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.

 
 
Margaret Levi

Professor Margaret Levi provides an introduction to The Annual Review of Political Science's publication of thirteen articles on the problem of Domestic Political Violence and Civil War. Among the enduring questions in...

31 January 2013
 
Harry Melkonian

Dr Harry Melkonian writes on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (Obama-care) for the Macquarie Law Journal. The article presents an analysis of the various aspects of the Supreme Court decision.

31 January 2013
 
Geoffrey Wheatcroft

Why on earth are Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush front-runners for their parties' presidential nomination?

30 January 2013
 
Harry Melkonian

Traditionally, freedom of speech has been justified as necessary for democratic government and as an essential individual right. This study by Dr Harry Melkonian departs from traditional legal and philosophical theories and breaks...

30 January 2013
 
Geoffrey Garrett

Australian Financial Review

Barack Obama will never have to face another election, and his impassioned inaugural address reflected that, says visiting professor Geoffrey Garrett. But even though Obama will have an opportunity to...

29 January 2013
 
Geoffrey Wheatcroft

The Age

With 2016 presidential speculation dominated by the names Clinton and Bush, have connections takens precedent over talent in American politics? In this extract of an essay from the February 2013 edition...

29 January 2013
 
Adam Lockyer

ABC The Drum

Barack Obama's second inaugural address shows a new side to the president, says lecturer in US politics and foreign policy Adam Lockyer. The president has replaced compromise and negotiation in...

23 January 2013
 
Nicole Hemmer

The Australian

As recently as the 1970s, members of the Republican Party strongly supported legal access to abortion. Now, on the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion throughout America...

23 January 2013
 
Luke Freedman

The Conversation

Barack Obama's second inaugural address will inspire Democrats and frustrate conservatives and some moderates, says research associate Luke Freedman. What did the speech reveal about the President's mindset?

22 January 2013
 
Luke Freedman

SBS World News Online

Barack Obama's focus on climate change, equality, and gay rights in his second inaugural address could shape his final term in office. Though his proposals won't instantly become law...

22 January 2013
 
David Smith

Crikey

One term presidents might be losers, but two termers can be disasters, says lecturer in American politics David Smith. What can Barack Obama do to make sure his second term is a...

21 January 2013
 
Tom Switzer

The Age

Barack Obama has always aimed to be a transformational president in the mould of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, or Ronald Reagan. Research associate Tom Switzer thinks he might be succeeding. 

21 January 2013
 
Brendon O'Connor

The Australian

On the eve of the his second inauguration, Barack Obama faces no shortage of challenges, write associate professor Brendon O'Connor and research assistant Katherine Delaney. Does this policy-focused president need to learn...

19 January 2013
 
John Barron

ABC The Drum

In 2008, when the US economy was on the brink of disaster, President Barack Obama seized the moment and introduced reforms to Wall Street, the auto industry, and the health...

17 January 2013
 

The Conversation

More than one hundred thousand Americans are shot or killed with a gun each year, writes professor of legal policy David Weisbrot. But only after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary...

17 January 2013
 
Luke Freedman

The Conversation

Once upon a time, the thought that Congress would allow the United States to default on its financial obligations to be beyond the pale, says elections analyst Luke Freedman. Will the...

16 January 2013
 
Rory Medcalf

Can social media calm the waters between Japan and China?

15 January 2013
 
Tom Switzer, Nicole Hemmer

The Huffington Post

Worldly. Flexible. Adaptable. Research associates Tom Switzer and Nicole Hemmer say former president Richard Nixon had another side and today's Republicans would do well to learn from him.

11 January 2013
 
Nicole Hemmer

The Conversation

The United States' debt ceiling has caused a fabricated crisis, writes research associate Nicole Hemmer, but it can be solved with a fabricated solution. Could a trillion dollar coin save the American...

11 January 2013
 
Tom Switzer

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age

Once upon a time, realism in foreign policy was the domain of the Republican Party, says research associate Tom Switzer. But the opposition to Chuck Hagel...

9 January 2013