Lowy Institute

In recent years Russia’s military adventures abroad have captured the most attention in the West. But as, if not more, important is what has been happening inside Putin’s Russia. On 28 June, Lowy Institute Deputy Director Anthony Bubalo hosted a conversation with two of Australia’s leading Russia watchers, Stephen Fortescue and Kyle Wilson, who discussed Russia's domestic political and economic developments and prospects.Stephen Fortescue is Honorary Associate Professor in Russian Politics at the University of New South Wales, and Visiting Fellow at the Centre for European Studies, Australian National University. His areas of research interest include the contemporary Russian policy-making process, business-state relations, and Russia's commercial involvement in the Asia Pacific. He received his PhD in Soviet Politics from the Australian National University Kyle Wilson is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University. From 2004-2013 he was Senior Analyst for Russia and Central Asia at the Office of National Assessments. From 1981-2004 he was an officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and served in Australian missions in Warsaw, Moscow and Beijing. He was educated at the Australian National University, Moscow State University and Leningrad State University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been nearly two years since Joko Widodo was elected president of Indonesia. Though he has launched an ambitious domestic reform agenda, critics claim that Jokowi has overseen an erosion of Indonesia's international influence, and has strained relations with its neighbours through nationalist policies on drug trafficking and illegal fishing. Others argue that Jokowi is merely seeking to put Indonesia first after 10 years under SBY, a period during which Indonesia focused more on its image abroad than reform at home. On 21 June, the Lowy Institute hosted a conversation with Lowy Institute Research Fellow Aaron Connelly and Dewi Fortuna Anwar. Professor Anwar is among Indonesia's leading scholars and practitioners of foreign policy. She has served as the chief foreign policy advisor to both the current vice president and his predecessor. Professor Anwar previously served as a top foreign policy advisor to President BJ Habibie, and as the first director of the Habibie Center in Jakarta. She is a professor of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), and completed doctoral studies at Monash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, 20 June the Lowy Institute hosted the Hon. Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, as part of a series of lectures by political leaders in the lead-up to the 2016 federal election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 31 May the Institute hosted the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, who spoke on how Australia can be a better international citizen.Elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Sydney in 1998, Ms Plibersek’s ministerial appointments have included Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for Human Services, Minister for the Status of Women, and Minister for Housing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2013, Chinese president Xi Jinping put forward the proposal to boost Eurasian economic integration and infrastructure building through its ambitious “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” initiatives. It is widely regarded as President Xi’s signature economic as well as foreign policy undertaking. The project could involve trillions of dollars of potential investment across many continents including Australia’s immediate neighbouring region: Southeast Asia.On 30 May the Lowy Institute’s Peter Cai spoke to one of Australia’s leading experts on Chinese infrastructure investment, Grant Dooley, the head of Hastings Infrastructure Fund Asia’s practice and the former Australian Consul-General in Guangzhou, China. The Lowy Institute is grateful for the support of our event partner, AMP.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Connors talks to Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Fullilove about how the rise of Donald Trump has affected the political mood in America, and what his candidacy (and prospective presidency) would mean for Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rates of family and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea are among the highest in the world, with 70% of women experiencing some degree of physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. Children are also significantly affected. While much is said about the levels of violence, less is heard about important work being done in all sectors of Papua New Guinea to address this pervasive issue. The new approaches being taken warrant broader attention both within and outside of Papua New Guinea.On 20 May, the Lowy Institute hosted a panel of exceptional leaders from Papua New Guinea’s government, civil society and private sector to discuss these approaches.Anna Solomon is the Secretary for Papua New Guinea’s Department for Community Development and Religion and is leading the government’s response. Denga Ilave is the Operations Manager for Femili PNG, the Papua New Guinean NGO that runs the innovative Lae Case Management Centre. Kymberley Kepore is CEO of the Oil Search Foundation, which has made gender-based violence one of its top priorities. Kevin Byrne is the Deputy Chair of the Business Coalition for Women, a group of companies and corporate leaders who are working together to drive positive change for women and businesses in Papua New Guinea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 19 May, the Lowy Institute hosted an address from Dr Robin Niblett, the director of Chatham House in London. Dr Niblett assessed the state of the UK's EU debate, the risks and opportunities that either outcome could entail for Britain, and the ways in which Britain's decision could influence the future evolution of the EU as well as its external relations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 19 May, the Lowy Institute's International Economy Program Director Dr Leon Berkelmans hosted Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, for an in-conversation event. Dr Berkelmans and Mr Wolf discussed the challenges the world economy faces, including the Chinese slowdown, Brexit, and inequality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leon Berkelmans talks to Financial Times chief economics commentator Martin Wolf on the vote for Britain to leave the EU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.