Organisation
Future Directions International
Acronym:
FDI
Future Directions International (FDI) was an independent, not-for-profit research institute. It was established in 2000, by Major General (Retd.) the Honourable Michael Jeffery (former Governor General of Australia), together with a small group of leading Australians, to conduct comprehensive research of important medium to long-term issues facing Australia.
FDI ceased operations in November 2021.
Report
Conflict with China is not inevitable … but the chances of one are increasing
This paper argues that China’s current strategies of economic and military coercion and territorial 'salami-slicing' are causing other countries to view it as a predator and untrustworthy, and they are aligning and coalescing in an effort to balance and, if required, counter its predatory behaviour.
Report
Too many eggs in the dragon’s basket?
Since the publication of part one of this paper, further deterioration in the Australia-China political and trading relationships has occurred. This paper seeks to identify if, where and how Australia can diversify its export base.
Report
COVID-19 and food security in the Pacific: considerable challenges with an opportunity to "build back better"
This paper argues that for the most part, residents of Pacific Island Countries have managed to find ways to cope with the recent disruption to food supplies by turning to traditional coping mechanisms. That strategy is likely to work in the short-term. However, it is not viable in the long-term, as it will unnecessarily decrease...
Report
The logic of China’s economic coercion on Australian agriculture
The imposition of Chinese trade barriers against Australian agricultural exports have been widely reported, but they leave a series of unanswered questions. Why is China targeting particular industries with particular instruments? What are the costs of the barriers for Australia and China? What are the drivers from within China? How can Australia realistically respond? This...
Report
COVID-19 worsens food security in South-East Asia
This paper argues that pandemic-related lockdown measures and economic troubles have translated into poorer food and nutrition security in the South-East Asia region.