No images? Click here SEPTEMBER 2024Election on the horizonWhile the US presidential election started out fairly predictably, the last few months have been anything but. From a change at the top of the ticket to multiple assassination attempts, the race has been defined by volatility. The United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney has been analysing these developments in our publications, podcasts, events and interviews. In this election cycle, topics like foreign policy and running mates may play an outsized role in determining the outcome as the election looks like it will be close and contested. To examine what the outcome of the election will mean for the Indo-Pacific region, the USSC is hosting its second annual Sydney International Strategy Forum on 20 November, just two weeks after the election. The event will include key players in former administrations (and likely the next), including former congresswoman Stephanie Murphy and former US National Security Council Director for Asia Matthew Turpin, in addition to senior Japanese elected officials Akihisa Nagashima, Rui Matsukawa and Wada Yoshiaki; Australian Department of Defence Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy and Industry Hugh Jeffery and former Australian Ambassador to the United States Dennis Richardson AC. More VIP speakers will be announced soon. You can book your tickets here. Election watch 2024 Countdown to the US presidential electionA second assassination attempt and the first debate between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris shaped the news around the US election for the month. Debate reax
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Looking for a US election expert? Contact us on ussc.media@sydney.edu.au. NEWS AUKUS innovation workshop in LondonUSSC hosted a Track 1.5 dialogue at Australia House, London titled: AUKUS innovation: Trilateral university partnerships for a new strategic age. This workshop examined how Australian, UK and US research universities can enhance their collaboration to foster defence innovation in line with the the objectives of AUKUS Pillar II advanced technologies. It canvassed opportunities and impediments to partnership and participation in AUKUS for UK research institutions. It was attended by 30 senior university representatives and officials from all three AUKUS countries. New USSC polling report releasedThe Allies and partners poll 2024 launched on 6 September. Surveying publics across Australia, Japan and the United States, the topline finding was an 11-point drop in the number of Australians who would want to leave the alliance if Donald Trump were elected to a second term, even though 47% of Australians still believe a second Trump term would be bad for their country. The report was covered by the Australian Associated Press, the Daily Telegraph, Sky News, ABC News and Crikey. AI and data in a US election yearUSSC Non-Resident Fellow Helen Zhang visited Sydney for a week of AI-centred meetings and events. Helen is a former ‘Googler’ and ex-diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. On 10 September, she joined Research Associate Tom Barrett for a public event that focused on the likely technology policy of an incoming Trump or Harris administration and what this could mean for other regional AI players. Former White House official joins NextGen workshopAt the most recent NextGen workshop, Erik Jacobs, a former policy advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, met with the network of up-and-coming researchers. Drawing from his experience in the US Department of Energy they held a panel discussion on challenges in energy and the alliance, followed by a table-top exercise problem-solving an energy security scenario. Annual student prize night brings the brat energyCurrent and past American Studies students turned out for the annual USSC prize night. Academic Director Dr Rodney Taveira handed out the awards for students and drag performer Midas brought the brat energy for a memorable evening. The event is one of the yearly highlights for students of American Studies. Learn more about enrolling in USSC’s American Studies program. Alliance Dinner in CanberraOn 19 September, USSC hosted its annual Alliance Dinner in Canberra with senior government and corporate stakeholders. The dinner featured a panel discussion with former Australian ambassador to the United States Michael Thawley AO, former Secretary of DFAT Katrina Cooper and USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein in conversation with USSC CEO Dr Michael Green. The panel discussed the strategic trajectory of the US-Australia alliance in light of the upcoming US election and findings in USSC’s Allies and partners poll 2024. USSC welcomes NATO officialUSSC welcomed NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber James Appathurai for a public event: Cyber threats, disinformation and sabotage: Lessons learnt from Russia's war in Ukraine. He shared an overview of the topic, lessons learned from Ukraine and key takeaways from NATO’s Washington Summit. He then joined USSC CEO Dr Michael Green for a more detailed discussion about the role of cyber threats in the evolving geopolitical environment and shared security threats that impact NATO and its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Workshop looks at nuclear deterrence and the allianceUSSC joined forces with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Issues to host a workshop on domestic perspectives on nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation. The workshop featured panel discussions with representatives of USSC, CSIS, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Lowy Institute, Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network. Across the course of a day they covered topics from perceptions around nuclear weapons, extended deterrence and strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific. Reports in reviewIn addition to the Allies and partners poll 2024, USSC released four additional reports this month and other noteworthy publications in the areas of foreign policy, economic security and defence.
USSC teams up with Film Versus Film podcastIn the lead up to the election, USSC is joining forces with the Film Versus Film podcast. Starting this week, they are releasing a six-part series discussing movies that engage with US electoral politics which will culminate in a free cinema screening of A24’s Civil War on the night before the US presidential election. Learn more here. USSC perspectivesThe US presidential debate wasn't the only debate in the mix this month. USSC experts weighed in on a range of topics including Taiwan and AUKUS.
EVENT CONFERENCEPanels announced for Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024Two weeks after the US presidential election, USSC will host the second Sydney International Strategy Forum (SISF): The future of American leadership and a contested Asia. A mix of DC insiders and leaders from across the Indo-Pacific will join the USSC to share their analysis of the US election and what to expect in Asia under the next administration. Program preview:
Stay tuned for additional speaker and program announcements. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Videos and podcastsThe latest recordings from our webinars are available on our YouTube channel and USSC Live podcast. Find all of the Centre’s podcast recordings here. You can now listen to USSC Briefing Room on YouTube.
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