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Latest Policy Briefs and Reports
Cooperative Security, Arms Control and Disarmament Peace and Security in Northeast Asia
China, Cambodia and the Myanmar Crisis
Policy Brief No.118 - November, 2021 • By Stein Tønnesson
This Policy Brief discusses several dilemmas faced by China in relation to the ongoing political, economic, social and health crisis in Myanmar. It concludes that China has a chance to work constructively with ASEAN under Cambodia’s chairmanship in 2022 to obtain Aung San Suu Kyi’s release, the reconstitution of the national assembly elected in 2020, and the formation of an interim coalition government until new free and fair elections can be held.
Climate Change and Conflict Contemporary Peace Research and Practice
Warming to a New Definition and Call for Global Action: Humanity’s Security
Policy Brief No.117 - October, 2021 • By Denise Garcia
This Policy Brief outlines a call for action that requires states to pool their resources, capacities and strengths for the common good of humanity to attain global public goods on a planetary scale.The world is in the throes of two classically defined global problems that confront humanity: climate change and a ruinous pandemic. Everyone is affected; only global solutions can solve them and a truly commonly agreed blueprint is needed not only to face ongoing threats, but to avoid the worst to come in the near future. Decisive joint action in the interests of all humanity is required. In the light of the stark losses incurred by the world economy as a consequence of both these problems, I argue that a new conceptualization of security must be embraced now: humanity’s security.
Diaspora-led Dialogue: Climate Change Challenges to the Cultural Identity and Sovereignty of Pacific Atoll Nations
Summary Report No.116 - October, 2021 • By Taukiei Kitara, James Bhagwan, Maina Talia, Enele Sopoaga, Anote Tong, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, Tammy Tabe, Tereeao Teingiia-Ratite, Exsley Taloiburi, Yessie Mosby, Katerina Teaiwa, Peter Emberson, Ian Fry, Susan Harris-Rimmer, Simon Kofe, and Carol Farbotko
This Policy Brief is a report on two online forums and a later conference on the topic of Climate Change Challenges to the Sovereignty of Pacific Atoll Nations. The forums were held in 2020, and hosted by the Pacific Island Council of Queensland (PICQ) in partnership with Friends of the Earth Australia (FOE). In 2021, PICQ continued the dialogue, hosting an online conference on Climate Change Challenges to the Cultural Identity and Sovereignty of Pacific Atoll Nations. This report is co-written by many prominent and expert speakers who presented at these events. It concludes with arenas for action on which cultural identity and sovereignty must be pursued, all of which are important given the complex, multi-faceted natured of climate change.
Cooperative Security, Arms Control and Disarmament Peace and Security in Northeast Asia
In AUKUS We Trust: Australia’s Security Settings Return to the Future
Policy Brief No.115 - September, 2021 • By Ramesh Thakur
This Policy Brief unpacks the longer term national, bilateral, regional and global reverberations and ramifications of the shock announcement of the birth of the AUKUS security agreement. On 16 September, at the end of a virtual summit by leaders of the three countries, Australia, the UK and the US announced the conclusion of the AUKUS security agreement that commits the UK and US to unprecedented technology transfer and material assistance to help Australia acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-propelled submarines.
Social Media, Technology and Peacebuilding
Transforming the Colour of US Peacebuilding: Types of Dialogue to Protect and Advance Multi-racial Democracy
Policy Brief No.114 - September, 2021 • By Lisa Schirch
This article begins with a race- and gender- sensitive analysis of the history of US polarisation and changemaking methods. It interrogates the ideas of “civility” and “impartiality” within the US context. Strategies to advance democracy in the US are fragmented with white peacebuilders mainly focusing on using dialogue to reduce political polarisation, and black and brown social justice activists mainly emphasizing the need for shifting power to ensure democratic representation and basic rights already enjoyed by most white people. This article asserts that the Movement for Black Lives should be understood as a peacebuilding strategy, and that bridgebuilding dialogue is relevant for building coalitions and support for racial justice. A model visualising four types of bridgebuilding dialogue offers a strategic peacebuilding vision for the US.