The Australian general election will be held on 24th November. International policy issues won't dominate the campaign but the next Australian government has to make important decisions about matters ranging from the global environment, through the future of the world trading system to the way we handle our relations with our allies and neighbours. These...

As part of the Lowy Institute's new 'Perspectives on Africa' website, Australian diplomat Philip Green reflects on Africa's changing prospects: rather than seeing Africa as a continent of war, famine and plague Green identifies a number of positive trends in Africa's development.

The Poll contains insights on relations with the US, international trade and military involvement in the Middle East among many other issues of importance to Australians. It reveals the increasing importance of climate change on the national agenda and probes Australians' views on the most appropriate responses to it.

Indonesia's democratisation has brought the two neighbours' political systems more in line with each other. Yet, this has not led to quieter times. This paper evaluates the sources of this volatility and ways the two governments can counteract them and the potential problems if things stay as they are.

China and America may be at the start of a destabilising nuclear arms race, as China tries to preserve its ability to deter US nuclear attack in the light of US missile defences and nuclear system upgrades. That would undermine hopes that the US and China can build a stable cooperative relationship as China's power...