Ben Scott

Director, Australia’s Security and the Rules-Based Order Project
Areas of expertise

Australian national security policy; International rules and norms; US foreign policy; the Middle East

Ben Scott
Biography
Publications
News and media

Ben Scott is a Senior Adviser at the Australian National University's National Security College. He served as the Director of the Australia’s Security and the Rules-Based Order Project at the Lowy Institute from 2020 to 2022.

Ben has more than 20 years’ experience in diplomacy, intelligence and international development. He joined the Lowy Institute from the Office of National Intelligence, where he was a Senior Middle East Analyst before representing ONI at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC from 2016-2020.

In Israel and the Palestinian territories, Ben was the Rule of Law Adviser to Quartet Representative Tony Blair, Australian Representative to the Palestinian Authority and Third Secretary at the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Ben was a Diplomatic Fellow at the Lowy Institute in 2005 and wrote the Lowy Institute Paper, Re-imagining PNG: Culture, Democracy and Australia’s Role. He served as a Bougainville peace monitor for six months in 1998.

Binary error: How and why governments need a cyber security rethink
Binary error: How and why governments need a cyber security rethink
Deterrence of hostile states in cyberspace misses the point when operations concentrate on only “offence” vs “defence”.
It’s complicated: psychology and national security decisions
It’s complicated: psychology and national security decisions
Thinking about the plethora of security threats all at once is hard ­– which can increase the risk of bias intruding.
Sharper choices: How Australia can make better national security decisions
Analyses
Sharper choices: How Australia can make better national security decisions
In a complex and competitive national security environment, new ways of thinking on strategic decision-making are key.
Ali Wyne on great power competition, the United States and China
Podcasts
Ali Wyne on great power competition, the United States and China
What does great power competition mean, and where did the concept come from? In this episode of Rules Based Audio, Ben Scott speaks to author and analyst Ali…
Jerusalem, the rules-based order and deal-making
Jerusalem, the rules-based order and deal-making
Australia's interests – near and far – are best served by consistent support for an effective multilateral system.
Competing and cooperating: the paradox in US strategy
Competing and cooperating: the paradox in US strategy
The new National Security Strategy at least acknowledges the shape of the problem even if not yet providing an answer.
Should democracies ever lie?
Should democracies ever lie?
Is bending the truth sometimes necessary and justified in situations short of war?
What is Australia’s plan B for China?
Commentary
What is Australia’s plan B for China?
The US may not win, and China may not be easily appeased either. We need more eggs in more baskets. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review.
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