The world
The US withdrawal from the Iran deal has been criticised around the globe. The BBC provides a quick video explainer on the implications of President Donald Trump’s decision for international trade policy, diplomacy and the potential for future conflict. Der Spiegel takes a deep dive into the consequences for Europe, while Carnegie explains why abandoning the nuclear deal could empower undemocratic forces in Tehran and assesses how this could further destabilise the Middle East.
International Crisis Group analyses how Libyan reconciliation is negatively affected by a disproportionate focus on individual personalities in key political and military positions, rather than a broader focus on better governance in state institutions as a whole. An older Chatham House research paper provides a helpful primer to understanding the effects of Libya’s war economy on restoring central governance.
The Lowy Institute has developed a fantastically innovative analytical tool to measure power across 25 countries in the Asia–Pacific region. Country ranking was based on eight measures of power, 27 sub-measures and 114 indicators. The interactive map allows users to explore the overall power rankings and to compare variations in performance between countries. It’s a great tool for anyone interested in understanding the current influence and performance of countries in this region and how power shifts over time.
Reporting on conflict is complicated for journalists and their subjects alike. The Columbia Journalism Review discusses the ethics of reporting on traumatic and sensitive topics through interviews with Yazidi women survivors of sexual violence. On the flipside, Longreads drills down into the challenges faced by journalists reporting in dangerous countries, their battle against restricted press freedoms, and the role that low media literacy plays in the dissemination and digestion of fake news. Case studies examined are Myanmar and Mexico.
This week marked Karl Marx’s 200th birthday. For The Moscow Times, Evan Gershkovich explores the potential for the influential thinker to become trendy again in Russia and elsewhere. The Economist also grapples with the continuing fascination with Marx, and shows why it would be a good idea for current leaders to (re)read his theories on capitalism. DW has released an informative documentary on the relevance of Marxism today.
An excellent piece from Foreign Affairs assesses the future of democracy by exploring the ramifications of increasingly polarised societies, a shift towards authoritarianism, and the effects of security and technology. Technological advances represent one of the greatest factors propelling these shifts because they are likely to create democratic setbacks if governments can’t respond to the changes they introduce—such as the automation of the global economy—fast enough. These challenges are expanded upon in more detail in CapX’s review of Jamie Bartlett’s latest book The people vs tech, including how companies are able to use personal data to influence the political process. All that being said, the EU’s forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation aims to give individuals more control of their personal data and to improve the user benefits of the digital economy.
Tech geek
The 2018 Budget saw the new Australian Space Agency funded with $41 million over the next four years, with $15 million of that dedicated to boosting international collaboration with overseas space agencies. The $41 million is part of a total investment of $300 million in the Australian space industry. This includes $225 million to enhance GPS and improve access to satellite imagery. It’s a good start, but it’s vital to maintain funding and momentum if Australia is to do more in space in coming years.
China has deployed YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) and HQ-9B surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands. Mike Yeo provides a good analysis on the potential range of these systems, as has the CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
Europe’s Airbus launched its future airpower vision. This is similar to a US Air Force video released last month. A key component of both videos is swarming drones launched from transport aircraft, and the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) is moving closer to making such a capability a reality. China also hinted about its new H‑20 bomber in a video that looks remarkably similar to Northrop Grumman’s teaser for the B‑21 Raider.
Finally, Australia’s Major General Mick Ryan has suggested that Australia should be investing more in military robotics as a sovereign capability, making the point that ‘Australia’s at the end of a very long line of industrial resupply, and we might want to have the capacity ourselves.’
Multimedia
Both the Guardian and the Times offer photo series featuring impressions from Russia’s victory parades to mark the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II.
This is a very impressive colour restoration on original footage of war-destroyed Berlin in June 1945. [7:04]
Al-Jazeera World portrays five Egyptian women who sell local products in the street to assure their and their families’ survival. [44:00]
Podcasts
Episode 231 of The Irish Times Women’s Podcast features Ciairín de Bush on her efforts to support women running for office and how she convinces people that female leadership is nothing to be afraid of. [21:04]
The SpyCast hosts Monte Reel and talks about his recently published book, A brotherhood of spies, about the U2 program and its use during the Cold War. [57:00]
Doubling up on the theme of internet and democracy, listen to this episode of BBC Radio 4’s Thinking Allowed, discussing the social and political consequences of our digitised world. [27:58]
Events
Canberra, 14 May, 5.30–6.30 pm, ANU College of Law, ‘The Timor Sea conciliation’. Free tickets here.
Sydney, 18 May, 10 am–5 pm, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, ‘Politics in action’. Program here, register here.
Canberra, 21 May, 6–7 pm, ANU National Security College, ‘Mapping our future: towards an Indo-Pacific strategy for Australia’. Register now!