The National Security Podcast

What is social licence a licence for? What are the public signing up to?   How do other nations restructure the national security discussion to involve people, rather than just informing them?   As a diverse and multicultural nation, how can we use technology to broaden public consultation?       In this episode, James Brown, Dai Le, Christian Fjäder, Lisa Singh, and James Mort...

What are the objectives of China’s foreign and security policies under Xi Jinping?    What is the role of Australia and other middle powers in responding to Chinese actions in the Indo-Pacific?    Are the United States’ China policies set to change with future shifts in the international order?     In this episode, Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Dan Blumenthal join...

Is the decline of democracy being overblown?    How has social media reshaped democracy, for better and for worse?    How can the next generation of leaders sustain and strengthen democracy?   In this episode, George Brandis, Tom Rogers, Atul Sharma, and Ketty Chen join Janine O’Flynn to discuss elections, institutions, opportunities, and challenges for democracy in the co...

What is the likelihood of the AUKUS partnership expanding to include Japan, Korea, Canada, and New Zealand? How would this impact the strategic objectives of AUKUS?   Should AUKUS be formally separated, and the partners instead manage nuclear submarines and advanced capabilities under different agreements?   What are some challenges and risks to the future success of AUKUS?   ...

How does distrust in democratic institutions and political leaders affect social cohesion in Australia?    Is the rise of authoritarianism within democracies a symptom of broader systemic problems?    How can democratic institutions in Australia counter challenges like terrorism, radical extremism, and threats to cybersecurity?   In this episode, Misha Zelinsky, Lydia Khal...

What is the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor? How does it differ from other oversight bodies?   And what are the legal and policy issues we are grappling with that have prompted a Secrecy Review?   In this episode, Jake Blight joins Danielle Ireland-Piper to discuss secrecy laws, how they fit into the national security landscape, and his organisation's recent review. Jak...

Note: This episode was recorded during NSC’s Securing our Future conference on 9 April 2024.    How can deterrence and diplomacy be integrated to preserve peace, stability, and the conditions for prosperity in the Indo Pacific?   Is development assistance a tool of strategic competition, or is it a tool for deterrence?   What does effective deterrence look like for Australia an...

How does Australia’s recently released National Defence Strategy (NDS) differ from a Defence White Paper? What are the merits of having a bipartisan approach to defence policymaking? How important is it to clearly communicate these concepts to the public? Is the NDS’ focus on deterrence and denial well-suited to today’s geopolitical landscape? Should Australia have an unclassified National Securit...

Why is it important to consider Australia's national identity when discussing matters related to national security? What does a shared sense of national identity look like for Australia today?   What are some of the frailties and risks that Australia faces when it comes to maintaining social cohesion?   In this episode, Zoe McKenzie, Allegra Spender, Wesa Chau, Asmi Wood and Afeeya Akhan...

Why is it important to include young voices in policymaking?   Would commitments to long-term policymaking at a multilateral level push Australia and other countries to apply these principles domestically?   Can state-based wellbeing frameworks guide national decision-making in Australia?    In this episode, Sophie Howe and Caitlin Figueiredo join Dayle Stanley to for a future-...

What is the role of intelligence with respect to policy-making and national security?   What is the concept of ‘truth to power’ and is it the right approach for intelligence assessment?   Should intelligence agencies to be more public and open about their threat assessments?   What is the role of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in the intelligence community (IC)? And would the Aust...

Why is the 2024 election so important for the Solomon Islands and what is the future of democracy in the country? What is the state of the Australia-Solomon Islands relationship in a post-RAMSI era? Can Australia be more ambitious in its provision of development assistance to the Solomon Islands?   In this episode, Edward Cavanough joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the upcoming Solomon Islands el...

Why is the EU stepping up its engagement in the Indo-Pacific?    In what ways does the EU collaborate with sub-regions within the Indo-Pacific? How can it diversify its relationship with Australia?   And how does the EU reconcile with perceptions of it as a neo-colonial character in the Indo-Pacific?   In this episode, Richard Tibbels joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the Europe Un...

In a world of geopolitical uncertainty, what is the significance of the recent ASEAN-Australia Special Summit?   What realistically can be achieved between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?     And what are the diplomatic and security challenges facing ASEAN nations?   In this episode, Pichamon Yeophanton, Huong Le Thu and Don McLain Gi...

How does the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda apply to space policy?   Why is better integration of the WPS agenda into the space sector crucial for Australia?    And how does Australia compare to its international peers in this area?    In this episode, Cassandra Steer and Elise Stephenson join Danielle Ireland-Piper to discuss the importance of incorporating the Wo...

How could global politics shift, with more than half the world's population voting in elections this year?   How should Australia – and other liberal democracies – navigate a path forward amid growing geopolitical tension and conflict?   And what opportunities exist for Australia to deepen ties with its longstanding partners, despite increasing uncertainty and complexity?   In this...

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Faith Medcalf (1935-2023), who devoted much of her life to school education and teacher training in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.   Have Australians lost sight of the importance of the Australia-PNG relationship?   What impact has Prime Minister Marape’s address to the Australian Parliament, and the new security agreement had on public...

What is the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean to Australia?   What challenges and opportunities does the region present for Australia and its partners?   And how much can Australia realistically achieve in such a vast region?   In this episode, Darshana Baruah, David Brewster and Shafqat Munir join Rory Medcalf to discuss the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean to Aust...

As Indonesian head to the polls on 14 February, what’s important to know about the nation’s conception of democracy and its political ecosystem?   Who are the key candidates in the presidential election — what do they represent?   And what could be the implications of a change of government for security and diplomacy in the region?   In this episode, Natalie Sambhi and Gary Quinlan...

What is the nexus between domestic and regional cyber security?    How does Australia help regional neighbours manage and respond to cyber threats?    And how will shield six of the Australian government’s new cyber strategy change the domestic cyber agenda?       In this episode, the Hon Tim Watts MP and Brendan Dowling join Olivia Shen to discuss Australia...

What is open-source intelligence (OSINT)? How does big data influence our understanding of “good” intelligence? And does Australia need a dedicated OSINT agency in the National Intelligence Community?   In this episode, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey and Ben Scott join Olivia Shen to discuss the increasing importance of open-source intelligence and big data in intelligence analysis, and the evolution...

What is the significance of the Indian Ocean in Indo-Pacific security? Is it useful to distinguish between traditional and non-traditional maritime threats? And how might the AUKUS agreement reshape maritime security in the region?   In this episode, Frédéric Grare and Justin Burke join Jennifer Parker to tackle the maritime challenges facing Australia and the region.   Dr Frédéric Grare...

Technological innovation is now one of the most consequential realms of geopolitical contestation. And in the era of big tech, the private sector has assumed power that once resided with governments. In response, we’ve seen a reassertion of industry policy, with governments trying to re-establish control.  What happens to Australia’s national security when private companies, such as TikTok, a...

How has violent extremism evolved in recent decades?    Why do the words used to discuss and describe extremism matter so much?   And what challenges will governments, communities and individuals face in combating these threats in the digital age?   In this episode, Dr Emily Corner, Lydia Khalil, and Professor Michele Grossman join Gai Brodtmann to discuss the evolution of viol...

While social media has many benefits, there are a growing number of users – both human and machine – spreading harmful disinformation and misinformation on these networks.    What is the difference between disinformation and misinformation? How do different actors – both state and non-state – affect society and geopolitics using social media?    And what steps can be taken to overco...