreign policy
The literature on American exceptionalism reveals two dominant themes that influence foreign policy. First is that of the US as exemplar: by her example, America can demonstrate to the world the distinct benefits of an adherence to liberty, equality, and justice.Thursday linkage: Assange, Cook Islands, missile defence and more
One of the few economists to predict the global financial crisis is again sounding the alarm.UN Security Council: Call in Dame Edna
The previous column on Australia's bid for a UN Security Council seat was all about the dark side of losing to Luxembourg. Now for the sunny uplands of what a win might mean.Jobs: Stealing is OK, but not from me
I know this contrast been presented in other places, but I thought it worth posting these two videos in light of the discussion launched byR2P, Libya, and the myth of regime change
Tim Dunne is Professor of International Relations in the Asia Pacific Centre for R2P, University of Queensland.Reader riposte: The absurd US patent system
Edwin Crump writes: Stephen Grenville is right to say that copyright is no Mickey Mouse issue.UN Security Council: What if we lose?
Australian diplomacy is about to get the result of a significant test. To cut straight to the race, Australia is about to find out whether it can beat Luxembourg.Tuesday linkage: Driverless cars, APEC, drones, intervention and more
3 Quarks Daily is hosting an online symposium on humanitarian intervention, with contributions from David Petrasek, Kenneth Roth and Gareth Evans.Copyright is no Mickey Mouse issue
A California jury decision requires Samsung to pay Apple $1 billion for infringement of intellectual property and some of Samsung's products may have to be withdrawn. the decision willPacific: Gillard bows to media power
On Twitter, The Age's Diplomatic Editor Daniel Flitton responded to my query about why Prime Minister Gillard had to come home from the Pacific Islands ForumGOP convention: Three days in Tampa
Such was the prominence given to black speakers and entertainers at the 2000 GOP convention that a BBC colleague, who had opened most of his news reports that week with pictures of soul and R&B bands performing on stage, thought it necessary to advise viewers not to adjust their sets: 'Yes, tPacific islands: It about the women
The statistics reflecting the depth of gender inequality across the Pacific are tragic, deplorable and breathtaking.Monday linkage: Global Hawk, public diplomacy, Imran Khan and more
Not only in China do amateur military sleuths reveal secrets.Lebanon: Clarifying 'the situation'
Vanessa Newby is a PhD candidate at Griffith University and has just returned from a five week visit to Lebanon. Photos by the author.China hype is giving way to realism
Michael Pettis is finance professor at Peking University and a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment.Afghanistan: The grisly waiting game
No sooner had the tragic news broken yesterday of five more Australians killed in Afghanistan than Canberra's propaganda machine coughed and spluttered to life, all set to churn out its10 reasons AusAID should stay in Latin America (2)
Dr Wendy Jarvie, a visiting professor at UNSW@Canberra, is an independent member of the Australian Awards selection panel for Latin America.TIndia linkage: BJP in parliament, non-alignment, youth revolutions and more
Danielle Rajendram is a Research Associate in the Lowy Institute's International Security Program whose work focuses on India and China-India relations.10 reasons AusAID should stay in Latin America (1)
Dr Wendy Jarvie, a visiting professor at UNSW@Canberra, is an independent member of the Australian Awards selection panel for Latin America.TAustralia Pacific strategy (part 2)
Earlier this week I used the opportunity of the 2012 Pacific Islands Forum, now taking place in the Cook Islands, to start a blog series on Australia's Pacific Islands sJulia Gillard enters Madeleine Award
Canberra columnist Graeme Dobell's annual Madeleine Award goes to the best use of symbol, stunt, prop, gesture or jest in international affairs.Seizing the G20 opportunity
Michael Fullilove is Executive Director of the Lowy Institute. Mark Thirlwell is Interim Director of the Institute's new