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Latest Policy Briefs and Reports
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
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. This is 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.
Diaspora-led Dialogue: Climate Change Challenges to the Cultural Identity and Sovereignty of Pacific Atoll Nations
Summary Report No.116 - October, 2021
In 2020, the Pacific Island Council of Queensland (PICQ) in partnership with Friends of the Earth Australia (FOE) hosted two online forums on the topic of Climate Change Challenges to the Sovereignty of Pacific Atoll Nations. 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, co-written by many prominent and expert speakers who presented at these events, outlines the themes covered in the online forums and the learnings from the Conference. 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
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. This Policy Brief unpacks the longer term national, bilateral, regional and global reverberations and ramifications of the shock announcement of the birth of AUKUS.
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
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 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. 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.
Protecting the Planet’s Commons: Global Commons Law
Policy Brief No.113 - August, 2021
A tapestry of rules and norms form an uncharacteristic branch of international law which could be called global commons law, comprised of principles and norms forged by a vast mosaic of actors in shared stewardship and with a commonality of interests. Global commons law helps to sustain the absence of conflict and promotes cooperation, and partly explains the prevalence of endeavours towards cooperation. This branch of international law is unique as it does not ascribe rights and duties to states but to individuals and humanity. The state is not only a user and beneficiary, but it is also a guardian, and therefore has duties and responsibilities to ensure the preservation of these domains in which legal (sovereign) ownership is absent but which are characterised by peace instead of military confrontation.