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September 2022
Welcome Ambassador Kennedy, Miah Hammond-Errey
On 1 September, the United States Studies Centre (USSC) had the pleasure of welcoming US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy for a roundtable discussion with some of our experts. For me, personally, it was a bit of a full-circle moment as our connection was first formed during her tenure as Ambassador to Japan and now we are both working on alliances, here in Australia. The lessons from her time in Japan are especially significant for Australia at this time, as Director of Research Jared Mondschein detailed in his recent analysis.
As we look at both challenges and opportunities for the US-Australia alliance and other regional alliances, certain themes consistently come to the fore. Chief among these? The threats and solutions posed by rapidly evolving technology. With this in mind, I am delighted to share that we are launching a new research program focused on Emerging Technology, with Dr Miah Hammond-Errey as its inaugural director. Her vision for the program is iterative and expansive. Dr Hammond-Errey shared, "Through the new USSC Emerging Technology program I want us to be a leading voice on technology in multilateral initiatives like AUKUS, the opportunities and threats for broader society and, critically, how we leverage technology to build and strengthen alliances."
As I write this, alliances are front of mind with the US midterms, now less than six weeks away. We have received new polling data on sentiment toward alliances, US foreign policy, trade and a view of the most critical issues facing the next Congress. This will be the focus of our upcoming report US Midterms 2022: The stakes for Australia and the alliance. We will be launching this publicly at the end of October and will share at a launch event featuring the New York Times' Jane Coaston and ABC's Annabel Crabb. If you'd like to request a copy of the report when it's available, please let us know at ussc.media@sydney.edu.au and to make sure you get the invitation to our upcoming Midterms event, please subscribe to event invitations here.
We look forward to a busy October and November and hope to see you at one or more of our upcoming webinars and events.
Sincerely
Prof. Michael Green
CEO, United States Studies Centre
NEWS
365 days of AUKUS
This month, USSC marked one-year of the breakthrough AUKUS partnership with an updated explainer by Research Fellow Dr Peter K. Lee and Program Associate Alice Nason and an op-ed published in the Australian Financial Review. The first year saw both breakthroughs and challenges, with a lot of key questions regarding key deliverables to be addressed at the end of the 18-month scoping period in March 2023. In the interim, the explainer notes "Keeping the public regularly informed will be necessary to counter disinformation and avoid turning AUKUS into an initiative that polarises the public along party lines, as early public opinion polling suggests is already occurring."
US Midterms 2022
In October, USSC will launch our midterms 2022 program of publications and events. We will release a number of explainers on different aspects of the US midterms and what they mean for Australia. On 26 October, we will launch our major report US Midterms 2022: The stakes for Australia and the alliance featuring polling conducted across the United States, Australia and Japan on everything from AUKUS and Taiwan to the biggest perceived challenges to democracy in the United States at the moment.
As part of our midterms program of work, the USSC is pleased to welcome Jane Coasten from the New York Times as a Visiting Fellow in October for key events around the midterms.
Now hiring: multiple roles
The USSC is currently expanding our team to deliver an ambitious program of work in 2023 and beyond. We are seeking motivated, collaborative team members to join us across a range of teams including:
- Director, Political Economy, Trade and Investment Program
- Media and Publications Manager
- Research Associate (Foreign Policy and Defence)
- Research Associate (Cross Programs)
- Research Associate (Data Insights)
The Centre is open to flexible working arrangements, providing a work-life balance and the ability to meet personal needs. If you or someone you know would be a good fit, please let us know. Learn more about current vacancies here.
Student awards night 2022
With a night of networking, food and drinks, and giveaways, we successfully wrapped the 2021-2022 USSC Student Prizes Dinner, where we honoured our highest achieving American Studies major students. The prizes were given out by the Academic Lead and the Lecturer in American Studies, Dr Aaron Nyerges. This year's winners are Mateo Baskaran, Annabel Bendavid, Alexis Mia Bundt, Zoe Coles, Poppy Mae Duwenbeck, Ava Louise, Olivia Lam, Imogen Nevell, Elizabeth Mary Perrignon and Sophie Shead. Each student received a prize along with their award. Special guests included CEO Dr Michael Green, USSC alumni as well as various members of the academic and research teams.
USSC perspectives
USSC experts reflected on the one-year anniversary of the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) partnership and if Australia will see nuclear-powered submarines in service, and a call to action for US trade.
- Uncivil Wars - How Contempt Is Corroding Democracy by Michael J. Green first published in the Quarterly Essay
- The AUKUS submarines must take aim at a distant moving target by Dr Peter K. Lee first published in The Australian Financial Review
- US must commit to leadership role in regional trade by Michael J. Green first published in The Australian
In the news
Whilst the one-year anniversary of AUKUS was a major focus in September, but a continued focus on shifts in the region - especially related to Taiwan - and US domestic politics around former President Trump continued to draw media attention in Australia.
Why the US will need Australia’s north more than ever
USSC CEO Dr Michael Green tells The Australian Financial Review that he "predicts the US will become more dependent on Australia for its military operations and intelligence. A shift in foreign policy focus from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific meant that areas of Western and Northern Australia will be “critical” for the US and its allies." READ MORE
MAGA Republicans are a danger to American democracy
USSC Research Associate Victoria Cooper tells ausbiz that President Biden used a prime-time speech to call the US midterms election a "battle for the soul of democracy" saying "MAGA Republicans are a danger to American democracy." LISTEN HERE
Biden calls out Trump-led extremism
USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe tells ABC News PM: “The Senate, if it goes Democratic, it will be a vindication of Biden’s message because those Democrats will beat Trump Republicans…” LISTEN HERE
War in Ukraine is not progressing how Putin 'would've liked'
USSC Foreign Policy and Defence Director Professor Peter Dean says the war in Ukraine is not progressing how Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would’ve liked, in an interview for Sky News Australia. LISTEN HERE
Did the Morrison government change the relationship between religion and politics in Australia?
Associate Professor David Smith was quoted in The Conversation on how the Morrison government changed religion's relationship with politics. READ MORE
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Event replays
The latest videos from our webinars and events are available on our YouTube channel. Catch up on these events through the USSC Live podcast and on YouTube. Here are the latest replays:
- Line of Advantage book launch with USSC CEO Dr Michael Green in conversation with Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr Lavina Lee. Opening remarks were provided by Vice Chancellor of the University of Sydney Mark Scott and closing remarks by USSC Chairman Mark Baillie.
- Xi's rules and risks is the latest edition of The Asia Chessboard podcast with CSIS. On this episode, USSC CEO Dr Michael Green and CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette were joined by Macquarie University Head of the Department of Security Studies and Criminology Bates Gill to discuss his recent book, Daring to Struggle: China's Global Ambitions Under Xi Jinping.
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
