Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, May 23rd, 2018 - 7 comments
On Thursday 31 May at the University of Auckland, the Fabians are hosting Max Harris on the topic “Is it time for an independent foreign policy?” What would be the costs of a really independent foreign policy, over the benefits of salving our conscience with greater national independence? And where does Trade fit in?
Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, May 17th, 2018 - 17 comments
Donald Trump has had a few months of being lucky with some luck Foreign Affairs wins and good economic news. But his wreckage-trail of his consequences is becoming longer and clearer.
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, May 12th, 2018 - 11 comments
In spite of all the sharp intakes of breathe going on across media outlets, there will be no war between Iran and Israel. Here’s why.
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, May 9th, 2018 - 36 comments
Algorithms are a form of fascism – yet a fascism from data manipulation rather than from the state. Are they a threat to our democracy?
Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, May 8th, 2018 - 60 comments
2018 marks several anniversaries of Karl Marx whose significance for the critique of capitalist society is hard to diminish. But what now for his beliefs?
Written By: - Date published: 4:10 pm, April 11th, 2018 - 17 comments
It’s really easy to get cranky right now and believe the world is retreating into to a sad Cold War binary in which Russia and its allies are always in high tension with the United States and its allies. A new Cold War.
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, April 7th, 2018 - 14 comments
Does being incoherent work sometimes? With the President of North Korea visiting China for the first time, meeting with the South Korean President for the first time, and preparing to meet with the Japanese President and with the President of the United States, was Trump’s approach actually right for the circumstances?
Written By: - Date published: 2:14 pm, March 23rd, 2018 - 66 comments
Make no mistake: this is the single biggest anti-trade act the world has seen since the Iranian revolution’s nationalisation program from 1979.
Written By: - Date published: 10:24 am, March 20th, 2018 - 79 comments
The world has changed dramatically since Barak Obama was President of the United States.
Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, December 21st, 2017 - 24 comments
Matt Nippert has made further revelations about Jian Yang including that he lobbied on behalf of an unsuccessful applicant for a security sensitive job with the New Zealand Defence Force and that he disclosed to Auckland University but not to Immigration that he had worked for a PLA University.
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, December 12th, 2017 - 27 comments
Malcolm Turnbull is proposing law changes in Australia to try and minimise the effect that China is having on Australia’s democratic system. He may not be wrong in doing so.
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, November 24th, 2017 - 49 comments
With socialist governments in rapid decline right across the world, and just a very few social democrat governments re-emerging after many years out of power, it’s useful to remind ourselves of what governmental combinations are working well.
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, November 16th, 2017 - 41 comments
There are major similarities between Helen Clark’s decision to accept into New Zealand refugees from the Tampa boat and Jacinda Ardern’s pushing for New Zealand to accept refugees based on Manus Island.
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 pm, November 15th, 2017 - 338 comments
What’s with the academic panic epidemic about China? Two in our media in the same week, referencing each other with vague warnings about the Chinese bogey. It’s not quite Lionel Terry in Haining Street again; more likely in my view a case of singing to someones else’s geopolitical tune. No prizes for guessing whose.
Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, November 5th, 2017 - 68 comments
Just before the election news broke that National MP Jian Yang had previously taught in a Chinese University training spies. A recent OIA release of his immigration application raises further issues.
Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, October 17th, 2017 - 70 comments
Is it time for New Zealand to align itself with China rather than the United States?
Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, September 14th, 2017 - 283 comments
Tax is emerging as the big issue of this campaign. How valid are National’s claims that Labour will introduce a variety of new taxes and what has National’s record been like? Update: in a smart tactical move Labour has promised no new taxes will be introduced until after the next election.
Written By: - Date published: 2:04 pm, September 13th, 2017 - 168 comments
Newsroom and the Financial Times have reported that National MP Dr Jian Yang was educated at a Chinese University specialising on training spies and was investigated by the SIS for possible links to the Chinese Government.
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 23rd, 2017 - 63 comments
America used to be the most powerful nation in the world. But things are changing.
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, July 4th, 2017 - 9 comments
Ad asks is the world more secure than a year ago? Is the danger of serious economic crisis higher or lower? Are the institutional arrangements and norms that resolve conflicts and enhance the prospects for international cooperation more or less robust than they were in July 2016.
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 pm, June 5th, 2017 - 13 comments
Nicky Hager will talk about his book Hit and Run, and the issues it raises about New Zealand’s values and role in the world at 5:30pm on Wednesday 7th June at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington. The book is about important events and the incoherence of New Zealand fighting it’s longest ever war in Central Asia. This talk is particularly timely in view of this week’s visit of the American Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
Written By: - Date published: 1:06 pm, March 28th, 2017 - 39 comments
At a time when the United States is reducing its diplomatic capacity and its willingness to enter into International Treaties New Zealand’s willingness to deal with China places it in an almost unique position in the western world.
Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, February 18th, 2017 - 60 comments
With former adversaries USA and Russia now the best of friends and with China now emerging again as the preeminent economy in the world the question is will the transition of power be handled smoothly?
Written By: - Date published: 3:17 pm, January 18th, 2017 - 16 comments
…including some already in the construction phase.
Written By: - Date published: 1:17 pm, December 17th, 2016 - 96 comments
Donald Trump’s telephone call with the Taiwanese president has created a response which it seems clear he did not anticipate.
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, December 1st, 2016 - 10 comments
Barak Obama is leaving Donald Trump a number of international crises to face. What will the Donald do and will he make America great again?
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, October 12th, 2016 - 67 comments
National have slammed the door shut on the parents of already settled migrants who wish to move to NZ to complete the family unit. Minister Michael Woodhouse accuses elderly Asians of bludging off the NZ taxpayer. You won’t believe the howls of outrage from the right!
Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, August 20th, 2016 - 102 comments
The major powers are ramping up the stakes in Syria in a big way.
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, August 11th, 2016 - 69 comments
Eight years after the Global Financial Crisis the major western economies are stagnant. Is this the new norm?
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, August 3rd, 2016 - 50 comments
The Nats are in a difficult spot here, no doubt about it. The weak steel is a serious issue and it should be investigated. But their usual tactics of deny and lie have been caught out yet again.
Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, July 26th, 2016 - 56 comments
John Key has thrown Todd McClay under a bus and blamed him for dancing on the head of a pin and for no one telling Key that our second major trading nation wanted to dump sub standard steel on the local market.
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