Lowy Institute

For the past few weeks our TV news and newspaper front pages have shown us chaotic images from downtown Bangkok. These pictures and the violent political tensions they portray run counter to the touristic stereotype of Thailand as a relaxed country of smiles. On 9 June, Dr Milton Osborne, recently back from a trip to Thailand, discussed the present political situation in Thailand and its struggle between the Yellow and Red Shirts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 24 June, Rory Medcalf, Program Director International Security, drew upon recent consultations in the region to warn that efforts to reduce global nuclear dangers will founder if they do not account for the rising strategic concerns of North Asian powers, especially China and Japan. Mr Medcalf’s research for this presentation was supported by the Lowy Institute’s partnership with the Nuclear Security Project (www.nuclearsecurityproject.org).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 1 October 2008, Dr Marcus Noland, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, spoke about North Korea and how its nuclear ambitions and geographic position draw the attention of the other powers in Northeast Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 26 July at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Professor Hugh White addressed the challenges of modern armies and humanitarian missions. His presentation was entitled 'A force for good? Modern armies and humanitarian missions'. Professor White contended that armed forces are not very good at many humanitarian roles, and indeed they might be better off sticking to the job for which they are designed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 27 August 2008, rising terrorism specialist Dr Adam Dolnik looked at the successes and failures of the field of terrorism studies, and offered some explanations about why people become terrorists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of the Lowy Institute's Distinguished Speaker Series, Dr Dilip Ratha, Senior Economist and Manager, Migration and Remittances in the World Bank's Development Prospects Group based in Washington, discussed policy options in the global agenda on migration and development. The title of his lecture was 'Migration, remittances and development'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Wednesday Lowy Lunch on 20 August 2008, Don Watson, one of Australia's most distinguished writers and public speakers, explored themes in his latest book, 'American Journeys', a narrative of the modern USA. He talked about the genius, optimism and freedom of the United States – and its pervasive fears and failings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Wednesday Lowy Lunch on 16 June, Malcolm Cook and Andrew Shearer discussed how the Australia-Japan relationship can help both countries respond to the emerging new order in international relations. This order is characterised by changing global power balances, the move towards a more multi-polar world, and traditional multilateral organisations increasingly unsuited to resolving complex global problems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Wednesday Lowy Lunch Club on 16 June, distinguished international speaker Minar Pimple addressed the Club on the important question of how well the Asia-Pacific region is doing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and what role we and broader civil society can play in helping to achieve this ambitious agenda to tackle extreme poverty, adopted by world leaders at the United Nations in 2000.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In federal systems like Australia, international policy and broader international engagement are usually, and incorrectly, seen as solely matters for the national government. However, state governments can and do play an important role in Australia's global engagement, both economically and socially. New South Wales, as the largest and most cosmopolitan state in the country, is well placed to significantly deepen economic ties in Asia and beyond. Barry O'Farrell MP, leader of the NSW Liberal Party, spoke about New South Wales' place in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.