NSW Branch Past Events 2010

Will Burma’s Elections Help or Hinder Political Reform

25 May 2010

Burma’s 2010 elections will not pass the UN/ASEAN test of inclusiveness nor any internationally accepted standards of ‘free and fair’. But as the first change in Burma’s governance arrangements in 20 years, it will determine the environment in which national and international dealings with power-holders can operate. Responding passively and negatively to these changes risks repeating past policy failures and merely consigning Burma to the ‘too hard’ basket. We need to see the elections as the start of a period of re-engagement and providing openings to re-engineer the political ‘space’ for better government, but this could be a protracted, challenging and sometimes unsatisfactory process.

Trevor Wilson retired in August 2003 after more than thirty-six years as a member of the Australian foreign service, the last fifteen as a member of the Senior Executive Service, after serving as Australian Ambassador to Myanmar (2000-03). Since October 2003 he has been a Visiting Fellow on Myanmar/Burma at the Department of Political and Social Change, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.

Britain After the Election

18 May 2010

Britain faces the greatest period of uncertainty since World War II, after a fascinating and coruscating election campaign where live television debates between the three main party leaders held the country in thrall and the turnout at the polling booths was higher than for many decades. But is governing Britain a poisoned chalice? The UK economy is in trouble; at 12 percent of GDP, the country has Europe’s highest debt level – predicted to account for nine tenths of the British economy’s total value by the end of 2011. The new government also faces other challenges: sustaining costly foreign and defence policies, bringing down record levels of immigration and adjusting to the new realities of the European Union.

Colin Chapman, treasurer of AIIA NSW

How Do We Know When We Are At War?

11 May 2010

War is no longer clearly defined by state, size, scale and soldiers in uniform. The old indicators of war – declaration, mobilisation and large scale conflict between states are no longer a reliable guide. Instead we have new indicators - undeclared, come as you are, among the people, asymmetric, against non-state actors and involving all elements of national power. We are also trying to comprehend the security implications of new threats such as transnational criminals, climate change and food, water and energy shortages. What do we make of the convergence of war and crime? Will these events lead to war or are they part of a larger war we have yet to comprehend.

There are limitations on what the military can achieve in this new type of war. Our politicians and national security community must adopt a more prominent role. We used to say that war was too important to be left to the Generals. We now need to say that war is too important not to involve the civilians.

Peter Leahy retired from the Army in July 2008 after a 37 year career as a soldier.Since leaving the Army Peter has joined the University of Canberra where he was appointed as a Professor and the foundation Director of the National Security Institute

 Internal and External Opportunities and Challenges, and its relationship with Australia

27 Apr 2010  

Mr. John McCarthy AO

Indonesia and the Australia-Indonesia Relationship after the SBY Visit

13 Apr 2010  

Dr Greg Fealy and Mr. Peter Hartcher

Prosperous Nations have Prosperous Neighbours; the Common Neighbourhood of Russia and the European Union

23 Mar 2010  

Mr. Urban Ahlin

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden