Oct 16, 2023 | Featured, Politics & Society
Words by Stephen Hoadley Photo by Craig Manners on Unsplash What does Hamas hope to achieve by attacking Israel? Stephen Hoadley looks at which actors stand to gain most, and lose most, from the conflict. Hamas’ invasion of Israel is likely to be viewed with anger by...
Dec 6, 2022 | Politics & Society
By Stephen Hoadley A winning China would regain what the Qing Dynasty enjoyed three centuries ago: a central geo-political leadership role among its periphery of tributary states. This essay is an exploratory thought-exercise in the form of a scenario addressing the...
Dec 16, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Paul Mozur, Muyi Xiao, Gary Beltran & Jeff Kao Chinese propaganda officials have tried to shape the global discussion of the tennis player Peng Shuai’s accusations and disappearance, but their top-down strategy has largely stumbled. When inconvenient news...
Dec 2, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Sebastian Rotella Students and scholars from China who criticise the regime in Beijing can face quick retaliation from fellow students and Chinese officials who harass their families back home. U.S. universities rarely intervene. On the bucolic campus of Purdue...
Nov 22, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Stephen Hoadley Will China be Number One, that is, the most powerful and influential state on earth, soon? This Big Question has already been answered in the affirmative by some commentators…but not all. By some economic measures China is already Number One....
Oct 21, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Alexander Gillespie The political temperature is rising in the South China Sea, and its effects will be felt in the South Pacific before long. Recent incursions by the Chinese air force into Taiwan’s air defence zone have ratcheted up already tense relations, with...
Sep 28, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Robert Patman If good strategy is about effectively relating means to ends, the recently announced trilateral security partnership Aukus – Australia, the UK, and the US – seems unlikely to fulfil expectations. A joint statement by its three leaders, guided by their...
Aug 3, 2021 | Politics & Society, Science & Technology
By Alexander Gillespie Calling out China for cyberattacks is risky — but a lawless digital world is even riskier. Today’s multi-country condemnation of cyber-attacks by Chinese state-sponsored agencies was a sign of increasing frustration at recent behaviour. But it...
Aug 2, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Stephen Hoadley Stephen Hoadley cautions New Zealanders to take into account the security risks – and the economic opportunities – presented by the fragile inter-Korean armistice, and to be aware of the shifting power balances of the East Asian region....
Apr 27, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Steve Hoadley China and the US will not agree on many points of policy. But on one point they will tacitly agree: their ongoing strategic rivalry must be carefully managed to avoid war. The answer to this Big Q is yes, China-US relations are deteriorating. But...