This paper addresses Australia's 'Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme' (PSWPS)—since replaced by the 'Seasonal Worker Scheme'—a program intended to provide seasonal employment in the horticultural sector for workers from Pacific island countries. One of those countries is Tonga, which was one of…

This issue of Indo‑Pacific Strategic Digest is a collection of the best student essays of 2015 from the senior professional development and education program of the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Australian Defence College. The papers were…

This paper explores Prime Minister Abe's new international agenda, examining how it is changing Japan's strategic posture within the Japan-US alliance, and assessing its implications for regional security. The paper looks at Abe the individual, his political ideas and how his vision for Japan is…

This is a story of grassroots leadership and Nick Jans' personal experience in a process in which a group of ordinary citizens, with no formal authority whatsoever and operating within a stunned, fractured and dispersed community, achieved some remarkable things in the months that followed the '…

The paper addresses the complex and usually volatile issue of separatist movements in nation‐states, examining the options other than war or independence. It explores the origin and function of the nation‐state as it operates in the current international system. It then discusses the range of…

The objective of this paper by Brigadier Nicholas Jans is to review the scholarly literature to ascertain how leadership can play its part in strengthening support for inclusion in military organisations. The review reaches four related conclusions. Firstly, support for inclusion is simply one of…

What do chaplains do? What is their role and their effectiveness? When asked about chaplaincy, many Defence leaders reply something like, 'I don't know what they do, but whatever they do seems to work'. For some people outside Defence, and maybe even inside, 'the clerical collar suggests an…

This paper analyses Russia's security influence in Northeast Asia. It notes that while Russia's security influence in the region declined considerably in the post‐Cold War era, its membership of the UN Security Council still provides it with considerable influence and opportunity to frustrate the…

This paper examines the relationship between South Korea and Japan. It asserts that while there should be strong grounds for a close bilateral relationship, there are underlying tensions as a result of historical legacies, their longstanding territorial dispute, and continuing uncertainties posed…

This paper analyses some of the key political and strategic dynamics of Bougainville's promised referendum, due to be held between 2015 and 2020. It identifies a number of significant risks, primarily located in the period before and after the vote. These are connected to likely frustrations should…

As early as 1923, it was suggested that journalism held the key to popular support for service personnel in war and in peace. Today, this is still true, with often a torrent of information—almost akin to what has been called the 'super‐saturation' of information, images and issues—about defence…

This paper examines whether and to what extent the UK's armed forces should again be prepared to operate east of Suez. The Wilson's Government's 1967 declaration of withdrawal from Singapore and Malaysia arguably signalled the end of Britain's role in the Far East and prompted claims of abandonment…

This paper addresses the proposed referendum in relation to the future of Bougainville, which was agreed—as part of the 2001 Bougainville peace agreement—would be held between 2015 and 2020. It uses the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's 'Security System Reform framework' to…

This paper analyses the relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). It contends that the PRC's national focus on economic growth has translated into a deliberate, 'geopolitical stability' strategy to maintain the status quo of a…

This paper by Group Captain Stephen Meredith examines the challenges likely to be faced by a reunified Korean peninsula. It does not speculate on how such reunification might eventuate, other than noting that the commonly‐discussed scenarios range from military conflict through to peaceful…

This paper examines the impact of climate change on Australia, and whether there are lessons and opportunities for cooperation from China's experience. It contends that Australia is seemingly out of alignment with the international community in addressing climate change, not least because Australia…

This 2013 paper by Colonel Mick Lehmann analyses the potential for major conflict in the South China Sea (SCS) between the US and China in the coming decade, particularly given its description as 'a major flashpoint for potential conflict'. It examines the importance of the SCS, particularly to the…

This paper by Rebecca Shrimpton examines the limitations of 'realism' as a theoretical framework for understanding China, using John Mearsheimer's approach as a case study. It disputes his hypothesis that China cannot rise peacefully; that intense security competition with the US will emerge; and…

The central thesis of this paper by Superintendent Jason Byrnes is that the US‐led intervention in Afghanistan, a major part of the so‐called 'War on Terror' that has dominated international relations since 2001, has failed to deliver greater stability to Afghanistan and its immediate region.…

This paper by Group Captain Philip Tammen examines ASEAN's regional approach to energy security, which is based on an active agenda of regional collaboration, seeking to minimise the duplication of infrastructure while promoting economic development. The paper considers conventional energy sources…

This paper examines the accelerating security ties between Australia and Japan, particularly over the past decade. It contends that for Australia, the impetus to strengthen security ties with Japan is largely driven by concern to shape an acceptable rules-based order. It argues that changes to…

This paper by Brigadier Tony Rawlins examines the wisdom of Australia's contemporary mindset, that middle‐ power Australia can moderate and influence the US and China to national advantage, against Thucydides' classic realist backdrop that the strong do as they can while the weak adjust accordingly…

Since the 1970s, the Australian Defence Force has taken an increasingly joint approach to the planning and conduct of operations, the management of the current force and the design of the future force. This paper reviews that joint approach, identifying underlying key joint principles. It…

For much of the past 100 years, interest in the Antarctic has been limited mainly to environmental groups, explorers and scientists. More recently, however, it has received increased attention as nations seek solutions to the challenges of climate change, energy, water and food security.…

This paper analyses the politics and policy of the defence relationship between Australia and the UK in the context of Britain's recent decision to leave the EU. It focuses on the political systems, interaction of political leaders, and narratives of Australia, the UK and nations of the Indo-…

This paper examines the possible implications for Australia of the fragile Japan-China relationship, arguing that Australia has significant interests at stake in both countries and that these may be harmed by deteriorating ties between them. It specifically addresses the issue of the foreign policy…

This paper analyses interests, policies and actions of Australia and China with respect to the South Pacific island nations, in particular those members of the Pacific Islands Forum. The paper cautions that China's influence in the South Pacific should not be over-stated. However, it also suggests…

The 2021 Profession of Arms Seminar on the subject of Australian civil-military relations was intended to revive interest in a neglected but important field of study. For four decades, the field of Australian civil-military relations has been an outlier in defence scholarship, a situation, which…

This paper examines the role of defence diplomacy in providing 'ballast' to the relationship between Australia and Indonesia. It contends that Australia has implemented many policies over the past three decades that have had limited success in helping to avoid serious ructions in Australia's…

Joint Studies Paper Series No. 3, edited by Dr Aaron P. Jackson, comprises eight diverse papers by Australian and international authors that examine the practice and theory of design thinking in a military context and its potential application to the Australian Defence Force. Together they provide…