Publications

The United States Studies Centre prides itself on providing independent analysis in the form of research reports and briefs, academic publications, books and commentary. All USSC publications are viewable free of charge.

 
 
Hayley Channer

The rationale and intent of AUKUS is sound. However, it will be costly and present ongoing opportunity costs and trade-offs, not only for defence but for broader national resources.

While the first two...

21 March 2023
 
Stephen Loosley

While it may make some of us baulk, the eye-watering $368 billion cost of Australia's submarine venture is a clear and obvious sign that we will do whatever it takes to ensure our...

15 March 2023
 
Peter Dean

We now know the “optimal pathway” for Australia to achieve a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) capability by 2033. This timeline delivers a capability within a decade – completely defying earlier critiques of this program...

15 March 2023
 
Brendon O'Connor

Future generations are very unlikely to credit Christopher Hitchens with saving the Left. Nor is he likely to be remembered as a great essayist like his long-time hero George Orwell, or even H.L...

15 March 2023
 
Michael J. Green, Peter Dean, Tom Corben, Peter K. Lee, Hayley Channer, Blake Herzinger

The AUKUS report is one of the most significant defence pacts in Australian history, and experts at the United States Studies Centre have provided their take on today's important announcement.

14 March 2023
 
Peter Dean

One of the criticisms of the AUKUS announcement in September 2021 was that the argument for why Australia needed a nuclear-powered submarine was not run and won by the Morrison government. With the...

13 March 2023
 
Peter Dean

As we prepare to dive into the depths of the AUKUS submarine “optimal” pathway tomorrow, details have been steadily emerging. This plan presents both opportunities and risks for Australia and its AUKUS partners...

13 March 2023
 
Michael J. Green, Peter Dean

The debate in Australia about the optimal pathway to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) under AUKUS is essentially split between two lines of argument. One maintains the government has not made a sufficient...

11 March 2023
 
Robert D. Atkinson

When the Cold War ended, many envisioned a new "end-of-history" era where almost every nation would embrace free trade and comparative advantage — producing what a nation is good at and importing the...

10 March 2023
 
Blake Herzinger

While we await the AUKUS partners’ announcement of their plans for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs), the public discourse on the agreement has become wildly out of sync with reality.

Charges that...

10 March 2023
 
John Kunkel

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine just over a year ago was the biggest shock to the global economy in 2022. From a policy perspective, however, the fleshing out of what US President Joe Biden...

7 March 2023
 
Louis Lauter

In a year where America’s democratic alliances have been tested under the shadow of an increasingly autocratic China and the despotism of Vladimir Putin, the US-Australia relationship has made great strides. Advances at...

28 February 2023
 
Miah Hammond-Errey, Tom Barrett

Global leaders continue to take action to secure technologies critical to national interests — such as the United States banning high-end chip technology and fabrication exports to China, and working with allies to...

27 February 2023
 
Sophie Mayo, Peter K. Lee, Alice Nason

Australia is fast approaching a watershed moment for its national security. In March, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden will announce the “optimal pathway”...

27 February 2023
 
Miah Hammond-Errey

We’ve seen action by global leaders to make supply chains more resilient and secure technologies critical to national interests, such as US banning high-end chip fabrication technology exports to China and negotiating agreements...

27 February 2023
 
Stephen Loosley

This week we could not have had a clearer contrast between the thriving political culture of the West and that of a paranoid dictatorship, writes Stephen Loosley for Sky News.

25 February 2023
 
Ava Kalinauskas

“Let’s finish the job.” It’s the rallying cry that echoed through the US House chamber a dozen times during President Biden’s State of the Union speech last week. Throughout his address, Biden touted...

16 February 2023
 
Miah Hammond-Errey

Emerging technologies are redefining national security and the way nations protect individual rights and freedoms. The big data landscape — and the emerging technologies it drives — are challenging some of the fundamental...

9 February 2023
 
Miah Hammond-Errey

Intelligence work is fast changing. This has implications not just for those working in national security but for regular citizens. Digital transformation and emerging technologies are shifting the balance between secrecy and transparency...

9 February 2023
 
Michael J. Green

While there is a lot of anxious gloom and doom in Washington about China’s menacing rise, the reality is that Joe Biden had a very good month in the region. He can thank...

9 February 2023