The National Security Podcast

In this episode of National Security Podcast, Professor Michael Clarke talks with Chris Farnham about terrorism in China and his latest edited book Terrorism and Counter Terrorism in China: Domestic and foreign policy dimensions. Is the security landscape in China’s western region dominated by jihadism, Uyghur independence movements, or state terrorism? What is the 'minority question' the Chinese Communist Party asks, and is there an actual organised terror movement in China’s west or is the violence a response to government repression? Michael Clarke is an expert on the history and politics of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China, Chinese foreign policy in Central Asia, Central Asian geopolitics, and nuclear proliferation and non-proliferation.  Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 and is currently Senior Outreach and Policy Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in

With the arrests of Australian and Canadian citizens in China, Rory Medcalf discusses the implications of arbitrary arrests not only for intergovernmental relations but also for greater society. Katherine Mansted – our new co-host of the National Security Podcast – then shares with us her insights into the unsealing of the indictments against Huawei, as well as what this actually means for the US and its partners. Professor Rory Medcalf is the head of the National Security College at The Australian National University. His professional background involves more than two decades of experience across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks and journalism. Katherine Mansted joined the National Security College as a Senior Researcher in 2018. Katherine’s professional background includes work in both law and government. She has been a commercial solicitor with King & Wood Mallesons, a ministerial adviser to the federal government, and served as an Associate in the High Court of Australia. Chris Farnham is

Nick Rasmussen is the former Director of the US National Counterterrorism Centre. In a wide-ranging discussion with host Chris Farnham, he brings his experience and expertise to bear on ISIS and Al Qaeda, growing concerns around home-grown terrorism, and the new technological challenges facing the US counter-terrorism industry. Topics discussed also include the impact of America’s gun laws on counter-terrorism efforts, the country’s lack of constructive political dialogue, and the relationship between the Trump administration and the intelligence community. Nicholas Rasmussen is a national security expert with over 27 years in US government service. He is Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, former Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and current Senior Director of the McCain Institute’s Counterterrorism Program. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Polic

Did the APEC forum just cease to be an economic summit? On this episode of the National Security Podcast, Chris Farnham chats with Professor Rory Medcalf about the quality of Chinese diplomacy, America’s decision to join Australia and PNG in building a naval base on Manus Island, and whether the world is currently in a pre-war era. Professor Rory Medcalf is the head of the National Security College at The Australian National University. His professional background involves more than two decades of experience across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks and journalism. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in Australia and Southeast Asia. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to pod

Hosted by the ANU National Security College, the Women in National Security Conference is a forum on the participation of women in Australia’s future national security policy and practice – and the National Security Podcast is here to bring you the highlights. Accessible only by a seasonal four-wheel drive track in Far North Queensland, Wujal Wujal is one of the smallest Aboriginal Shire Councils in Australia. The 51st Battalion of the Far North Queensland Regiment is a long-range reconnaissance unit based in Cairns, who have been responsible for leading the Army’s surveillance forces for maritime border security. With Wujal Wujal underfunded and struggling to provide services to its population of 682 people, and with the 51st Battalion in need of a local workforce to fulfil its border security objectives, the two groups formed an unexpected but willing partnership. On this final podcast of the series hosted by Gabrielle Kneipp, Jacinta Carroll and Jay Caldwell hear from Eileen Deemal-Hall – the CEO of the Wu

Hosted by the ANU National Security College, the Women in National Security Conference is a forum on the participation of women in Australia’s future national security policy and practice – and the National Security Podcast is here to bring you the highlights. On this fifth episode of the series, Chris Farnham hears from Nicole Renvert about Germany’s ties to the Indo-Pacific, catches up with participants on the final day of the conference, and chats to Huong Le Thu about how Southeast Asia views the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. This episode is hosted by Gabrielle Kneipp. Wait! You thought this was the end, but we’re not quite done. One of the real highlights of the conference was 'Security through community: Wujal Wujal security songlines'. The panel featured Eileen Deemal-Hall and Tim Rutherford, and showcased an Indigenous community initiative to build human security by partnering with the local Army unit in Far North Queensland. We were so blown away by it that we got them into the studio to tell Jaci

Hosted by the ANU National Security College, the Women in National Security Conference is a forum on the participation of women in Australia’s future national security policy and practice – and the National Security Podcast is here to bring you the highlights. On this fourth episode of the series, Chris Farnham hears from Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Linda Reynolds about her career in the national security community, chats to Lydia Khalil about the fall of ISIS and the future of the Caliphate, and catches up with some participants of the conference including Professor Rory Medcalf and ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt. Then, as the feature interview for this podcast, Katherine Mansted from the National Security College chats to Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, President of Women in International Security (WIIS). Topics discussed include the changing nature of global conflict; the impact of women on peace negotiations; and why the world is making slow progress on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Hosted by the ANU National Security College, the Women in National Security Conference is a forum on the participation of women in Australia’s future national security policy and practice – and the National Security Podcast is here to bring you the highlights. This jam-packed third episode is hosted by Gabrielle Kneipp and was recorded on the first day of the conference. First up, Chris Farnham hears from Matilda House, who opened the event with a Welcome to Country, before catching up with some of the conference attendees for some on-the-ground insights. Last but not least, the National Security College’s Jennifer Hunt chats with Madelyn Creedon about her long career in nuclear politics and the recent US decision to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Listen here: Matilda House is Chair of the Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council. She was instrumental in establishing the ANU Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre in association with the Indigenous students on campus in 1989. Madelyn

Hosted by the ANU National Security College, the Women in National Security Conference is a forum on the participation of women in Australia’s future national security policy and practice. From data to deterrence, new technologies to counter-terrorism, Indo-Pacific strategy to the future of power, this sold-out conference features a range of expert speakers to challenge yesterday’s assumptions – and the National Security Podcast is here to bring you the highlights. This second episode is hosted by Gabrielle Kneipp and comes in two parts. First, Chris Farnham hears from conference convenor Jacinta Carroll about diversity in Australia’s national security community. Next, Jacinta Carroll talks to Nava Nuraniyah about the gender and social aspects of extremism in Southeast Asia. Jacinta Carroll is the Director of National Security Policy at the ANU National Security College, and convenor of the Women in National Security Conference. Previously, Jacinta was the inaugural Head of the Counter-Terrorism Policy Centre

Hosted by the ANU National Security College, the Women in National Security Conference is a forum on the participation of women in Australia’s future national security policy and practice. From data to deterrence, new technologies to counter-terrorism, Indo-Pacific strategy to the future of power, this sold-out conference will feature a range of expert speakers to challenge yesterday’s assumptions – and the National Security Podcast will be there to bring you the highlights. In this first episode, host Chris Farnham hears from Amy Roberts and Catherine Bridges about how Australia can secure its next generation of cyber experts. Amy Roberts is an Assistant Director with the Australian Signals Directorate. She manages the Government’s Cyber Security Challenge Australia, the largest national tertiary ‘hacking’ competition, in partnership with the corporate sector and academia, to identify the next generation of cyber talent. Catherine Bridges is Cyber Advisor at the ANU National Security College, on secondment f

Why is President Trump espousing his love for dictators? How will new technologies and citizen investigations change the way intelligence collection is carried out? Are conspiracy theories a bit of fun or are they a serious challenge for trust in government? Does James Clapper watch spy movies? On this episode of the National Security Podcast Chris Farnham has a wide ranging discussion with the former US Director of National Intelligence and visiting Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor, hosted by the ANU National Security College. James Clapper was the US Director of National Intelligence from 2010 to January 2017. In this position, he led the United States Intelligence Community and served as the principal intelligence advisor to President Barak Obama. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years

As the Indian Ocean Region becomes enmeshed in the greater Indo-Pacific architecture, how is India adjusting the way it interacts with regional actors? How is India responding to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and how has talk of receding US power impacted Indian strategic thinking? Chris Farnham talks to Darshana Baruah from Carnegie India to discuss how India sees the changing Indo-Pacific region. Darshana Baruah is an associate director with Carnegie India. Her primary research focuses on maritime security in Asia with a focus on the Indian Navy and its role in a new security architecture. She was a 2016 national parliamentary fellow, Australia, where she was associated in the office of the Hon. Ms. Teresa Gambaro MP, chair, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and

Why are Japan and Britain conducting Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea? What would an enduring peace in those contested waters look like? How is Trump affecting the US-China alliance? From navigating vessels through crowded sea-lanes to understanding the naval dimensions of the rules-based order, this week’s National Security Pod is all about maritime security. First, host Chris Farnham chats to Commodore Michele Miller from the Royal Australian Navy about the legal and operational issues surrounding maritime security in the South China Sea. Then, we hear from Euan Graham from the Lowy Institute about the recent Kakadu exercise in Australia’s Northern Territory and how the changing balance of power between China and the US is upsetting the regional order. Michele Miller has served in the Royal Australian Navy for over 30 years as a maritime warfare officer, and amongst an array of roles, has been a maritime exercise planner and commanded two ships. In 2018 she has been on secondment with

It’s been two years since the Russian government’s alleged interference in the US presidential election. Since then, it’s not just the US who has had to grapple with this new form of statecraft – countries in Europe have also taken steps to secure their democratic processes against fake news and cyber-attacks. On this Natsec Pod, Chris Farnham chats to Tim Maurer about the brave new battleground of cyber interference, the blurred lines between state and non-state actors in cyberspace, and how far the US has gone in protecting the integrity of the 2018 mid-term elections. Listen here: Tim Maurer is the co-director of the Cyber Policy Initiative and a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He recently co-authored a paper, “Russian Election Interference: Europe’s Counter to Fake News and Cyber Attacks”. He was visiting Australia undertaking a Special Visits Program through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Macquarie University. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Secur

In this National Security Podcast, Anooshe Mushtaq talks to Chris Farnham about how social exclusion led her down the path of radicalisation, and what policymakers can do to help others avoid the same fate. Out of all the Muslims in Australia, only a very small number become radicalised. What sets those individuals apart from the rest of Australia’s Islamic community, and puts them on a path toward extremism and potential violence? In this fortnight’s National Security Podcast, Chris Farnham talks to the founder and Director of Raqib Taskforce about her experiences and path towards radicalisation. Anooshe Mushtaq is a consultant, a social commentator, and the founder and chairperson of Raqib Taskforce – a Muslim-led organisation that builds social inclusion through engagement across the Australian community, dispelling extremist messages in the public domain. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His

State-on-State cyber-attacks occur with semi-regularity, while the world suffers from cybercrime on a daily basis. But what about cyberterrorism? How do terror groups use the internet to cause harm? And where is the line between cyber-sabotage and cyberwarfare? Dr Adam Henschke discusses these issues and related ethical concerns with Chris Farnham in this fortnight’s National Security Podcast. Dr Adam Henschke is a Senior Lecturer and Graduate Convenor at the ANU National Security College and a research fellow with Delft University of Technology (Netherlands). Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in Australia and Southeast Asia. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum

The world has become accustomed to the disruptive presidency of Donald Trump, but few could have imagined the extraordinary press conference between Trump and Putin this week in Finland. Standing next to the Russian President, Trump cast doubt on his own intelligence community in favour of the word of a former KGB officer that Russia did not covertly swing the 2016 election in his favour. In this special National Security Pod Extra, Chris Farnham hears from Russian foreign policy expert Matt Sussex about what might really be behind Trump’s apparent bromance with Putin. Associate Professor Matthew Sussex is the Academic Director at the National Security College. His main research specialisation is on Russian foreign and security policy. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in

Propaganda has been with us since time immemorial, but the rise of digital media has changed the dynamic. Today, propaganda has evolved into something new and more threatening, attacking new targets and with new aims. Chris Zappone talks to Chris Farnham about how political and social narratives have been weaponised and designed to undermine and divide democratic societies. Chris Zappone is a foreign editor at The Age where he covers the intersection of politics, propaganda and social media. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in Australia and Southeast Asia. Show notes: The following podcasts are discussed: National Security Podcast: Terrorism 2.0 | Simplecast We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for futu

Bruce Hoffman and Sidney Jones, two of the world’s foremost terrorism experts, discuss the shifting strategies and tactics of jihadi groups in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As ISIS is put on the run in the Middle East, what can be expected from al-Qaeda? Is it a spent force or are its fighters preparing to rise again? What of Southeast Asia in the wake of the Marawi siege – will we see more large-scale insurgency attacks? And why is the Indonesian military now a counter-terror force? In this National Security Podcast, Chris Farnham puts these vexed and alarming questions to Professor Bruce Hoffman and Dr Sidney Jones. Listen here: Professor Bruce Hoffman the Director of the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University’s Edmund A.Walsh School of Foreign Service, in Washington. He also lectures at St Andrew’s University and has previously held the Corporate Chair in Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency at the RAND Corporation. Professor Hoffman was appointed by the U.S. Congress in 2013 to serve

This week on the National Security Podcast, Chris Farnham talks to Zack Cooper about Trump’s diplomacy, from the recent G7 Summit to US grand strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Could trade disagreements with allies lead to fractures in America’s security partnerships? How does Trump square US strategic goals in Asia with his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership? And what advice for Australian policymakers seeking to get the most out of the US alliance? Zack Cooper is a Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He focuses on US defence strategy in Asia, US alliances and partnerships in Asia, US-China strategic competition, and Chinese economic statecraft and coercion. Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 as Policy and Events Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in Australia and Southeast Asia. We’d love to hear your