Global Politics

India has been described as a country of potential, but hiding behind that hopeful term are a few powerful statistics. By 2022 it is projected to surpass China to become the most populated country in the world, and currently around 50% of India's people are below the age of 24. Professor Craig Jeffrey (Director, Australia India Institute) speaks to Matt Smith about the challenges presented with youth in India, and whether it's a demographic dividend or a disaster.

In 2005 China was home to 16 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, but today it is the world’s leading producer of renewable energy sources. It has the largest capacity solar, wind and hydro plants in the world, accounting for one-third of installed wind power, and one-fifth of installed solar. It is now poised to step into a leadership role in global climate politics, and is well placed to be the dominant player in the post-carbon international economy. Dr. Benjamin Habib is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at La Trobe University.

It's no exaggeration that the election of Donald Trump was a shock to the system, and this was no more so than in the Asian region. During his election campaign Trump was abrasive and antagonistic towards many Asian countries, in particular China. Dr Ashley Townshend (Research Fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia) about Trump's 'America First' approach and what it means for Asia.

Many countries have a problem when it comes to gender equality, but in Japan it's quite pronounced. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants to put more women to work to help make up for the country's shrinking population, but there is little evidence of serious progress in what has been dubbed ‘womenomics'. Of particular note, Japan has the lowest percentage of women’s political representation in the industrialised world. Dr Emma Dalton (Japanese Lecturer in Global and Language Studies in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT) speaks to Matt Smith about why the glass ceiling is so hard to crack in Japan.

The opening years of the 21st century seemed to herald the start of a new era. On the back of China's remarkable economic revitalisation, India's reforms, as well as the ongoing growth in South Korea, Taiwan, and ASEAN economies, many argued that the new century belonged to Asia. Is that still the case, or has the gloss come off the Asian century? Andrew Leigh (Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Federal Member for Fenner, Australia) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of Nick Bisley) about whether the concept still applies and what Asia's development will mean for Australia.

In 2014 the UN's commission of inquiry into human rights in North Korea published a report detailing human rights abuses committed by the country's leadership against its own people. They compared the scale of the abuse to the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Dr Danielle Chubb, (lecturer in International Relations at Deakin University) talks to Matt Smith about the response to the report and human rights issues in North Korea.

A sound foreign policy is crucial to the success and safety of any country, and governments are grappling with different ideals and agendas to maintain relationships in the current changing global environment. Allan Gyngell (Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University, director of the Crawford Australia Leadership Forum) joins Matt Smith to discuss Australia's Foreign Policy and reflect on its interactions with Asia.

A sound foreign policy is crucial to the success and safety of any country, and governments are grappling with different ideals and agendas to maintain relationships in the current changing global environment. Allan Gyngell (Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University, director of the Crawford Australia Leadership Forum) joins Matt Smith to discuss Australia's Foreign Policy and reflect on its interactions with Asia.

State intervention in natural resource management is often inflexible, but projects in the Kangra District of India have found better success by involving the local communities. Dr Harry Fischer (Associate Lecturer in the Department of Social Inquiry at La Trobe University and a New Generation Network Fellow at the Australian India Institute) speaks about natural resource management in Himachal Pradesh, particularly the water canal 'kuhl' system.

Thailand has reached a period of political change. The recent death of the long-serving monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and the crowning of his son Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn have rocked a country still seeing fallout of a 2014 military coup. Dr Greg Raymond (Research Fellow at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University) talks to Matt Smith about the way forward for Thailand.