JANUARY 2024

Election year is here

Welcome back to a new election year with the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney. Our team hit the ground running with the first votes cast in the 2024 US presidential election in Iowa and New Hampshire. For what is usually a slow week in the middle of January, our experts had more than 15 interviews the week of the Iowa caucuses, indicating the high level of international interest that remains in US elections – especially when former president Trump is likely to be on the ballot.

More than 100 people turned up last night to join us for our official 2024 election watch kick off event and the Politics, Society and Culture team will continue to keep you informed in the lead up to the November election. A couple of key resources include A guide to the 2024 presidential election and their just-launched former president Trump tacker.

The results of this election will be felt around the world. Whether it’s a second Biden term, Trump term or a surprise disruption, the future of the United States will have significant geopolitical consequences. It is in this context that we will hold our two major conferences of 2024. Our Economic Security in a Turbulent World conference in June will look at the key risks and trade-offs countries and companies face in light of this strategic uncertainty. Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of the international keynote speakers who are joining us to share their unparalleled insights into economic statecraft trends and the impact of the US election and global events on these.

After the election, USSC will host our second Sydney International Strategy Forum, with experts from the United States, Australia and across the Indo-Pacific region to share their insider insights and what Australia needs to know off the back of this momentous election.

To make sure you do not miss any updates in this benchmark year, make sure you subscribe to and follow these USSC channels:

The 46^th | Weekly newsletter with the latest US news
USSC Briefing Room | Podcast that covers the latest developments in US news and foreign policy
Event invitations | Stay in the know about all upcoming events
Socials | Follow USSC on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram

Election watch 2024

278 days to the US presidential election

When it comes to the US presidential election, USSC has you covered. From explainers and polling to podcasts and watch parties, we go beyond the horserace politics to look at the longer-term implications for Australia and the world.

Publications

A guide to the 2024 presidential election: from primaries to president by Ava Kalinauskas and Samuel Garrett
Tariffs, travel bans and firing bureaucrats: What’s in store for a second Trump term? By Ava Kalinauskas and Samuel Garrett
One year from the 2024 US presidential election: The stakes for Australia and the alliance by Jared Mondschein, Victoria Cooper, Samuel Garrett and Ava Kalinauskas

Iowa and New Hampshire results reactions

USSC Insights | Reactions to Iowa
Nikki Haley faces 'a really uphill battle' on ABC Radio Drive ft. Associate Prof. David Smith
Nikki Haley’s improved New Hampshire showing due to independent voters on CAN ft. Prof. Brendon O’Connor
Trump’s three peat on The Wire ft. Jared Mondschein
Trump's Iowa appeal helped by changing demographics on 2ser ft. Victoria Cooper

Key dates

5 March: Super Tuesday
7 March: State of the Union
4 June: Last Republican primaries
15-18 July: Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
19-22 August: Democratic National Convention in Chicago
16 September: First presidential debate
25 September: VP debate
1 October: Second presidential debate
9 October: Third presidential debate
5 November: Election Day

US politics hub

NEWS

USSC briefing room streamed in more than 100 countries

Our newest podcast, the USSC Briefing Room has now been listened to in more than 100 countries! Have you checked it out yet? It covers the latest on US news and foreign policy. We cover what you need to know and what’s beneath the surface of the news.

Popular episodes include:

The Indo-Pacific impacts of China’s fluctuating economy with economist Dan Rosen

What a second Trump term would mean for the United States and Australia

Inside the White House on 9/11

The end of affirmative action and a readout of major US Supreme Court decisions

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, online or wherever you get your podcasts.

Student internship applications close today

The US Studies Internship Program is back! Applications close today for Semester 1, 2024 with various positions available across our think tank. Under the guidance of Senior Lecturer Dr. Rodney Taveira, our academic internship program seamlessly integrates academic knowledge with hands-on experience. To be eligible, undergraduate students must complete USSC3703: US Studies Internship, and postgraduate students must complete USSC6205: Internship Project.

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural round of USSC Student Internship Scholarships. This exclusive opportunity is designed to recognise and support the outstanding achievements of our academic interns.

You can apply directly using our application portal or via the application button below. You will be required to submit a cover letter, CV and academic transcript. More information about the program can be found here.

New book from Director of Emerging Technology

This week, USSC Director of Emerging Technology Dr Miah Hammond-Errey launched her first book: Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted. In her research, she met with nearly 50 participants in the Australian National Intelligence Community to understand how big data and new technologies are changing and challenging Australia’s intelligence community.

Evolving technology has led to new threats, such as deepfakes, and mainstreamed targeting and surveillance capabilities. To maintain the upper hand, Dr Hammond-Errey argues, these threats cannot be faced by siloed agencies. The book emphasises the value of deepening intelligence collaboration, such as the Five Eyes and creating new alliances to meet these challenges.

Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted is now available to purchase from Routledge here.

USSC perspectives

While the US election was a major focus for the month, the Taiwan election and the future of democracy and security in the Indo-Pacific were also significant trends covered by USSC analysis.

The strategic case for democracy promotion in Asia by Dr Michael Green and Daniel Twining. First published in Foreign Affairs.
Divider-in-Chief seizes Republican crown, but not yet America’s by Bruce Wolpe. First published in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Why US naval power needs Asian allies by Dr Peter Lee and Dr Choi Kang. First published in War on the Rocks.
Why two largely white and tiny states still matter so much to the US presidential election by Ava Kalinauskas and Samuel Garrett. First published in The Conversation.
Inside the US Republican primaries: the Trump avalanche by Bruce Wolpe. First published in The Saturday Paper.

EVENT

Save the date | Economic security in a turbulent world

The world economy is undergoing a patchwork reversal of global integration as major powers seek to “de-risk” key economic relationships and use new policy tools to boost domestic investment in strategic industries.

The United States Studies Centre invites you to join us as we convene a major international conference — “Economic Security in a Turbulent World” — to discuss these issues, bringing together policymakers, business executives and leading experts from the United States, Europe, and Asia, as well as from Australia.

Panel discussions will address the following topics:

A conceptual framework for economic security: what are the key risks and trade-offs governments and companies must navigate?
Policy approaches in this new era: how are different countries and regions working to de-risk challenging economic relationships and build resilience?
Tools and levers: what tools of economic statecraft are on the rise? – from industrial policy and green subsidies to export controls and investment screening
Business perspectives on the nexus between geopolitical risk and economic policy: How can business shape approaches to supply chain resilience, critical technologies, etc?
Strategic competition and the tech wars: Are the US and China locked in a zero-sum struggle?
The future of global economic governance: What role can the WTO and other institutions play in the face of rising economic nationalism?
The geopolitics of the energy transition: Where does Australia fit in the clean energy/green tech value chain post the US Inflation Reduction Act?

Save the date for the opportunity to learn from leading experts in geopolitics and economic policy and engage in robust and interactive discussion on the key issues facing Australia, the United States and the Alliance.

Speakers, agenda and registration information coming soon.

DATE & TIME
Wednesday 19 June - Thursday 20 June 2023

LOCATION
Sydney CBD

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Videos and podcasts

The latest recordings from our webinars are available on our YouTube channel and USSC Live podcast. Find all of the Centre’s podcast recordings here.

VIDEO | Election watch 2024: Biden vs Trump redux? feat. Jared Mondschein, Associate Professor David Smith, Victoria Cooper and Mari Koeck.
PODCAST | USSC Briefing Room | Trump trounces Iowa caucuses – does anyone else stand a chance? feat. Jared Mondschein and Lester Munson.
PODCAST | The Asia Chessboard | Southeast Asia in a shifting global order feat. Dr Joseph Chinyong Liow and Dr Michael Green.
PODCAST | USSC Briefing Room | Religious Persecution and Political Order in the United States feat. Associate Professor David Smith and Mari Koeck.
PODCAST | Technology and Security (TS) podcast | Neurotechnology, cognitive liberty and information warfare feat. Professor Nita Farahany and Dr Miah Hammond-Errey
PODCAST | The Asia Chessboard | Cold rivals feat. Dr Evan Medeiros, Dr Michael Green and Jude Blanchette.
PODCAST | USSC Briefing Room | Was COP28 one step forward, two steps back? feat. Jared Mondschein and Lachlan Carey.
PODCAST | USSC Briefing Room | Line of Advantage: Japan’s Grand Strategy in the Era of Abe Shinzo feat. Dr Michael Green and Victoria Cooper.

ARE YOU GETTING "THE 46TH"?

"The 46th" is our weekly wrap of US politics and policy news, analysis and events. Get it delivered straight 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

www.ussc.edu.au | us-studies@sydney.edu.au