The National Security Podcast

How do electoral commissions balance public trust with the growing role of technology (like Artificial Intelligence) in electoral processes? Can AI be a democratic tool? How are the electoral commissions in Australia and UK dealing with threats like misinformation and foreign interference? Why is absolute independence important for the Australian and UK electoral commissions? In this episode, Tom Rogers and Vijay Rangarajan join Rory Medcalf to discuss congruent and colliding features of the Australian and British electoral systems: the role of losers' consent, the electoral commissions’ absolute independence, trust in democratic institutions, and influence of foreign interference come election time.  Tom Rogers is the Australian Electoral Commissioner.  Vijay Rangarajan is the Commissioner of the UK Electoral Commission.  Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His experience spans three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, thin

How do negative portrayals of migrants and refugees impact social cohesion within a society? What is "crimmigration," and what are the issues with using criminal law frameworks in immigration contexts?Do political incentives shape the discourse on migration and distract from other security threats? In this episode, Alan Gamlen, Kate Ogg, and Dorota Gozdecka join Danielle Ireland-Piper to discuss "crimmigation”, why migration is a politically charged issue, and discuss High Court cases that have influenced Australia’s approach to migration and refugee laws.Professor Alan Gamlen is the Director of the ANU Migration Hub and Professor in the ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance.  Professor Kate Ogg is a Professor and the Associate Dean of Higher Degree Research at the ANU College of Law. Professor Dorota Gozdecka is a Professor of Law at the University of Helsinki in Finland.   Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is Academic Director and Associate Professor at the ANU

Collective mobilisation is needed for an adequate response to climate change. How do we get there?How does climate change affect militaries? What role can technology play in mitigating the risks?What challenges does federalism pose in the effort to address climate change?In this episode, Tom Middendorp, Chris Barrie, Cheryl Durrant, and Sophie Lewis join Danielle Ireland-Piper to examine the critical link between climate change and national security, and what action is needed to mitigate the risks posed by it. General (Retired) Middendorp AO is the Chair of the International Military Council on Climate and Security and the former Dutch Chief of Defence. Admiral (Rtd) Chris Barrie AC is the former Australian Chief of the Defence Force and a founding and executive member of the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group. Cheyrl Durrant is the Former Director of Preparedness and Mobilisation at the Australian Department of Defence and a founding and executive member of the Australian Security Leade

What is the significance of rare earths and critical minerals for Australia and its partners?  How does Australia’s conception of critical minerals differ from its partners? How do critical minerals lists reflect how those states view resource supply chains and vulnerabilities?  With China currently dominating the rare earths value chain, how can Australia protect its interests in this space?In this episode, Hayley Channer and John Mavrogenes join David Andrews to discuss critical minerals and rare earths and the geopolitical landscape surrounding them. Hayley Channer is Director, Economic Security at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.  Professor John Mavrogenes is a Professor of Economic Geology at the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences.  David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC).  TRANSCRIPTShow notes:  NSC academic programs – find out more  NSC's professional develop

What are the key takeaways from the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit?  The Quad has helped its members to align and coordinate key policies, but what more needs to be done to improve its ability to deliver on major initiatives?  Would the Quad benefit from pursuing a foundational treaty, agreement, or common branding, or is it better served by retaining its current, flexible approach? In this episode, Gaurav Saini and Kate Clayton join David Andrews to discuss the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit, and what the future may look like with incoming leadership changes. Dr Gaurav Saini is the co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, a New Delhi think tank focused on foreign policy and security issues. He is part of the US State Department's Emerging Quad Think Tank Leaders program. Kate Clayton is a Senior Coordinator for Research and Programs at La Trobe Asia and the Blue Security Maritime Exchange.  David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security Col

How can public policy better reflect the humanity and vulnerability of citizens? How can government leaders remain mindful of individuals within broader systems, and how does this approach improve public policy outcomes? How can governments foster ethical leadership and accountability while balancing political pressures and systemic challenges?  In this episode, Mark Crosweller and Margaret Moreton join David Andrews to discuss compassion, ethical leadership, resilience, and the tensions between individuals and institutions in the national security space.   Dr Mark Crosweller AFSM is a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC) and Director of Ethical Intelligence Pty Ltd.  Dr Margaret Moreton is Executive Director at the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.  David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at NSC.   Show notes:   ANU academic programs – find out more  Mark’s book -  Compassion in

What is the central logic of AUKUS from a UK perspective?How does AUKUS contribute to European security?How does AUKUS fit into UK defence interests and strategies in the Indo-Pacific?In this episode, Damian Parmenter joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the UK perspective on AUKUS: the strategic environment, Pillar One operational specifics, diplomatic engagement and legislation, and progress on Pillar Two.Damian Parmenter CBE is Director General AUKUS at the UK Ministry of Defence.  Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.  Show notes  The undergoing UK Strategic Defence Review  Australian National Defence Strategy  British SSN involved in search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 US International Traffic of Arms Regulation  Recent AUKUS agreement tabled in Australian parliament   W

Considering new contributions to the Pacific Resilience Fund, is the global community doing enough to support Pacific Island countries?  How has the Falepili Union between Australia and Tuvalu been received more broadly across the region?  Will it be replicated?  How does the Pacific Policing Initiative fit within the Pacific approach to collective security? How can the Pacific balance the pros and cons of the PALM scheme?  In this episode, Maima Koro, Henritta McNeil and Joel Nilon join Bianca Birdsall to reflect on the 2024 Pacific Islands Forum, including the Pacific Resilience Fund, Pacific Policing Initiative, and the role of dialogue partners.  Maualaivao Maima Koro is the Pacific Research Fellow and academic co-lead of the Regional Perspectives collaboration between Adelaide University and the Defence Science and Technology Group. Dr Henrietta McNeill is a Research Fellow on Pacific security, geopolitics and regionalism at the ANU Department of Pacific Affai

What is sports diplomacy and why is it important to Australia’s foreign policy? What is the rationale behind the PNG-Australia rugby league deal?  How are sporting events being weaponised to undermine social cohesion or reflect geopolitical tensions?  In this episode, Bianca Birdsall and Stuart Murray join David Andrews to discuss the role of sport as it relates to Australia’s national security – in diplomacy, foreign policy, and as a vector for insecurity, violence, crime, and societal unrest.  Bianca Birdsall is a Senior Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC), on secondment from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  Dr Stuart Murray is an Associate Professor in International Relations and Diplomacy at Bond University.   David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at NSC.  Show notes  ADF-run sports program in Fiji First Nations netball team   First Nations netball Coaching Course  PNG NR

What makes the space domain critical to Australia’s defence and security? What is our constellation of defence partners in space? What assets does Australia bring to these relationships?  What are the challenges and opportunities in the space domain?  Is Australia contributing to what some critics call the “militarisation of space”?  In this episode, Greg Novak joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the importance of space to Australia’s national interest, collaboration with industry and the civilian space sector and collaboration with like-minded partners in the space domain.  Major General Greg Novak is Defence Space Commander in the Australian Space Command.  Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.  Show notes  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

What can we expect from Indian foreign and security policy under a third Modi government?How does the India-Russia relationship impact India’s foreign policy and cooperation with Western partners?How can India manage its strategic ambitions amidst region instability – including its deteriorating relationship with China?How do Australia and other Western powers balance their interests in strategic cooperation with India alongside challenges to political trust that have emerged recently? In this episode, Ian Hall and Darshana Baruah join Rory Medcalf to discuss India’s evolving place in the world, from its immediate neighbourhood to bilateral relationships with global powers. Professor Ian Hall is a Professor of International Relations at Griffith University. He is also an Academic Fellow of the Australia India Institute.Darshana Baruah is Director of Security and Geopolitics at the Australia India Institute and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College.Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of

How have alliances and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific evolved in recent years? What trends can be identified? How does the current security environment compare to previous eras of alliance formation? What lessons can we draw?  Are we seeing a strategic convergence between the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific? Between NATO and the network of US bilateral alliances in Asia? In this episode, Alexander Lanoszka and Susannah Patton join David Andrews to discuss the evolving role of alliances and security partnerships on the global stage.   Alexander Lanoszka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo. He is also an Associate Fellow at the UK-based Council on Geostrategy and a Senior Fellow at the Ottawa-based Macdonald-Laurier Institute.  Susannah Patton is Director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute and the Project Lead for the Asia Power Index. 

What are the priorities of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and how have they evolved to reflect our strategic environment?  What is the importance of and strategic reasoning for AUKUS Pillar Two? What misconceptions exist about defence research at universities?  How does industry, policy, and research intersect to contribute to deterrence and generating an asymmetric technological advantage?  In this episode, Tanya Monro joins Rory Medcalf to discuss innovation, science and technology, the National Defence Strategy, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, defence research, and universities against the backdrop of AUKUS Pillar 2.   Professor Tanya Monro AC FAA FTSE is Chief Defence Scientist at the Department of Defence. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His experience spans three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Show notes:  ANU Nation

What is Australia’s concept of ‘National Defence’ and where does AUKUS fit into it? What misconceptions exist about AUKUS Pillar One? What progress has been made to realise the potential of AUKUS Pillar Two?  In this episode, Hugh Jeffrey joins Rory Medcalf to discuss Australia’s current strategic landscape, the Defence Strategic Review, National Defence Strategy, and AUKUS.  Hugh Jeffrey is Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy, and Industry at the Department of Defence.  Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism, and academia. Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more DSU: Defence Strategic Update 2020 DSR: Defence Strategic Review 2023 NDS: National Defence Strategy   We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.e

How is ‘stabilisation’ of the Australia-China relationship being viewed in Brussels, and other European capitals? How could Australia and Europe better work together to limit China’s global influence?  And what lessons can Canberra learn from Brussels' approach to economic security – particularly with regard to electric vehicles? In this episode, Janka Oertel joins Rory Medcalf to discuss how Europe is approaching the ‘China challenge’.  Dr Janka Oertel is Director of the Asia Programme and a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.  Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism, and academia.Show notes  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out moreTrust and trade-offs: How to manage Europe’s green technology dependence on China by Alexander Lipke, Janka Oertel, and

Why is the resilience of Australia’s democracy critical to our freedom and privilege?  What challenges does social media pose to the functioning of our democracy? How do tears in our social fabric exacerbate anti-democratic behaviour? In this episode, Tom Rogers and Clare O’Neil discuss the importance of, and challenges facing, elections and democracy. With framing introductions from Rory Medcalf and Genevieve Bell. Note: This episode was recorded from a public session, ‘The Future of Elections,’ part of a two-day conference hosted by the ANU National Security College in partnership with the Australian Electoral Commission and International IDEA.   Tom Rogers is the Australian Electoral Commissioner  The Hon Claire O’Neil MP is the Minster for Home Affairs and Cyber Security  Professor Genevieve Bell is the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Australian National University Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of NSC. His professional experience sp

Is terrorism becoming a more prevalent threat in Western societies, or are we getting better at identifying potential terrorists and extremists? How are terrorist and extremist groups taking advantage of a new, more connected world to further their objectives? Has there been a shift towards embracing the role of women in both terrorist organisations and the intelligence community?   In this episode, Bruce Hoffman, Amira Jadoon, and Aaron Zelin join Bianca Birdsall to discuss international terrorist incidents, the looming threat of domestic extremism, and the shifting counterterrorism landscape – from gender roles to technology advancements.  Professor Bruce Hoffman is a tenured professor in Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and is currently the Shelby Collum and Katherine W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr Amira Jadoon is an Assistant Professor in the department of Pol

What are the dynamics behind the sudden raft of economic security challenges Australia is confronting?  What policy and institution settings need to be redesigned for the new world we find ourselves in?  How can Australia look to diversify its trade and resources in order to steer clear of global supply chain tensions?  In this session, Jeffrey Wilson, Tania Constable, Swati Dave, Darren Lim, Helen Mitchell, and Christopher Flynn assess Australia’s economic readiness to deal with future strategic shocks and the importance of building economic resilience, securing supply chains, and protecting critical sectors.  Dr Jeffrey Wilson is the Director of Research and Economics at Australian Industry Group  Tania Constable PSM is the CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia  Swati Dave is the Advisory Board Chair at the Centre for Australia-India Relations  Dr Darren Lim is a Senior Lecturer at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences  Hele

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 Mortensen join Duncan Lewis to discuss the role of social licence, how it is generated, and how much licence is enough. They explore lessons from comparable liberal democracies and Australia's own history in achieving lasting policy support.   James Brown is the Chairman of Invictus Australia.   Dai Le MP is the independent Federal Member for Fowler. Dr Christian Fjäder is the CEO of Geostrategic Intelligence Group. The Hon Lisa Singh is the CEO of the Australia India Institute. Dr James Mortensen is a Lecturer and the HDR Program Coordinator at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Profess

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 David Andrews to discuss the drivers of the China and the United States’ security policies, the role of China in the international order, middle powers, and deterrence.  Sheena Chestnut Greitens is an Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently a Visiting Associate Research Professor of Indo-Pacific Security at the United States Army War College.  Dan Blumenthal is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on East Asian security in Sino-American relations, and a Distinguished Visting Professor at the US Nava