Living with Giants and fighting Lilliputians: Australia and irregular warfare in the Indo-Pacific Century

The late Coral Bell’s 2005 APSI paper ‘Living with Giants, Finding Australia’s place’ in a more complex world was prescient. The recently published 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan are contemporary policy responses to the geo-strategic circumstances foreseen by Bell 15 years ago. They address the risks to Australian security and national interests from changing power relativities and great power competition in the Indo-Pacific. Yet history teaches that effective deterrence doesn’t prevent competition and conflict – it changes the manifestation of them. The Cold War was never cold. Paradoxically, as Australia effectively deters the threat of conventional attack from other nation states, the risk of irregular warfare increases. This is concerning given Australia’s relative lack of success in irregular warfare over the last seventy years.

This seminar will address the issue of irregular warfare in Australia’s immediate region during the Indo-Pacific century and the opportunities available to the ADF to ensure its approach is a winning one.

Please note, due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance will be extremely limited and you will be required to register via the Eventbrite page. Restrictions are subject to change in accordance with Government directions.