The Canberra ministerial adviser—the Minder—is 43 years young. The Minder is the strongest new creation of Oz politics, often more important than the public service in the way policy and politics gets done. The idea …
Articles by: "Graeme Dobell"
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, treated CNN as the Security Council’s 16th member. It was a tactic of a natural communicator: not much use being ‘on message’ if the message isn’t loud. …
‘Monetary policy is 98 per cent talk and 2 per cent action.’ – Ben Bernanke So even central banking—that combination of the dismal science and monetary madness—is virtually voodoo, driven most of the time by smoke …
Originally published 27 April 2015. Picked by David Lang. Malcolm Fraser’s greatest contribution to foreign policy was the new consensus on Asia that he embraced, fostered and cemented. Fraser’s Asia policy drew large elements of …
Australia’s coup culture isn’t about generals rolling over politicians and tanks rolling through the streets. The Oz coup culture is concerned with what political party rooms do to unpopular leaders. The willingness of parties to …
The Southeast Asian rejection of Australia joining ASEAN is simply expressed: ‘You’re not from around here. You don’t think like us. You don’t belong.’ The argument is about identity defined through geography. The previous column …
Having an argument with Jim Molan is enlightening and rewarding. The ex-Major General delivers a triple treat. With Jim, you always know: Where he’s coming from Where he’s aiming And where he’s crunched you With …
The case for Australia joining ASEAN will have to be embraced by both sides. Here’s the ‘Yes’ case from ASEAN’s perspective. The first three columns in this series were Canberra-centric, establishing why Australia should seek …
My previous column looked at the first half of the cabinet submission that never was—what the Howard government could know and ask in 2002 and early 2003 before committing to the blunder that was the …
Consider what the Howard government could know and ask in 2002 and early 2003 before committing to the blunder that is the Iraq war. No 20/20 hindsight. No fatuous effort to blame Australia for the …
In design and execution, the Paris terrorist attacks pose a fundamental question of identity and belief. This is random butchery for a reason, indiscriminate horror for a purpose. Only one positive thought can be offered …
Summit season blossoms. Behold the annual display of the shift of Australian international policy—in symbolism and substance—to the personal care of the Prime Minister. The structure and style of the way Australia does foreign policy …