Australian strategy in an uncertain era: time for tough questions

This brief – the first in the new monthly series The Looking Glass – tackles the need to ask tough questions about what Australia wants, how it might seek to obtain it, and what choices will be necessary to realise its objectives.

The authors, Matthew Sussex and Michael Clarke, argue that Australia needs to more clearly identify its national interests, and honestly appraise its weaknesses and strengths. In order to develop a clear roadmap for Australian strategy in an uncertain era, they then propose an Australian Strategy and Security Review, similar to other best-practice processes recently undertaken by our democratic friends and partners. They believe this will complement recent SSN acquisition decisions under the auspices of AUKUS, as well as the opportunities for technology sharing that closer cooperation between like-minded nations.

The brief begins with a logical starting point: asking tough questions about what Australian strategy is, what it seeks to achieve, and how it intends to accomplish its objectives.

Authors