Publications

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China is rewriting coronavirus history and nobody will stop it

In an opinion piece published in the Nikkei Asian Review, Natasha Kassam argues that China has leapt on the opportunity to shape the global narrative about its response to the coronavirus as other countries grapple to manage the crisis

By Natasha Kassam

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West must face its viral demons

It may be the global politics of the pandemic, rather than COVID-19 itself, that proves our undoing. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Hervé Lemahieu

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Vital to focus on fiscal policy as recession inevitable

It goes without saying that the medical response to the pandemic should have the highest policy priority ... On the economics of the pandemic, initial reactions have been quickly outdated. Originally published in The Australian

By Stephen Grenville

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The RBA's job is to back banks, not bail out gamblers

It’s quite a while since I was at the Reserve Bank, but one of my tasks there was to draft replies to letters received. So let me try my hand at responding to Christopher Joye’s "Virus gets upper hand in battle against central banks" (AFR, March 13). Originally published in the Australian

By Stephen Grenville

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Avoiding the wrong lessons on aid and corruption

Is development aid an effective solution to lifting countries out of poverty? Roland Rajah, Director of the International Economy Program, and Research Fellow Alexandre Dayant write on aid and corruption. Originally published in the Devpolicy Blog

By Roland Rajah, Alexandre Dayant

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Central bank reputations at risk from impossible targets

Central banks around the world are caught in the same bind: inflation is below their target. Originally published in The Australian

By Stephen Grenville

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Paranoid leaders hoping repression can lead to stability

This is an edited extract from the Lowy Institute Analysis ‘The Path of Least Resilience: Autocratic Rule and External Powers In The Middle East’ by Anthony Bubalo. The extract first appeared in The Australian

By Anthony Bubalo

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The Path of Least Resilience: Autocratic Rule and External Powers in the Middle East

The examples of Egypt and Saudi Arabia show the risks in betting on the stability of autocratic regimes in the region.

By Anthony Bubalo

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An address by Admiral Philip S. Davidson on the United States' Interests in the Indo-Pacific

On 13 February the 25th Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip S. Davidson, delivered an address on the United States' interests in the Indo-Pacific at the Lowy Institute

By Philip S. Davidson

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Joe Biden's victory for normal

History is against a win for the former vice president in November. But you can't blame allies for hoping that yet another shock awaits. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Daniel Flitton

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Middle Powers Will Determine the Future of the Asian Order

In Asia, power is shifting. The changing balance of power is setting the stage for prolonged great power competition. As the US-led rules-based order decays, the question is what regional order – if any – will replace it

By Hervé Lemahieu

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What are the Right Encryption Laws for Australia?

On March 5, 2020, Lowy Institute Research Fellow Dr Rodger Shanahan was joined in conversation with Dr James Renwick SC to discuss possible models for reconciling the legitimate interests of individuals, organisations, and business, and intelligence, police and integrity agencies

By James Renwick

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Submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Review of Australia's Development Program

A submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Review of Australian's Development Program

By Jonathan Pryke

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Morrison Struggles Amidst His Bushfire Response

Originally published in the Council on Foreign Relations

By Daniel Flitton

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2019 Australia-Papua New Guinea Emerging Leaders Dialogue Outcomes Report

The Lowy Institute hosted the seventh Australia–Papua New Guinea Emerging Leaders Dialogue on 5 and 6 November 2019 in Wewak, Papua New Guinea

By Shane McLeod, Jonathan Pryke

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The coronavirus outbreak has exposed the deep flaws of Xi’s autocracy

China’s political system was meant to be all-powerful, capable of dealing with any crisis. The death of one doctor has shaken that claim. Originally published in The Guardian.

By Richard McGregor

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Taiwan Flashpoint: What Australia Can Do to Stop the Coming Taiwan Crisis

Australian diplomacy could ease rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, if Australian policymakers rediscovered an appetite for involvement in the flashpoint

By Brendan Taylor

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China’s Economic Choices

China’s economic growth has fallen to its slowest rate since 1990, and this deceleration looks set to continue unless China implements the kinds of deep reforms behind the successful economic transitions of Japan and Korea

By David Orsmond

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Politics comes first in China's agony

In an opinion piece originally published in the Financial Review, Natasha Kassam argues that China's biggest concern in dealing with the new coronavirus is maintaining stability and keeping its grip on information

By Natasha Kassam

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The New Wave of Middle-East Media Repression

In an opinion piece published in Project Syndicate, Lydia Khalil describes how the governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia have suppressed unfavorable information to hold on to power. But the experiences of Iraq and Lebanon suggest that this approach has limits in political systems that depend on

By Lydia Khalil

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How I Lost My Faith in America

The world still wants to believe in the US. But it needs some help. Originally published in The Atlantic

By Michael Fullilove

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How the coronavirus crisis has brewed a ‘revolt of the professionals’ in China

Doctors, scientists, lawyers and journalists are pushing back against Communist Party structures in a rare backlash against suppression of information. If Beijing can learn to leave them to do their jobs, that would be real reform, akin to a mini-revolution. Originally published in South China

By Richard McGregor

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How Beijing's silence helped spread the virus

Beijing's blaming of local officials and signs on a clampdown on information about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has tragic echoes of the mishandling of the SARs virus more than a decade ago, writes Richard McGregor. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Richard McGregor

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Soft power goes up in smoke

A unique connection to nature is at the heart of our international appeal. Foot-dragging on climate is squandering it. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Hervé Lemahieu

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As Wuhan virus spreads, Taiwan has no say at WHO

Chinese pressure keeps Taipei out of international organizations—putting everyone at more risk. Originally published in Foreign Policy

By Natasha Kassam

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Taiwan’s 2020 elections

China has lost the battle for public opinion in Taiwan

By Natasha Kassam, Richard McGregor

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Anchoring the Indo-Pacific

A report by Premesha Saha, Ben Bland, and Evan A. Laksmana published by the Observer Research Foundation.

By Ben Bland, Evan A Laksmana

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US killing of Soleimani hands Iran a new opportunity to expand power

Originally published in ABC Online

By Lydia Khalil

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Behind the News: Inside China Global Television Network

Can China’s television network be an effective soft power tool

By Merriden Varrall

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A vital cog in the leader's great plan

Originally published in The Sunday Times

By Richard McGregor

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PNG must respect voters and help form world’s newest nation

Originally published in The Australian

By Shane McLeod, Jonathan Pryke

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Being a video vigilante can serve the greater good, but that doesn't mean it's always right

Originally published in ABC News

By Daniel Flitton

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The 2017 Lowy Lecture: Then-UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

On 27 July the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, delivered the 2017 Lowy Lecture at Sydney Town Hall

By Boris Johnson

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2020 Will Be a Watershed Year for the Global Economy

Originally published in the Council of Councils' Global Outlook 2020: The Economy

By Roland Rajah

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Why the day of the party is done

Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Sam Roggeveen

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International Public Broadcasting: A Missed Opportunity For Projecting Australia’s Soft Power

Australia’s depleted international broadcasting is impairing the projection of Australia’s soft power at a time when government is seeking to increase its regional influence, particularly in the Pacific

By Annmaree O’Keeffe, Chris Greene

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Australia's PNG step-up in a tumultuous year

Originally published in The Australian Financial Review

By Shane McLeod, Jonathan Pryke

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Japan can teach Australia how to carefully handle China

Scott Morrison needs to study Shinzo Abe's resolve. Originally published in Nikkei Asian Review

By Richard McGregor

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China has lost Taiwan, and it knows it

So it is attacking democracy on the island from within. Orignally published in the New York Times

By Natasha Kassam

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Are our politicians a security risk?

Should spooks vet the reliability of parliamentarians? It is not clear that doing so would benefit our democracy. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Daniel Flitton

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An address on China by Tony Abbott

On 28 November, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave an address on China at the Lowy Institute

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Pacific islands avoid China's 'debt-trap' diplomacy for now

Beijing's interest in the region sparks fears it is making unsustainable loans. Originally published in Nikkei Asian Review

By Alexandre Dayant

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The new geography of global diplomacy

China advances as the US retreats. Originally published in Foreign Affairs

By Bonnie Bley

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2019 Global Diplomacy Index

Visualising the diplomatic networks of 61 G20, OECD and Asian countries and territories

By Bonnie Bley

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Australia’s Brexit?

Loss of confidence in political parties could translate into disengagement from our region. Originally published in Inside Story

By Sam Roggeveen

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Touted as ‘next Hong Kong’ Taiwan lives on the edge

Originally published in The Australian

By Natasha Kassam, Richard McGregor

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When is mental illness an excuse for terrorism?

Originally published in The Australian

By Rodger Shanahan

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Beijing's tactics are driving spiral of violence in Hong Kong

If China is trying to drive wedges between the protest movement and mainstream citizens, it seems to be failing. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review

By Ben Bland

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Typology of Terror — The Backgrounds of Australian Jihadis

In order to better understand what motivates Australian radical islamists to join or support a terrorist group it is first necessary to get a better understanding of who they are. This working paper examines data sets from 173 Australian citizens and residents to paint a picture of our own

By Rodger Shanahan

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Our Very Own Brexit

Australia’s Hollow Politics and Where It Could Lead Us

By Sam Roggeveen

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