In Iran, where have all the promises of moderation gone?
Sep 29, 2016 14:02 pm UTC| Insights & Views
In Iran, the much-vaunted nuclear deal with the P5+1 nations (US, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France plus Germany) has borne little fruit. So much has changed since the signing of the nuclear deal and what once...
Kashmir flare-up puts India under new pressure to deal with Pakistan
Sep 27, 2016 18:01 pm UTC| Insights & Views
In the worst attack against the Indian army in years, militants in Kashmir recently killed 18 soldiers in a predawn raid on an army camp in the town of Uri. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are under...
Duterte talks big, but the Philippines won't break ties with the US any time soon
Sep 27, 2016 14:08 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will visit Russia and China to open alliances with the two states. His announcement follows weeks of toxic rhetoric from the president about relationships between the...
Women support democracy less than men in parts of Africa – why?
Sep 26, 2016 08:52 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
In much of the world, democracy is seen as a force for good, and in development terms, it has important implications for the welfare of citizens. Increasing the legitimacy of a democracy must by its nature happen...
'Syria: Always Beautiful' – can tourism be a force for peace?
Sep 26, 2016 06:16 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Earlier this month the Syrian government released a new tourism advertisement to promote its beaches and landscape. Under the banner Syria Always Beautiful, the video did not mention that the same beach, in the seaside...
Assessing the risk from Africa as Libya loses its chemical weapons
Sep 26, 2016 05:08 am UTC| Insights & Views
Libyas remaining chemical weapons left over from the Gaddafi regime are now being safely disposed of in a German facility. This eliminates the risk of them falling into the wrong hands. But can these same hands acquire...
Beyond the war of words: how might the Australian media's coverage of China affect social cohesion?
Sep 25, 2016 23:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views
The Australian governments Public Diplomacy Strategy points to the importance of diaspora diplomacy. It promises to take steps to engage diaspora communities drawing on their linguistic skills, social networks and cultural...