No images? Click here FEBRUARY 2024A leap year to rememberOnly two months into the year and already the United States Studies Centre (USSC) is in full swing with a full slate for the rest of the year. Campus is buzzing with student activity, we’ve been welcoming dignitaries from around the world and Election Watch 2024 is already nearing the crescendo of primary season. But amidst the publishing, teaching and election analysis we want to highlight the launch of our 1.5-day economic security conference on 19-20 June: Economic security in a turbulent world. This is the first of its kind in Australia and we are excited to announce headlining speakers, including:
The conference is made possible by support from the Australian Government and our major partners, including the Minerals Council of Australia and the Asia Natural Gas & Energy Association. Tickets are strictly limited, but we are offering an early bird discount until 31 March. To enquire about purchasing a table or becoming a partner of the conference, please contact Evelyn Richards at evelyn.richards@sydney.edu.au. We hope to see you there. Election watch 2024 249 days to the US presidential electionSuper Tuesday and President Biden's State of the Union address are both next week. As the primaries and politics heat up, USSC is ramping up its coverage of the 2024 US presidential election. Publications
Events
Key dates
Looking for a US election expert? Contact us on ussc.media@sydney.edu.au. NEWS Quad fellows roundtableUSSC Research Editor Victoria Cooper has been a Quad fellow with the World Learning “Leaders Lead On-Demand Program” exchange for rising think tank opinion leaders from Quad countries. This month, the exchange came to Australia and USSC hosted them for a discussion around the future of Quad cooperation. Cooper also hosted a Quad fellow from each country for an episode of the USSC Briefing Room: Four Quad think tank experts walk into the briefing room… Listen here. What does ‘economic security’ mean to Australia in 2024?Unprecedented economic security efforts by Australia’s Indo-Pacific partners have stoked new efforts to define economic security and respond to global economic challenges within Australia. A new brief by the Economic Security team addresses what these efforts might look like in the year ahead. In What does ‘economic security’ mean to Australia in 2024? lead authors USSC Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer and Research Associate Georgia Edmonstone capture the current trends economic security challenges and possible responses arising from a track two dialogue with Australia’s leading economic thinkers hosted by the USSC in late 2023. New AUKUS explainerThe passage of the US Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in December 2023 is, perhaps, the clearest indicator of bipartisan support for AUKUS in Congress because it provides an essential pathway to transfer the technology needed for the Virginia-class submarines from the United States to Australia. However, congressional budget battles threaten the appropriations bill that would fund the implementation of this new law. USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben and Research Associate Alice Nason break down what's at stake for AUKUS in their new explainer: Are Biden and Congress playing chicken with AUKUS? Assessing the environmental damage to the South China Sea and what next roundtableThis month, USSC hosted a roundtable featuring experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and US Consulate Sydney along with experts from the Griffith Asia Institute, UTS Climate, Society and Environment Research Centre and ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. Discussion looked at the decline of the maritime environment in the South China Sea due to increased fishing, dredging and land fill as different countries seek to strengthen their claim to the land. The CSIS Deep blue scars: Environmental threats to the South China Sea report is available here. Get ready for the return of the USSC - UCLA Study Abroad program!Following the resounding success of its inaugural season in 2023, the UCLA Study Abroad program is back, offering University of Sydney undergrads a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant academic culture of the number one public university in the United States. An adventure not to be missed, with prestigious scholarships like the Hon. John Olsen Scholarship Award 2024 for an American Studies student, along with a host of merit and equity-based awards. There's never been a more exciting time to explore the United States! Learn more here. USSC perspectivesAs we approach the one-year anniversary of the release of the Optimal Pathway report for AUKUS Pillar I and Australia's Defence Strategic Review both are back in the spotlight. USSC experts continue to be a leading voice on AUKUS analysis and the US election.
EVENT A single week in the 2024 election cycle will see the Super Tuesday primary contests play out in 15 states and President Biden deliver what could be his final State of the Union address to Congress. The week will be an opportunity for both Biden and former president Donald Trump to stamp their authority on their respective party nominations and build momentum ahead of the 5 November general election — or a final chance for their longshot opponents to make a mark. What do the results of Super Tuesday mean for the 2024 election? Will Biden’s State of the Union allay concerns about his age? Who is on Trump’s vice president shortlist and why? To answer these questions, please join us for a live panel featuring Chas Licciardello, co-host of popular television show “Planet America” on ABC TV, in conversation with Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy David Smith and USSC Research Editor Victoria Cooper, moderated by USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein. DATE & TIME LOCATION 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.
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! Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend United States Studies
Centre |