The citizen as enemy combatant: dealing with foreign terrorist fighters

Key points Foreign terrorist fighters are a complex problem: traitor, invader, child soldier, war criminal, ‘jihad by family’. Some are both perpetrators and victims of terrorism. Prosecution is problematic because it’s hard to get evidence, and foreign fighters aren’t returning. If brought home...

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Trusted, ethical, fast-moving and effective future police

Key points: The ongoing developments in digital technologies and the fourth industrial revolution are opening up huge business opportunities - both legal and criminal. The attributes that give start-ups advantages over traditional businesses - agility, shrinking costs of entry, digital access to...

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Trusted, ethical, fast-moving and effective: the AFP investigative team of 2030

As technological, economic and social factors change the broader operating environment, police will have to change the way the operate to effectively combat crime and keep communities safe. This paper, based on a series of workshops run jointly between the AFP and the NSC Futures Hub, sets out a...

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From secrecy to dignity: trust and policy implications of shifting attitudes to privacy

Key points: The public typically trusts governments to protect personal data more than they trust the private sector. Social media companies are among the least trusted. In response to changes in technologies, attitudes towards privacy are changing. A traditional focus on secrecy is giving way to...

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China's Application of the 'Three Warfares' in the south China Sea and Xinjiang

This article explores the development and application of the People’s Republic of China’s information warfare (IW) strategy to two distinct security challenges: the South China Sea and the threat of Uyghur terrorism in Xinjiang. The application of China’s IW strategy in the South China Sea dispute...

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The Red Flag Follows Trade: China's futures as an Indian Ocean power

China’s military presence in the IOR is likely to grow significantly in coming years, principally driven by the country’s expanding economic interests. But its military presence will also be limited. Achieving predominance in the IOR would be a major undertaking requiring decades of sustained...

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The Nixon Doctrine and United States Post-World War II Regional Cooperation Policy on Southeast Asia

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Australia and China: understanding the reality check

Where are Australia-China relations headed? After national controversies over foreign influence and interference, Australia has changed the way it engages with China. Professor Rory Medcalf takes us through the causes and consequences of this reality check, and dispels seven myths in the national...

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Give light, and the darkness will disappear: *Australia’s quest for maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean

There is a growing understanding among maritime security practitioners of the importance of Maritime Domain Awareness(MDA) as an essential enabler of maritime security. This article describes Australia’s efforts to develop an integrated national MDA system that brings together data and intelligence...

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Australia's Foreign Policy White Paper: Navigating Uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific

The prevalence of peril in the world of 2018 vindicates the sober, direct and hedging tenor of Australia’s recent foreign affairs White Paper. This major policy document, released in November 2017, takes both a more cautious and a more creative approach to protecting and advancing Australia’s...

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