No Images? Click here
MARCH 2019
ROUNDTABLE
Ambassador Culvahouse visits Sydney
The United States Studies Centre (USSC) was delighted to host the new US Ambassador to Australia Arthur B. Culvahouse, Jr. on the first day of his visit to Sydney. Ambassador Culvahouse participated in a wide-ranging roundtable discussion and lunch with his embassy colleagues, members of the US Consulate in Sydney, members of the Centre's staff, program leads and friends of the Centre.
Prior to the ambassador's arrival, Senior Fellow Jared Mondschein prepared this backgrounder on his experience and what he will bring to the role. Non-Resident Senior Fellow Stephen Loosley said in this week's 2020Vision podcast that Ambassador Culvahouse holds the only credential that matters in the position: a direct line to the president.
SPEECH
USSC hosts Microsoft President Brad Smith
The USSC hosted a keynote address and Q&A with Microsoft President Brad Smith in Sydney last night. Smith used the occasion to discuss artificial intelligence, ethics and governance, and the use of facial recognition technology in Australia and the United States.
In this role as president and chief legal officer, Smith is responsible for Microsoft's corporate, external, and legal affairs. He leads a team of more than 1,400 business, legal and corporate affairs professionals working in 55 countries. In 2013 he was named by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the United States. In 2014, The New York Times called Smith “a de facto ambassador for the technology industry at large”.
You can watch the full speech on our website here.
NEW APPOINTMENT
USSC welcomes Mia Love
The USSC was pleased to announce the appointment of former Republican congresswoman Mia Love as a non-resident senior fellow this month. The Sydney Morning Herald interviewed Love the week of her appointment.
She served as the US Representative for Utah's 4th district from 2015-2019 and was the first black female Republican elected to Congress. At the start of the 2015 Congress, Love was appointed to the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve. She also joined the Congressional Black Caucus after taking her seat. Since leaving Congress, Love has joined CNN as a contributor.
"Mia's experience in and knowledge of US politics will be an invaluable asset for the Centre as we edge closer to the 2020 US presidential election. Mia is also uniquely positioned to offer insight on the fascinating state of ideas inside the Republican Party in the age of Trump," CEO Professor Simon Jackman said.
EVENTS
Film screening | Etched in Bone
The United States Studies Centre is pleased to invite you to a special screening of documentary film, Etched in Bone.
Made over eight years, Etched in Bone gives extraordinary insight into the deep and enduring conflict between scientific and traditional forms of knowledge.
Drawing on original footage from National Geographic, this carefully crafted documentary explores the impact of one notorious bone theft by a member of the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. Hundreds of bones were stolen and deposited in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
After the screening USSC Lecturer in American Studies Dr Aaron Nyerges will join the filmmakers Dr Martin Thomas and Dr Béatrice Bijon for a discussion of the film.
Refreshments will be provided.
DATE & TIME
9 April 2019
5.30pm - 9pm
LOCATION
Hoyts Cinema, Broadway
COST
$25-$35
Book launch | The Lessons of Tragedy: Statecraft and the World Order
Join us for the Australian launch of Senior Fellow Dr Charles Edel's new book co-authored with Hal Brands, The Lessons of Tragedy: Statecraft and World Order (Yale University Press).
"In a forceful argument that brims with historical sensibility and policy insights, two distinguished historians argue that a tragic sensibility is necessary if America and its allies are to address the dangers that menace the international order today. Tragedy may be commonplace, Edel and Brands argue, but it is not inevitable — so long as we regain an appreciation of the world’s tragic nature before it is too late."
A former advisor to US Secretary of State John Kerry, Edel will discuss the book and its findings with the host of ABC Radio National's Saturday Extra, Geraldine Doogue.
Books will be available for purchase at the event.
DATE & TIME
11 April 2019
6pm - 7.30pm
LOCATION
Law Lounge, New Law School Building (F10), University of Sydney, Camperdown Campus, 2050.
COST
$10
CENTRE NEWS
Productivity and worker compensation in Australia and the United States
Director of the USSC's Trade and Investment Program Dr Stephen Kirchner was joined by the global head of research for Indeed.com Martha Gimbel for the launch of his new report: Unbroken: Productivity and worker compensation in Australia and the United States.
The research examined the relationship between productivity and compensation in Australia and the United States. In particular, it replicated work by former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Anna Stansbury on the productivity and compensation link, but using Australian data.
The research instantly factored into the ongoing wage debate in Australia. The Australian Financial Review published an in-depth look at the arguments in the report and The Sydney Morning Herald interviewed Dr Kirchner about his findings.
The new Congress and US Asia policy
Non-Resident Fellow Dougal Robinson published a new policy brief on the impact of the 2018 midterms on the US Congress' Asia policy. He argued that Republican-led Senate committees, under new leaders who are broadly supportive of President Trump’s agenda, are likely to be less independent or influential than in the last Congress. You can read the full brief here.
No hands on deck
The USSC published a policy brief by Lindsay Gorman looking at the future of unmanned warfare at sea as Chinese military modernisation presents the United States and Australia with deepening anti-access challenges across the Indo-Pacific region. "As a developer, Australia could fill gaps in its defence innovation ecosystem by more effectively connecting the technical research community and private sector with the defence mission," Gorman said. You can read the full brief here.
Georgetown Policy and Politics Program
Applications are now open for the USSC's Georgetown Policy and Politics Program. The program allows both undergraduate and postgraduate students to spend two weeks meeting and working with crucial players in Washington and learning to maximise their skill set for bridging the gap between the public and private sector. Applications will close on Sunday 7 April at midnight.
HSC extension history essay prize winners announced
The USSC was proud to announce the winners of the best essays in History Extension on a topic relating to the United States for the 2018 Higher School Certificate (HSC) in NSW. Louis Festa (above) took out the first prize, while Kayla Cook was the runner up. Honours Coordinator and Lecturer in American Studies Dr Rodney Taveira presented the awards.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Beto, Buttigieg and the Manchurian Candidate | Stephen Loosley AM joined the 2020Vision podcast to discuss William Barr's summary of the Mueller Report, rising Democratic stars Beto O'Rourke and Pete Buttigieg, and even The Manchurian Candidate. Listen to podcast.
Late night comedy and the US political discourse | American Studies lecturer Dr Rodney Taveira joined the 2020Vision Podcast to discuss how Late Night programs made the switch from light-hearted variety hours to the home of politics. Listen to the podcast.
ARE YOU GETTING THE 45TH?
"The 45th" is our weekly wrap of US politics-related news, analysis and events delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.
Sign up now
Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend
United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
