In 2018, it’s more appropriate to see al-Qaeda as not only a terrorist group, albeit one that’s less engaged in mass-casualty attacks but as the progenitor and promoter of a distinct theological–historical–political ideology.
This special report aims to explain the persistent and enduring allure of al-Qaedaism as an ideology that is apocalyptic and conspiratorial.
By understanding al-Qaedaism, we could better counter the violence that it perpetrates, inspires and advocates and recognize that we’re engaging in a cosmic, generational conflict, led by individuals who corrupt the key tenets of Islam.
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This is the second year that ASPI has run a series on The Strategist to coincide with International Women’s Day examining Australia’s approach to women, peace and security (WPS). This Strategic Insights paper compiles the articles in that series across four themes: Defence’s approach to WPS, the role of parliament and civil society, lessons from abroad, and evolving approaches to WPS. Drawing on the analyses of contributors from a variety of backgrounds including government, politics, defence, academia, and civil society, the series demonstrates that issues related to women’s participation and leadership, and the inclusion of different gender perspectives, are integral to Australia’s national security.
As ASPI’s Lisa Sharland and Jacqueline Westermann write in the introduction to the paper, WPS is ‘an important topic that’s frequently overlooked at the expense of what are often deemed ‘more pressing’ security issues by the media and security commentators’. With the Australian Government tasked to draw up a new National Action Plan on WPS in 2019, the paper provides important reflections on the progress that has been made, the remaining gaps and how Australia’s implementation on WPS could be strengthened.
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The security situation in Northeast Asia has dominated much of international reporting over the last 1.5 years, culminating in the recent historic inter-Korean summit as well as a potential Kim-Trump meeting.
This Strategic Insights paper offers an analysis of what remains an often overlooked and underestimated connection: Russia’s interests on and around the Korean Peninsula. ASPI Researcher, Jacqueline Westermann, argues that it would be fatal to underestimate the Kremlin’s interests in the region, as ‘Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a stakeholder in the region, a partner to Pyongyang and a party to the previous Six-Party Talks’.
While it isn’t a top priority for the Kremlin, Russian involvement could play a handy part in Putin’s greater strategy to expand Russia’s engagement in the world. To illustrate Moscow’s specific motivations for being involved, the analysis is based on statements given by Russian government officials during 2017, as well as insights from Russian North Korea experts.
The paper portrays the geopolitical, strategic, economic and national policy interests that are driving the Russian government’s attentiveness towards the peninsula and Northeast Asia, and provides an outlook on potential Russian involvement, as well as options for the international community on what to expect from that.
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The Counter Terrorism Yearbook is ASPI’s annual flagship publication curated by the Counter Terrorism Policy Centre, now in its second year of publication.
It is a comprehensive resource for academics and policymakers to build on their knowledge of counterterrorism developments in countries and regions around world.
Each chapter in the Yearbook is written by internationally renowned subject matter and regional experts, who provide their insight and commentary on counterterrorism policy, legislation, operations and strategy for a specific country/region, concerning the year in review, and looking at challenges for the year ahead.
Europe and Australia are connected in many ways. As liberal democratic societies, they share a common normative foundation of values that set the parameters for what the state may or may not do.
Based on that background, in September 2017 a delegation from Australia composed of practitioners, policymakers and academics travelled to Germany and Belgium to participate in the 3rd Australian Strategic Policy Institute – Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Australia–Europe Counterterrorism Dialogue, entitled Transforming the New Threat Landscape.
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This Strategic Insight aims to expand on Paul Dibb and Richard Brabin-Smith’s powerful, provocative paper, Australia’s management of strategic risk in the new era. Dibb and Brabin-Smith, two of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers, examined China’s growing assertiveness in our region. Here, I look beyond our region and beyond China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative (BRI) to highlight how China is expanding its influence in Africa and the Middle East. I examine some selected cases, such as Zimbabwe, Israel, Turkey and Iran. I also try to situate the BRI in President Xi Jinping’s grand strategy.
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In this compendium examining the France–Australia relationship, we have brought together experts from each country to explore our shared histories and plot a course for where we might take the relationship in the future. Each section examines a different aspect of the relationship—historical, international security, defence and the South Pacific—from a French and an Australian perspective. The experts brought together in this volume cover a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience as officials, academics and practitioners.
What emerges is a rich and complex picture of two vibrant and activist countries, grappling with complex problems, but each determined to contribute to making the world safer and more just. At a time when the international order appears under threat, the willingness of our two countries to continue to commit to the global rule of law and strengthening the liberal order and respect for human rights is both heartening and vital.
It’s also clear, however, that maximising the benefits of the bilateral relationship requires a strategic plan and practical commitment to getting things done. This compendium is a contribution to enhancing the relationship so that it can truly be more than the sum of its parts and we can navigate confidently through the decades to come.
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Diasporas are global social formations of people who have been scattered from their country of origin. They carry with them a collective representation, myth or imagined sense of their homeland. The connection between the diaspora and its members’ original ‘home’ was, until the rise of social media, sustained by letters, tapes and print media.
E-diasporas originally emerged as online manifestations of diaspora communities. Although social media are just some of many technologies used by people to communicate, their rise has intensified the articulation and elaboration of diasporic identities several-fold.
With social media, e-diasporas recreate and expand a diaspora’s sense of shared identity and community by providing a virtual venue for affirmation and recognition.
Today, e-diasporas are combinations of self-interest and identity groups that share experiences through online media. The members share their country of origin and, at times—depending on the size of the community—their host country.
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The Cyber Maturity in the Asia–Pacific Region report is the flagship annual publication of the ASPI International Cyber Policy Centre.
This report assesses the national approach of Asia–Pacific countries to the challenges and opportunities of cyberspace, taking a holistic approach that assesses governance and legislation, law enforcement, military capacity and policy involvement, and business and social engagement in cyber policy and security issues.
The 2017 report is the fourth annual cyber maturity report. It covers 25 countries and includes assessment of Taiwan and Vanuatu for the first time.
The United States continues its leadership of the country rankings and although the transition to the Trump administration caused a pause while cyber policy was reviewed, the US military is recognising the importance of cyber capability and elevating US Cyber Command to a unified combatant command to give it increased independence and broader authorities.
Australia has moved up in our rankings from fourth to equal second on the back of continued investment in governance reform and implementation of the 2016 Cyber Security Strategy. Australia’s first International Cyber Engagement Strategy was released and the 2017 Independent Intelligence review made a number of recommendations that strengthen Australia’s cyber security posture – this includes broadening the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) mandate as a national cyber security authority and clarifying ministerial responsibility for cyber security and the ACSC,.
Japan (equal second with Australia), Singapore, and South Korea round out a very close top five countries. All countries in this leading group have improved their overall cyber maturity although very tight margins have seen some change in rankings: Australian and Japan moving up to equal second and Singapore and South Korea dropping to fourth and fifth.
Taiwan and Vanuatu both made strong initial entries into the Cyber Maturity Report. Taiwan ranked ninth, just behind China, hampered by difficulties with international engagement, while Vanuatu came seventeenth, best of the Pacific islands.
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Terrorism and violent extremism remain significant threats to international peace and security. Although few countries have been immune, Africa has been particularly susceptible. Weak institutions, porous borders, inadequately trained or ill-equipped security forces, historical grievances and a lack of economic opportunities have created conditions for extremist ideologies to grow and persist in parts of the continent.
“The global effort to prevent violent extremism can’t succeed without the private sector. This report explains why, and how to incorporate this essential partner.”
Dr Khalid Koser MBE Executive Direct Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF)
To date, most counterterrorism efforts have been security and intelligence led, with an emphasis on military and kinetic strategies to ‘defeat’ terrorism. Over the past decade in particular, global efforts have also focused on strategies for preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), particularly on the role of international institutions, governments, regional organisations and communities. While several international frameworks for counterterrorism, for example the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, have recognised the important role of the private sector in prevention measures, there’s been little research and analysis exploring the specificity and mechanisms of private sector involvement. This report by ASPI, in cooperation with Hedayah, uses a case study of the mining sector in Africa to examine how the private sector does and can engage in P/CVE efforts.
This report explores the correlation between the drivers of violent extremism and the different activities undertaken throughout a mining project’s life cycle in order to identify potential risks and opportunities. It examines the role of the mining sector in actions to address violent extremism, identifying preliminary lessons and best practices from the research. Finally, it provides recommendations for mining companies, the industry, governments and communities on approaches to engage mining companies in P/CVE efforts.
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