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May 2021
Biden's international influence
Just ahead of the Climate Summit last month, United States Studies Centre (USSC) Research Associate for Data Insights Sarah Hamilton released new polling data comparing Australian and American sentiment toward climate change. While the Biden administration preview ahead of the summit labeled Australia's action on climate change 'insufficient' - our polling showed no significant difference in attitudes when international peer pressure was applied.
Following the Climate Summit, President Biden reached his first 100 days milestone. To share insights into the influencers Biden has chosen to execute his broad agenda, USSC Research Associate Victoria Cooper published Key players in the Biden administration. This compilation focuses on the 15 most significant officials for Australian policy. It analyses their priorities and modus operandi to inform how to optimise impact with the current administration.
This past month USSC has also welcomed two new experts to our Foreign Policy and Defence Program, Research Fellow Susannah Patton and Research Associate Tom Corben.
CENTRE NEWS
Welcome Susannah and Tom
This month the Foreign Policy and Defence Program welcomed two new experts.
Susannah Patton - Research Fellow
Susannah joined the USSC from the Australian government, where she was until 2020 a Senior Analyst in the Southeast Asia Branch at the Office of National Intelligence, Australia’s peak intelligence assessment agency. Susannah previously served in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit Taskforce in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and as a diplomat in the Australian Embassy in Bangkok.
Tom Corben - Research Associate
Tom returns to the USSC following his time as a resident Lloyd and Lilian Vasey Fellow with Pacific Forum in Hawaii, where he focused on Japanese and Korean politics and foreign policy, and Australia’s engagement with Northeast Asia. Tom has published widely on these issues for a range of platforms, including The Diplomat, East Asia Forum, and The Strategist.
How do the United States and Australia differ in public opinions on climate change?
In her first publication with the USSC, Research Associate Sarah Hamilton analysed polling which showed Australians believe “dealing with climate change” is a more important foreign policy goal than Americans, according to recent polling by the USSC. In a survey conducted in late January 2021 of 1,186 Americans and 1,183 Australians, 80 per cent of Australian respondents answered “dealing with climate change” was either a “very important” or “fairly important” foreign policy goal, compared to 68 per cent of American respondents. Just seven per cent of Australians said “dealing with global climate change” was “not important at all” compared to more than double that number (16 per cent) of American respondents.
This polling was covered by Sky News and ABC with an op-ed published by The Australian.
Read the polling findings here.
Key players in the Biden administration
In May Research Associate Victoria Cooper published her first brief: Key players in the Biden administration, an overarching analysis of key appointees and their significance for Australia. This compilation offers both a snapshot of 15 cabinet and senior staff members who are the most consequential for Australia's interests, as well as a detailed analysis on each key player, outlining their confirmation, career highlights, achievements during Biden's first 100 days, and the implications for Australia in the next phase.
Read the full brief here or download the summary findings here.
2021 USSC Internship Program
Looking for some real-world experience this year? Our Internship Program is back! Running in Semester 2 and as a December Intensive, students will receive in-depth academic support, refine their research methods, and solve industry specific problems. You’ll also receive 6 elective credit points towards your degree! Interested in applying? Contact our Student Support Officer Madelyne Cummings by emailing madelyne.cummings@sydney.edu.au.
USSC IMHO
From Biden's first joint address to Congress to tension over Taiwan and escalating violence in the Middle East, the past month has placed the United States at the crux of key issues around the globe. Here are a selection of recent op-eds and articles written by our team:
- US pressure will not move public opinion on climate in Australia by Simon Jackman. Published by The Australian.
- One hundred days that shook America from its delirium: Biden’s bold and fast agenda by Bruce Wolpe. Published by SMH.
- We must not fall for Beijing’s magical narrative by John Lee. Published by The Australian.
- Higher corporate taxes make paying for Biden’s spending harder by Stephen Kirchner. Published by AFR.
- Winning over Down Under by Charles Edel. Published by American Purpose.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Webinar replays
The rest of the State of the United States Conference sessions are available here. Catch up on our webinar replays through the USSC Live podcast and on YouTube. Here are some of the greatest hits from recent webinars:
- From Trumpland to Bidenland ft. Zoe Daniel, Jim Middleton and Simon Jackman
- SOTUS2021 | Managing geoeconomics, contestation and coercion ft. James Carouso, Katherine Manstead, Gordon Flake, Jeff Wilson and Hayley Channer
- SOTUS 2021 | The Australia-United States bilateral economic relationship in a global context ft. Jonathan Coppel, Brett Williams and Stephen Kirchner
- SOTUS 2021 | How should the United States and Australia bolster collective deterrence and defence? ft. Ashley Townshend, Brendan Thomas-Noone, Huong Le Thu and Mari Koeck
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the USSC YouTube channel to get notifications as soon as new videos are uploaded.
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
