Hugh White will be in conversation with Allan Behm on his new Quarterly Essay Hard New World: Our Post-American Future. Are we ready for our post-American future? In an era of rising danger for all, and dramatic choices for Australia, Hugh White explores how the world is changing and Australia should respond.

Under Donald Trump, America’s retreat from global leadership has been swift and erratic. China, Russia and India are on the move. White explains the big strategic trends driving the war in Ukraine, and why America has “lost” Asia. He discusses Albanese Labor’s record and its future choices, and why complacency about the American alliance – including AUKUS – is no longer an option. This essential essay urges us to make our way in a hard new world with realism and confidence.

“The Canberra establishment is shocked by any suggestion that we should walk away from the ANZUS commitments. They think we can and must depend on America more than ever in today’s hard new world. But that misses the vital point. It is America that is walking away from the commitments it made in very different circumstances seventy-five years ago. That was plain enough under Joe Biden. It is crystal clear today under Trump.” Hugh White, Hard New World

Hugh White AO FASSA is Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. He was the principal author of Australia’s Defence White Paper 2000, the founding Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and from 2004 to 2011 he was Head of the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. He is the author of The China Choice and How to Defend Australia, and three previous Quarterly Essays, Power Shift, Without America and Sleepwalk to War.

Allan Behm, Senior Advisor International & Security Affairs Program at the Australia Institute, Canberra, specialises in international and security policy development, political and security risk evaluation, policy analysis and development, and negotiating the policy/politics interface. Following a career spanning nearly 30 years in the Australian Public Service, he was Chief of Staff to Minister for Climate Change and Industry Greg Combet (2009 to 2013) and senior advisor to the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong (2017–19).

The vote of thanks will be given by Professor Helen Sullivan, Dean College of Asia and the Pacific, ANU.

Books are available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.

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