Between the Lines

Is there a new nationalism sweeping Europe and if Britain votes to leave the EU will the combination of these two things mean we will see a divided Europe? The first Gulf War ended 25 years ago and much has happened in the region since then. Could these events have been foreseen?

Canadian conservative commentator Mark Steyn is touring Australia as a guest of the IPA. He joins us to discuss hockey sticks, the Supreme Court and Donald Trump.

Pick up almost any newspaper and the headlines will be suggesting that there is some sort of political crisis in Australia. But is that right or is it much ado about nothing? Also today why are young Americans flocking to the Trump and Sanders campaigns?

After months of campaigning and polls and debates the 2016 race to the White House has begun with the first major electoral event of the nominating process in Iowa. Today we discuss the somewhat unexpected results and what they mean from both the Democratic and Republican perspective

Today we ask a former Australian Ambassador for his take on the Syrian civil war. Why did it start and when and how will it end? Plus 50 years ago last week something extraordinary by today's standards happened, PM Robert Menzies retired. He wasn't pushed, he didn't lose an election he simply retired.

Today two remarkable Australians who you may not know well but who have had a remarkable influence on Australian life over the last half century or so. One was the press secretary and then speech writer for Labor leaders such as Arthur Calwell, and Gough Whitlam as well as a myriad of New South Wales State Labor leaders And the other has also ,made a very generous contribution to Australian life. He is the author of several books on Australian politics and history and for his day job he’s the NSW Solicitor General

Where should American eyes be in terms of strategic international importance – the Middle East or China? Could a rising China could cause more trouble than you think and if left unchecked could it in fact threaten to disturb the peace in our region! Plus is the energy we can harness from fracking the way forward in terms of climate change? Or is it that we should never underestimate our ability to adapt?

Today what is the state of democracy in Australia and around the world? What are it's limits and is it still the best form of government despite it's faults? Also what is driving Islamic extremism and how much of that is because of Islam itself?

This week we remember two statesmen that both sadly departed in March this year. Vale former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and also Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Is America’s international influence waning? For decades now the US has had the power to impose political order virtually anywhere in the world. Not so now though...a look at what that means for global security coming up in a moment.Plus, we’ve heard a lot about Peta Credlin, Tony Abbott’s former right-hand woman. But what precisely is the role of the chief of staff to the Prime Minister?