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JULY 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
T-minus four months
Today marks four months until 3 November - election day in the United States. With Trump seeking re-election in November’s elections, 2020 was always going to be a busy year for the Centre. But none of us realised how momentous this year is turning out to be.
The COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended American politics and the economy, exposing long-standing tensions in American society. America’s embrace of individual liberty and scepticism about state power has limited the uptake and effectiveness of public health measures. The prevalence and deadliness of COVID-19 follows familiar contours of inequality in American, marked by race and class, and in turn, by politics and region. No presidential election has been held in circumstances such as these. Geo-political implications remain unclear, but already we witness a broadening and hardening of American views of China as a strategic rival and deepening scepticism towards globalisation. Just yesterday, the Chair of the US Senate Armed Services Committee quoted liberally from the Centre's report, Averting Crisis, noting how the report has powerfully shaped the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, an important recommitment by the US military to the Indo-Pacific, soon to be adopted with bi-partisan support in the US Congress.
Our pandemic pivot to online events has yielded unexpected benefits for the Centre. As much of the world shut down, we were able to connect with leading experts around the world, including former National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, diplomat Wendy Sherman, journalists like Washington Post's Phil Rucker and Axios' Jonathan Swan, and analysts like David Kilcullen. We have a superb line up of expert speakers already lined up between now and the US election. If you have missed any of these events, you can catch our webinar replays on YouTube. And make sure you do not miss our flagship event on 24 July with John Howard, Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos, former Ambassador Joe Hockey and more. To ensure you never miss an event, sign up to our invitee list.
As we head into the 4th of July in the United States, I am very excited to announce the launch of the USSC Election Watch Hub on our website. Leading experts and political insiders will explore, dissect and analyse the key players, tactics, polling and implications for Australia of this watershed 2020 US presidential election. The United States Studies Centre's Election Watch brings the best insights of US politics and applies them to life in Australia.
Our one-stop-shop for the 2020 election is already full of content and will be your go-to resource for the latest US politics news and analysis. Bookmark it now!
Professor Simon Jackman, USSC CEO
EVENTS
Enduring economic partners: 15 years of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement
When the free trade agreement between the United States and Australia (AUSFTA) went into force on January 1, 2005, the two allies were engaged in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, economic globalisation was yet to reach its high watermark, and China’s economy was less than a sixth of the size that it is today. AUSFTA deepened the US-Australia economic relationship, with two-way trade increasing by nearly 80 per cent and investment flows nearly tripling since 2005. But much has changed since 2005, with globalisation in retreat and China the second-largest economy in the world.
To discuss this significant milestone, please join us for a webinar event featuring many of the officials who created the landmark agreement, including:
- The Hon John Howard OM AC – former Prime Minister of Australia
- The Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO – current Australian Ambassador to the United States
- The Hon Joe Hockey – former Australian Ambassador to the United States
- Robert Zoellick – Senior Counselor at Brunswick Group
- Wendy Cutler – Vice President and Managing Director the Asia Society Policy Institute
- Michael Thawley AO – Senior Vice President of Capital Research and Management Company
DATE & TIME
SYDNEY
Friday, 24 July 9:00am–10:30am (AEST)
WASHINGTON DC
Thursday, 23 July 7pm-8:30pm (EDT)
COST
Free, but registration required.
American power and high-tech warfare in the Indo-Pacific: with author Christian Brose
America has long enjoyed uncontested military dominance in the Indo-Pacific. But the traditional basis of its power is now eroding, straining under rapid technological change and China’s own pursuit of military supremacy. This dangerous dynamic could see the United States fail to deter, or even lose, a future war with China — a potential that carries grave implications for Australia’s security and regional stability.
To discuss these issues, please join us for a webinar event featuring The Kill Chain author Christian Brose, Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril Industries and former Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee under Senator John McCain, in conversation with Ashley Townshend, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre and co-author of Averting Crisis: American Strategy, Military Spending and Collective Defence in the Indo-Pacific.
DATE & TIME
SYDNEY
Tuesday, 7 July 10:00am–11:00am (AEST)
WASHINGTON DC
Monday, 6 July 8:00pm-9:00pm (EDT)
COST
Free, but registration required.
US politics web series
Perth USAsia Centre and United States Studies Centre launched a monthly web series in which our CEOs review the latest in US politics with a focus on the upcoming US election and US-Indo-Pacific relations. USSC CEO Simon Jackman and Perth USAC CEO Gordon Flake discuss the top stories in US politics from an Australian perspective.
Mia Love, the first Black Republican Congresswoman is joining the conversation for a special extended edition of the US Politics Web Series today (Friday, 3 July).
DATE & TIME
SYDNEY
First Friday of every month at 11:00am (AEST)
PERTH
First Friday of every month at 1:00pm (AWST)
COST
Free, but registration required.
CENTRE NEWS
Global health security expert joins USSC
The University of Sydney’s Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott has joined the United States Studies Centre (USSC) as a non-resident fellow.
Professor Kamradt-Scott’s research and teaching explores how governments and multilateral organisations cooperate and interact when adverse health events such as disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics occur, as well as how they respond to emerging health and security challenges.
Jane Allen, Brendan Nelson AO and Ian Saines join USSC Board
Founding Partner of Maritana Partners and Director of the American Australian Association Ltd Jane Allen, President of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific and Chairman of American Chamber of Commerce in Australia Brendan Nelson AO, and former Chief Executive - Funds Management at Challenger Ltd and Deputy Chair of the American Australian Association Ltd Ian Saines joined the Centre's Board in June. Their collective extensive business, government and financial experience, as well as a strong commitment to the Australian-American relationship will bring an increased depth of expertise to the Board.
The Centre also thanks outgoing Board member Kevin McCann AO for his many years of dedicated service.
Bolstering resilience in the Indo-Pacific: Policy options for AUSMIN after COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated and escalated the risk to Australia from cyber attacks and disinformation. A new report, Bolstering Resilience in the Indo-Pacific: Policy options for AUSMIN after COVID-19, notes the top 10 recommendations for the Australia-United States relationship following the pandemic. Co-authored by USSC’s Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Ashley Townshend, Research Fellow Brendan Thomas-Noone, Research Associate Matilda Steward, former Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Claire McFarland and Perth USAsia Centre’s Research Director Jeffrey Wilson, the report forms a playbook for government to move quickly to mitigate risks and optimise outcomes.
The Australian, The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times, West Australian, Seven News reported on its findings. Read the full report here.
Major reports
Since April, the Centre has published eight major reports spanning post-pandemic economic recovery, the changing face of protests and the changing relationship with China. Some of our most downloaded include:
- Tech wars: US-China technology competition and what it means for Australia
- Globalisation and labour productivity in the OECD: What are the implications for post-pandemic recovery and resilience?
- Coronavirus and protest: How COVID-19 has changed the face of American activism
- US-China economic distancing in the era of great power rivalry and COVID-19
- Entrepreneurship in the United States: Contrasts in attitudes and perceptions, and insights from successful Australian ventures
Enrol now for American Studies in Semester 2
With the United States at the epicentre of a worldwide pandemic, it has never been more relevant to understand American politics and culture and what it means for Australia. Here are the American Studies courses students can join for Semester 2:
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
WEBINAR REPLAY
The forced transition to online events has allowed us to share our events wider than ever before. Simultaneously streaming to multiple countries at once, we are also sharing replay videos so you can watch them on demand whenever you want.
Here are a few highlights:
The Quad: Will it ever work? Featuring former White House National Security Advisor Lt General H.R. McMaster
At a time when the world is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party has become more coercive and disruptive. The Australia-India-Japan-United States security quadrilateral – known as the Quad – has resultingly assumed greater importance and relevance because it consists of the four countries in the Indo-Pacific that are the most forward-leaning and capable of challenging Beijing’s destabilising efforts. WATCH HERE
A conversation with Washington Post White House Bureau Chief Phil Rucker
President Trump’s critics often describe his term of office as filled with pure and uninhibited chaos. The Washington Post White House Correspondent Philip Rucker disagrees. In the reporter’s latest book – the award-winning A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump’s Testing of America – Rucker argues that there are clear patterns and values in the behaviours of both President Trump and his associates. WATCH HERE
COVID-19 the big questions: What is the real cost of help from bad Samaritans?
When the United States doesn’t have enough room in morgues or masks for healthcare providers, cities, states and the country as a whole will turn where they can for help they desperately need. USSC Lecturer in US Politics and Foreign Policy Dr Gorana Grgic and Harvard Kennedy School's Philippe Le Corre discuss how some international actors have been quick to flip into first responder mode with their new brand of “mask diplomacy." WATCH HERE
Race relations and the making of the United States: A conversation with Rutgers University President Dr Jonathan Holloway
Current events lead Australians to ask, “What does it mean to be American?” The story of the African American past demonstrates the difficulty of answering this seemingly simple question. WATCH HERE
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
