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April 2021
Uncertain times
On Friday, United States Studies Centre (USSC) Director of Trade and Investment Stephen Kirchner launched his latest report A Foreign Investment Uncertainty Index for Australia and the United States. The report finds foreign direct investment (FDI) uncertainty in Australia doubled in 2020 from 2019 due to the pandemic, but national security concerns and increased government restrictions are the main drivers of FDI uncertainty. This report was covered by AFR, Bloomberg and The Mandarin.
In addition to publishing this report, the USSC launched two new webinar series this past month. One takes a deep dive into targeted sections of our State of the United States report and the other is a joint series with NATO to look at opportunities for collaboration beyond the Atlantic. Be sure to subscribe to our webinar invitations so you don't miss an invite and visit our events page to catch the recordings from past events.
Following last year's popular webinar discussion between former Ambassador Joe Hockey and former Trump Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, we are delighted to announce that Mick Mulvaney is joining the Centre as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow. His first publication with the Centre will come out later this year.
THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Day 91
With only 9 days left of Biden's first 100 days, time is running out to action his sweeping agenda. Since last month, he has announced the US$2 trillion American Jobs Plan and issued a suite of executive orders on gun control. The first Climate Summit will be held this week on 22-23 April. Prime Minister Morrison will be attending the summit and China has already released a joint statement with the United States committing to action on climate change.
To get the latest analysis on President Biden's first 100 days in office, be sure to visit our First 100 Days hub.
EVENTS
NATO EXPERT TALKS SERIES | 29 APRIL
The global challenge: Building resilience in an age of disinformation
The United States Studies Centre (USSC) and NATO Public Diplomacy Division present joint NATO Expert Talks. This series of talks with USSC and NATO experts will explore the challenges ahead of NATO and Australia and propose areas where furthering and deepening cooperation can offer solutions.
One of the identified solutions in fighting disinformation has been to build societal resilience. How have NATO and its member states fared so far and what is NATO’s strategy in fighting disinformation? How has Australia performed on this front? What can NATO and Australia learn from each other?
Join us for our first panel discussion bringing together NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Baiba Braže and USSC Non-Resident Fellow Dr Jennifer Hunt to explore how disinformation and propaganda, pursued by state and non-state actors, aims to erode trust and credibility of democratic institutions and systems. The discussion will be moderated by USSC Lecturer and NATO Defense College Partners Across the Globe Fellow Dr Gorana Grgic.
SYDNEY
Thursday, 29 April
4:00 - 5:00pm AEST
BRUSSELS / ROME
Thursday 29 April
8:00 - 9:00am CEST
CENTRE NEWS
Welcome Mick, Duncan and Jennifer
This month the USSC welcomed three new experts.
Mick Mulvaney - Non-Resident Senior Fellow
Few people are as familiar with Washington DC from the inside as Mr Mulvaney. In his more than a decade in the Capitol he served in more and varied positions than likely any other person. He managed the White House as Chief-of-Staff to the president during both an impeachment and the first days of the Coronavirus pandemic. You may have seen him in our webinar last year in discussion with former ambassador Joe Hockey.
Duncan Lewis, AO -
Non-Resident Senior Fellow
Duncan recently completed his five-year term as Director General of Security and Head of the Australian Security Intelligence Service (ASIO). This was his last appointment in a 47-year career with the Australian Government both in and out of uniform. Following Duncan’s retirement from the Australian Army as a Major General, Commander of Special Operations Command, he served for 15 years in the Australian Public Service in the most senior positions including as the Secretary of the Department of Defence, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO.
Jennifer Jackett - Non-Resident Fellow
Jennifer is a Senior Adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Australian Government. She is currently on leave from government while pursuing a PhD as a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar at the National Security College, Australian National University. Her research examines US-China competition for leadership over advanced and emerging technologies, and the implications for US allies and partners including Australia.
The geo-tech battle in the Quad
Following the historic first meeting of the Quad in March, Dr John Lee co-published a Hudson Institute policy memo with fellow researchers Eric B. Brown and Thomas J. Duesterberg titled Winning the Geo-Tech Battle and Building the Quad Alliance in the Indo-Pacific.
This policy memo examines seven areas of cooperation between members of the Quad alliance that would strengthen a technological environment anchored by democratic values:
- Foster a robust democracy-led tech ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific
- Create commercially competitive alternatives to PRC 5G
- Establish a Quad free and secure digital trade agreement
- Coordinate policies to restrict PRC economic involvement in geo-tech and manufacturing competition
- Address PRC freeriding and the illegitimate use of innovation on the “global democratic commons”
- Establish a Quad innovation fund
- Focus on environmental technology
Read more here.
USSC on Instagram
Have you checked out our student-oriented Instagram page yet? With memes, infographics and throwback photos, it's got something for everyone. Follow now for information on upcoming courses and activities.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Webinar replays
Our first State of the United States Conference was recorded and each session will be made available here. Catch up on our 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:
- SOTUS 2021 | Transforming the alliance for collective defence challenges ft. Michael Goldman, Greg Moriarty, Ashley Townshend, Huong Le Thu and Brendan Thomas-Noone
- A conversation with The Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin ft. Josh Rogin, Charles Edel and John Lee
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
