The Lowy Institute

The global context for foreign aid is changing rapidly as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approach their deadline for cutting extreme poverty by half by 2015. The traditional donor club of OECD countries is handing much of the development leadership role to emerging powers such as Brazil, China, India and Korea. At the Lowy Lecture Series on 23 November 2011, John W. McArthur examined trends in thinking about how future aid programs can be structured.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lowy Institute was delighted to launch its 2011 Distinguished Speaker Series with a presentation by leading economist, analyst and writer Richard Koo. Drawing on his detailed work on Japan's 'Great Recession', Richard described the lessons Japan's experience holds for the US and world economies, assessed the likely effectiveness of the policy response to date, and gave his views on the prospects for the global economic outlook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s superannuation system is one of our nation’s great public policy success stories. With more than $1.3 trillion in assets it underpins Australia’s standing as the world’s 4th largest pool of funds under management. While our diverse and well-regulated superannuation system was credited with helping Australia weather the Global Financial Crisis better than other advanced economies, the global nature of investment resulted in members losing a substantial proportion of their retirement savings in the market turmoil. David Whiteley, Chief Executive of Industry Super Network, addressed the question of whether there is a more proactive role the superannuation industry can play in reducing systemic risk through global engagement and co-operation?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'There Goes the Neighbourhood' is a loud and clear wake-up call to Australians: the challenges that will most demand our attention and effort in the decades ahead are international, not domestic. Michael Wesley, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute, argues in his book that the benign and comfortable world that has allowed Australia to be safe and prosperous is vanishing quickly. 'There Goes the Neighbourhood' was launched by the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull at the Lowy Institute on 3 May 2011. Copies can be purchased from all leading book stores.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of the Pacific matters deeply to Australia – it is our neighbourhood and our roots run deep. Australia is working with the region to help confront significant challenges, most importantly in security, economic development and climate change. The Australian government is making sure that we are equipped to deliver on these priorities in the Pacific through increased aid and political engagement. At the Lowy Lecture on Wednesday 28 September 2011, Richard Marles, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, spoke on why the Pacific matters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an address to the Lowy Institute on 9 December 2011, the Premier of New South Wales, Mr Barry O'Farrell, set out his vision for building strong economic and societal links between Australia's largest state and the government, people and business community of a rising India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pacific President comes to Australia The White House announced that US President Barack Obama will visit Australia in mid November to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Australia-US alliance. At the Food for Thought event in Melbourne on 6 October 2011, the Lowy Institute hosted a panel discussion with Daniel Flitton, Andrew Shearer and Judith Sloan previewing President Obama's visit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 19 October 2011, in the Lowy Lecture Series, Professor Nicholas Tarling reviewed some of the legacies, actual and perceived, of the pre-colonial and colonial periods to the post-colonial period in Southeast Asia, and their relationship to the 'ASEAN Way'. Nicholas Tarling is a Fellow of the New Zealand Asia Institute at The University of Auckland and Emeritus Professor of History at the University. He has published many books on Southeast Asian history and edited The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Troubled Thailand Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Milton Osborne presentation - 9 June 2010 For the past few weeks our TV news and newspaper front pages have shown us chaotic images from downtown Bangkok. These pictures and the violent political tensions they portray run counter to the touristic stereotype of Thailand as a relaxed country of smiles. On 9 June, Dr Milton Osborne, recently back from a trip to Thailand, discussed the present political situation in Thailand and its struggle between the Yellow and Red Shirts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unravelling rivalry China and India by Lowy InstituteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

the shifting geopolitics of aviation by Lowy InstituteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflection point the ADF after Afghanistan by Lowy InstituteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When more is less by Lowy InstituteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Testimony to Inquiry on Australias overseas diplomatic network by Lowy InstituteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next month will mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This also makes it the 20th anniversary of the birth of the new global economy. At the Wednesday Lunch on 21 October, Mark Thirlwell, Director of the Institute’s international economy program, looked at some of the forces shaping the world economy during its first two decades: a period bookmarked at one end by the collapse of communism and the triumph of the market, and at the other by global financial crisis and the rise of state capitalism, and one which has included the Asian financial crisis, the dot-com bubble, the launch of the euro, the creation of the WTO, China’s emergence as a major global economic player, and the ascendancy of the G-20.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Australia adequately represented overseas in terms of our diplomatic network? Yesterday in Canberra a parliamentary inquiry heard from groups as diverse as AusAID, the Australia Gulf Council and the Australian Federal Police with their say on the issue. Alex Oliver, a research fellow with the Lowy Institute, argues Australia is woefully under-represented overseas, compared to other like countries, as a result of two decades of neglect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There were high expectations for the growth of nuclear power in the years leading up to the Fukushima nuclear accident on 11 March 2011, as concerns about energy security and climate change prompted governments to reconsider their energy options. But the expansion of nuclear power has posed serious challenges to the non-proliferation regime, raising new questions about threats and risks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Wicked weapons: North Asia's nuclear tangle" Rory Medcalf | Wednesday Lunch at LowySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Bubalo | Wednesday Lowy LunchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brigadier Roger Noble | Lowy Lecture SeriesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.