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December 2023
Year in review message from the CEO
In my year and a half with the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney I have been struck by how much increased interest about Australia there is in the United States, but also Japan, India, Korea and Europe. We hosted numerous visits and facilitated research collaboration with these allies and partners throughout the year. On issues like economic security, the energy transition, defence, and democracy, we anticipate this collaboration with likeminded states will only grow. The Centre remains focused on explaining developments in the United States and looking for policy solutions for Australia and the alliance, but our work has a new dimension in this era of networked alliances.
I started the year moderating the INDOPACOM conference of US ambassadors in Hawaii, where the importance of Australia as a leader in the Indo-Pacific was abundantly clear. Australia’s strong ties and track record in the region are a key driver towards an amplified platform for Australia on the world stage. This was a big part of the reason that the USSC was asked to host the Sunnylands Initiative on democracy in the Indo-Pacific in Australia for the first time in April this year.
Over the course of the year, we welcomed senior level delegations from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States and hosted dozens of roundtables and workshops across defence industry issues and the UPSCALE initiative that brought together experts from government, defence, technology and finance — all looking at innovative policy solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing Australia, the United States and the world. Our convening power culminated in the inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum in November, which we look forward to hosting again in 2024.
Our publications and academic program also widened the aperture for this year, with strong results. AUKUS and the Quad still featured prominently in our analysis, but some of our major publications also looked at the evolution of Japan’s defence strategy, Australia-Korea defence cooperation and AUKMIN. Our polling once again offered nuanced insights into American, Australian and Japanese public views of US-China relations, economics, technology and security.
Our academic team brought students overseas to study again for the first time since before the COVID pandemic, bringing 15 Australian students to study at UCLA over June and July. We are also scouting new locations to add for 2024. We are very excited to be welcoming several new scholars to the Centre this coming year to teach courses on American history and culture, geopolitics and technology, as well as our inaugural American Australian Association post-doctoral research fellow.
In 2023, we launched our brand new website and two new podcasts from the Centre, the USSC Briefing Room and Technology and Security. Guests on our podcasts included economist Dan Rosen, former NSW Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello and Taiwan Representative Douglas Hsu. The Centre continues to have one of the largest think tank shares of media voice in Australia and it is gratifying to see that our research and insights are finding broad audiences.
The Centre has almost doubled in size since I arrived, but we are still small enough that I can greet everyone by their first name each day. And I have been so impressed with the talent and commitment of my colleagues, particularly junior researchers who developed our exciting Women in the Alliance (WITA) initiative and produced some of our most important research this past year. We have worked hard to drive positive change both through and within the Centre and were very pleased to receive the 2023 Xref awards for Change Champion and Best Workplace.
This past year we saw growing disruption and uncertainty in the headlines and next year promises to be no different. From conflict in the Middle East to the election in Taiwan and war in Ukraine, US decisions and responses have a global effect. We know that 2024 is going to place the United States front and centre of the global stage in terms of world events and domestic US politics and we are committed to continuing to bring timely, salient and robust analysis and insights to inform decision-makers and the public debate. Next year, we hope you will join us for our Economic Security conference in June, the second annual Sydney International Strategy Forum in November or one of our many events on the US election.
Thank you to the Centre's many friends, supporters and partners who make this all possible. We are tremendously grateful for your continued engagement and especially your intellectual partnership that adds value to all our work.
Wishing you and yours a very festive and reflective holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in 2024.
Sincerely,
Dr Michael Green
Chief Executive Officer, United States Studies Centre
2023 Highlights
Event highlights
USSC hosted a number of high-profile visitors for impactful events in 2023.
Sydney International Strategy Forum | This year USSC held the first Sydney International Strategy Forum featuring The Hon. Madeleine King MP, Sen. the Hon. Simon Birmingham, Michèle Flournoy, Admiral Phil Davidson and Rep. Akihisa Nagashima.
Sunnylands in Sydney | In April, USSC partnered with the National Endowment for Democracy to deliver the Sunnylands Initiative in Sydney. This culminated in a public event featuring a keynote address by Prof. Sean Turnell and panel discussion with Sunnylands participants.
Women in the Alliance launch | Former Australian Foreign Minister the Hon. Julie Bishop provided keynote remarks at the launch of the Women in the Alliance initiative in August. The event also featured remarks from US Consul General Christine Elder and a panel discussion featuring Melissa McIntosh MP, Leila Smith and Geraldine Doogue.
What to expect from the Quad Leaders' Summit | When President Biden cancelled his trip to Australia for the Quad Leaders' Summit in May, USSC experts gathered to share their insights on what was happening behind the scenes and what this means for the Quad moving forward.
Taiwan's upcoming election: The implications for Australia | Ahead of Taiwan's presidential election USSC hosted Taiwan's representative to Australia Douglas Hsu for a live event featuring a panel discussions about what is at stake in this election.
UPSCALE report launch | The Economic Security Program launched their UPSCALE report at a live event in October, following months of workshops and interviews with decision-makers in the United States and Australia. Doug Beck from the Defense Innovation Unit provided a virtual keynote address and ABC's Andrew Greene moderated a panel discussion.
American Studies
Once again, USSC's American Studies program saw high levels of enrolment and strong engagement in our various activities. Highlights for the year include:
Study abroad
Fifteen students joined the first USSC cohort to study in the United States since before COVID. The students joined the Summer Sessions at UCLA, the highest rated public university in the United States.
Trivia nights
Following the success of the student trivia night in 2022, USSC hosted multiple trivia nights this year, including one for exchange students. Facilitated by Associate Professor David Smith, the events were filled to capacity and highly competitive as students tested their US knowledge against one another.
New scholarships
Two new scholarships were announced this year, the Undergraduate Indigenous Scholarship in American Studies and the Undergraduate Equity Scholarship in American Studies. USSC is delighted to be able to offer these opportunities to support more students to participate in our American Studies courses.
Publications
USSC published 15 major reports, six briefs, 10 explainers, two debate papers and 122 op-eds in 2023. Here are some of the most popular publications:
Tune in
USSC event replays are available on our YouTube channel and USSC Live podcast. We also hosted distinguished guests on our USSC Briefing Room and Technology & Security podcasts. Here were some of the most popular recordings from 2023.
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
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United States Studies
Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
