ASPI suggests
5 Sep 2012|

This week, we’ve compiled a list of interesting and informative reports and articles for your reading pleasure, as well as a few events to attend.

First off the mark, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Dinah Walker has this piece on trends in US military spending. It includes (about two thirds of the way down) an interesting observation in a graph that shows that democracies account for about 85% of global military spending (see below).

Demoracies' military spending

Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has released its latest report on procurement procedures for Defence capital projects. The report is a wide-sweeping review of Defence’s management of the capability process and an assessment of troubled projects like the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and the Air Warfare Destroyer.

In terms of regional security, Koh Swee Lean Collin from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, looks at Vietnam’s recent acquisition of six Kilo-class submarines (PDF) and evaluates the effects on the naval balance with China and in Southeast Asia.

On a lighter note, Andrew Exum at the Center for a New American Security reflects on the utility of social media and blogging for those who engage in policy analysis or research, and provides some solid advice for those thinking of trying it out.

Ahead of the anticipated white paper, Emeritus Professor Peter Drysdale will be speaking about Australia in the Asian Century at the Australian Institute of International Affairs’ Canberra offices, Tuesday 11 September at 5.30pm.

And you may wish to check out author and think tank fellow, Martin Jacques, deliver a presentation (and incidentally, title of his bestselling book), ‘When China Rules the World’, at the Australian National University, Canberra, Wednesday 12 September at 3.00pm.