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March 2021
First annual State of the United States
This month, the United States Studies Centre (USSC) and Perth USAsia Centre launched our inaugural State of the United States report. Fittingly, given the Biden administration’s renewed interest in The Quad, this year’s theme is: An evolving alliance agenda.
On 16 March, USSC welcomed guests both in Canberra and Washington DC to join us for a half-day conference featuring Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos, Chargé d'Affaires Mike Goldman and Secretary of the Department of Defence Greg Moriarty, amongst many other leaders in their field to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the alliance at this time.
The relationship between Australia and the United States continues to transform rapidly, building on the long-standing defence alliance and intelligence partnership to now encompass tools of economic statecraft, strategic investments in frontier technologies, health security and a battle for hearts and minds at home and in the region.
Designed in consultation with key government stakeholders, our report serves to address four critical questions:
- How does the US domestic political landscape enable or constrain increased US presence and attentiveness in the Indo-Pacific?
- How should the United States and Australia advance prosperity and resilience?
- How should the United States and Australia bolster collective deterrence and defence?
- How should the United States and Australia strengthen the economic and technological foundations of the allied partner network?
This flagship report was covered by AFR, The Australian, The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald and more. If you missed out on the event, a video recording of the conference will be published here.
THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Day 62
President Biden is more than halfway through his first 100 days in office. So far he has:
- Passed the US$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan
- Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord
- Rejoined the World Health Organization
However, his expansive legislative agenda is undermined by razor-thin margins in the House and Senate. To get the latest analysis on President Biden's first 100 days in office, be sure to visit our First 100 Days hub.
EVENTS
A conversation with The Washington Post columnist Josh Rogan
Almost as soon as he entered office, President Trump brought to a boil the long-simmering rivalry between the United States and China. By the time the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in Wuhan, Trump’s love-hate relationship with Xi had sparked a trade war, while China’s aggression — including foreign-influence operations, human rights abuses, and digital authoritarianism — had pushed the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
In his just released book, Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the 21st Century, The Washington Post award-winning columnist Josh Rogin details the behind-the-scenes story of the Trump administration’s confrontation with Beijing.
Please join us for a discussion on this timely work as well as broader issues in the US-China relationship with Josh Rogin in conversation with Non-Resident Senior Fellows Dr Charles Edel and Dr John Lee.
SYDNEY
Wednesday, 24 March
11:00am - 12:00pm AEDT
WASHINGTON DC
Tuesday, 23 March
8:00 - 9:00pm EDT
CENTRE NEWS
US-Australia Parliamentary Friends event
On 25 February USSC and the US-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group co-hosted an event at Parliament House to discuss Indo-Pacific policy under the new Biden administration. The event brought together Washington and Canberra insiders from both sides of the political spectrum to offer their assessment of changes under a Biden administration and how the countries can work together. Speakers included:
UNITED STATES
- Former US Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger
- Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus Co-Chair Mike Gallagher (R-WI)
- US Embassy in Canberra Economic Counselor Doug Sonnek
- US Studies Centre Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr Charles Edel
AUSTRALIA
- Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos
- Australian Co-Chairs of the Australia-United States Parliamentary Friendship Group, Melissa McIntosh MP and Senator Kimberley Kitching
- US Studies Centre's CEO Professor Simon Jackman and Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr John Lee
Featured articles
Three USSC experts have had chapters featured in major publications this past month.
Ashley Townshend in Indo-Pacific Defense Forum
The Indo-Pacific Defense Forum published an edited extract of USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Ashley Townshend and Pacific Forum Director and Senior Fellow David Santoro's Operationalising deterrence in the Indo-Pacific report from 2020. The updated extract can be found here.
Charles Edel in Rethinking American Grand Strategy
Non-Resident Senior Fellow Charles Edel has a new essay, "Extending the Sphere: A Federalist Grand Strategy," featured in the new book Rethinking American Grand Strategy. The chapter covers the first hundred years of American history, discusses how the Federalist Papers served as the first articulation of American grand strategy, and examines its effect on the subsequent development of early American statecraft.
Gorana Grgic in East Asia Forum Quarterly
Lecturer in US Politics and Foreign Policy and current NATO Partners Across the Globe Fellow Gorana Grgic has a new article featured in East Asia Forum Quarterly. Her article covers Biden's hefty task of convincing both Americans and America-watchers that the United States still occupies a central role in the international system and can act as a force for good. Read the article here.
Welcome Victoria
Victoria Cooper has joined the USSC team as a Research Administrator. She is currently studying her Masters in Strategic Public Relations and is Editor-in-Chief at the Young Diplomats Society. She brings research experience from her work with the Australian Human Rights Commission. We are pleased to welcome the newest addition to our team.
Start of Semester 1
Yet again, a record number of students have enrolled in USSC's American Studies courses in Semester 1. With the academic team delivering courses on everything from elections and polling to US foreign and national security policy, it's no wonder that more students than ever are choosing to include a closer look at the United States in their studies.
Interns in action
This semester, USSC is delighted to welcome interns back into the office. Three postgrad students have joined our Foreign Policy & Defence and Communications & Stakeholder Engagement teams this semester. Jules Hobkirk, Sophie May and Lilly Gibson-Dougall are in the office one day a week for Semester 1 supporting the teams with background research, media analysis, publication reviews and stakeholder engagement assistance. They have all hit the ground running with the largest report in USSC history launching this week. Already their efforts are making a significant contribution and we look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the coming weeks.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Webinar replays
USSC kicked off our 2021 webinars with a fascinating discussion about the key players and policies in the Biden administration. Catch up on the webinar replays through the USSC Live podcast and on YouTube to know who's who for the outgoing and incoming administrations. Here are some of the greatest hits from recent webinars:
- Love and Wolpe | Republicans and Democrats, Biden's agenda and 2022 ft. Mia Love and Bruce Wolpe
- US politics and policy series: A review from Australia | March 2021 ft. Zoe Daniel, Simon Jackman and Gordon Flake
- US politics and policy series: A review from Australia | February 2021 ft. Simon Jackman and Gordon Flake
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
