Between The Lines - ABC RN

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Making sense of Australia’s place in the world, Between the Lines puts contemporary international issues and events into a broader historical context, seeking out original perspectives and challenging accepted wisdoms.

ABC Radio National


    • Jul 9, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 371 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Between The Lines - ABC RN

    Australia is ill-prepared for the new reality of climate disasters and the growing crisis in Sri Lanka

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2022 54:05


    Australia is ill prepared for the new reality of climate disasters and the crisis in Sri Lanka, some are calling for an emergency election and what is needed from the international community

    What Australians think about foreign policy. How effective are UN Peacekeepers. PNG elections.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 54:06


    What do people think about Australia's foreign policy. Results from the 2022 Lowy poll In troubled times do UN Peacekeepers make a difference? The challenges for Papua New Guinea as they head to a general election.

    Jan 6th attack testimony. Commonwealth heads meet in Rwanda. The view from the Pacific.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2022 54:06


    Olivier Knox discusses the mostly Republican witness testimony on the January 6th attack on the US Capitol building. Cindy McCreery looks at CHOGM — the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda and the organisation's purpose, place and priorities. Steve Ratuva explains why Australia, and other big powers, are guilty of overlooking and under estimating Pacific Island nation's agency, ability and autonomy.

    Ukraine's bid for EU membership. Too many regional strategic groups. The state of Florida vs Disney

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2022 54:05


    What it will take for Ukraine to be able to join the EU? Has Australia has signed up for too many strategic regional groups and dialogues and is it time to review and prioritise? What's at stake in battle between the State of Florida and the Disney corporation?    

    The PM's visit to Indonesia. Boris survives. Watergate and the Jan. 6th insurrection.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2022 54:03


    Greg Barton reviews Prime Minister Albanese's official visit to Indonesia. A blunt assessment of Boris Johnson's tenure as UK PM. Would things turn out differently for President Richard Nixon if Watergate occurred today?    

    Ukraine's MP Kira Rudik. Australia's covert action. The myth of primitive communism.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2022 54:06


    Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik urges for more support during her speaking tour of Western Europe and describes the situation in her war torn country. William Stoltz discusses his new paper ‘A regrettable necessity: The future of Australian covert action. Anthropologist Manvir Singh considers the prevalence of ownership and private property rights in hunter gather societies and explains why the idea of primitive communism is flawed.  

    U.S politics and fault lines. Diplomacy and grand Asia Pacific tours. Congestion and conflict in space.  

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 54:06


    Damien Cave, the New York Times bureau chief here in Australia considers the big fault lines that have led to deep and lasting divisions in US politics and society. Richard McGregor reviews the grand tours by the U.S President and the Chinese Foreign Minister through the Asia Pacific. It's crowded and anytime now a fight could break out but there's no sheriff in sight - which is why outer space is being compared to the wild west.

    Bin Laden's secret letters. Testing times for Lebanon.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2022 54:13


    Osama Bin Laden's declassified personal papers and correspondence have prompted a re-evaluation of the infamous terrorist and his reach, power and influence following the 9/11 attacks. From Beirut, Kim Ghattas reports on Lebanon's election results. Is there is any light at the end of the tunnel for this deeply troubled country?

    Marcos return to power. Afghanistan failed and now forgotten. Geopolitics and Eurovision.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2022 54:07


    Why and how did Ferdinand Jnr win so convincingly in this week's election in the Philippines? What's life like under the Taliban for the long suffering people of Afghanistan. How the geopolitical realities of Europe play out both on and off the stage at Eurovision.

    (Rpt) John Howard. Home Affairs - too big ? China, nationalism & WW2.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2022 54:08


    (Repeats) Former Prime Minister John Howard evaluates his time in office. Peter Edwards and Jacinta Carroll on the Dept. of Home Affairs and the legacy of the Hope Royal Commissions into intelligence. Oxford university historian Rana Mitter on how the new Chinese nationalism is being shaped by a re-interpretation of China's role in World War Two.

    Revolution and the U.S constitution. The Koala manifesto. How Hitler lost the war.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2022 54:06


    James Philips discusses the American constitution-its origins and influences. Deborah Tabart's passionate advocacy for the koala. Jonathan Dimbleby's WW2 history: Operation Barbarossa and how Hitler lost the war.

    Election 2022. Strongmen and autocrats. 804 days in an Iranian prison.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2022 54:09


    Journalists Chris Kenny and Jacqueline Maley assess the Federal election campaign. Gideon Rachman discusses the rise and popularity of the autocrats. Kylie Moore-Gilbert's memoir Uncaged sky: My 804 days in an Iranian gaol.

    North Korea. 21st century enlightenment. USSR: a short history

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2022 54:09


    Veteran correspondent Jean Lee explains why 'it never pays to forget North Korea'. Steven Schwartz remembers those brave souls who challenged and changed mainstream thought. Shelia Fitzpatrick's concise history of the Soviet Union: from Lenin to Gorbachev.

    Francis Fukuyama's liberalism and its discontents. Kevin Rudd's China, the US and an avoidable war.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2022 54:06


    Francis Fukuyama defends liberalism and assesses the situation in Ukraine. Former P.M Kevin Rudd offers a way forward in the fraught China–U.S relationship.

    Global consensus on Ukraine? China's foothold in the Solomons. Britain vs France and the colonisation of Australia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2022 54:07


    Ed Luce discusses Biden's 'gaffe' and the illusion of global consensus on Ukraine. Anne-Marie Brady explains why China's move in the South Pacific is concerning and provocative. Margret Cameron-Ash offers a new account of how and why Britain established a penal colony in Australia.

    Alexander Downer on Ukraine 2022. Max Hastings' Cuba 1962. A global economic outlook.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2022 53:57


    Former Minister for Foreign Affairs - Alexander Downer discusses international relations. Max Hastings contrasts the 1962 Cuban missile crisis with the current situation in Ukraine. Economists Su-Lin Ong and Joanne Masters offer their views on the Australian economy and the global economic outlook

    The West re-energised. Putin's war in Syria. Malcolm Fraser's foreign policy.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2022 54:06


    Is a rules based world order still possible? Putin's 2015 war in Syria and the legacy of his strategically successful intervention. Malcolm Fraser- a dominant figure in Australian political history. Geoff Raby assesses his foreign policy record.

    Backlash: Pacifist nations rearm

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2022 53:57


    The invasion of Ukraine has triggered a marked change in attitudes towards security in Europe and Asia with both Germany and Japan increasing their spending on defence. Anne Henderson's biography of Liberal senator Margaret Guilfoyle.

    It's all about Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2022 54:06


    Putin's domestic opposition. The view from South-East Asia. Prospects for net zero.

    John Bolton on Putin. Misogynist attacks on conservative women. Nixon's 1972 China visit.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2022 54:05


    John Bolton: the Ukraine, Russian and China. 'Only Richard Nixon could go to China in 1972' – Evelyn Goh explains how and why. Parnell McGuiness on the left's double standards.

    American power over extended. Albanese's political prospects. The bombing of Darwin. A tribute to P.J O'Rourke.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2022 54:06


    A challenge to the mindset that the U.S can be everywhere all the time. Does Albo have the right tools to do the job as PM ? Australia attacked 80 years ago. Satirist P.J O'Rourke remembered.

    Myanmar post-coup. Churchill reassessed. Cartoonist Bill Leak's Bio.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2022 54:06


    Myanmar: The state of the nation one year after the military coup. Winston Churchill's legacy critically reappraised. Cartoonist Bill Leak remembered.  

    Scott Morrison's foreign policy. China in the Pacific. How the pandemic changed us.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2022 54:05


    Paul Kelly's new book Morrison's Mission, China's growing influence in the South Pacific and the pandemic's social and cultural legacy.

    The Russia-Ukraine crisis, an unflattering portrait of Boris Johnson and the 2022 federal election

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2022 54:07


    Tensions increase between the US and Russia over Ukraine, will 'Party-gate' bring down Boris Johnson? And reading the federal election tea leaves

    Niall Ferguson on the 'politics of catastrophe'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 29:07


    What can past pandemics, earthquakes, famines or wars teach us about how to prepare for the next one?

    Sheila Fitzpatrick on the Cold War migrants of Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 29:07


    Who were the Russian migrants who made it to Australia during the Cold War?

    Josh Frydenberg on Andrew Peacock; and Chris Bowen on political 'charlatans'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 29:06


    After the recent passing of Andrew Peacock, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg describes his legacy; and former treasurer, Chris Bowen, says the fakes, the fraudsters and the snake-oil merchants are winning the political contests.

    Nicolle Flint MP on her career-ending mistreatment in politics; and how 'cancel culture' threatens democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 29:07


    Nicolle Flint MP talks about the sexist abuse she's faced throughout her career, not from within her own party, but from political opponents and activists outside of Canberra; and does 'cancel culture' threaten what remains of our liberal public discourse, or is uncensored free speech a dangerous proposition?

    Prime Minister John Howard evaluates his time in office

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 40:40


    It's 25 years since the coalition was elected to an eleven year term in power. As leader, John Howard represents one of the greatest political comebacks in modern history. How did he do it?

    What next for US-China relations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 28:57


    As the US-China rivalry intensifies, what does it mean for Australia?

    Anne-Marie Slaughter on The Biden doctrine, restoring faith in democracy and remembering Pearl Harbour

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 28:57


    Biden's approach to foreign policy, the crisis of Australian democracy, and 80 years since Pearl Harbour

    Thirty years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and why the far-right is moving away from climate change denialism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 29:10


    America won the Cold War but why did they lose the post-Soviet peace? And the far-right's unlikely shift to end climate change skepticism

    Will US-led inflation affect Australian interest rates? And China's handling of the disappearance of Peng Shuai

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2021 29:07


    Does America's inflation rate mean faster rising interest rates in Australia? And what does the disappearance of Peng Shuai say about China?

    The Trump- Russia collusion 'hoax' and the US- China deal to combat climate change

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 29:05


    Did Putin really play a role in Trump's 2016 election victory? And the US-China pact for action on climate change

    India and Australia strengthen ties in the face of a rising China

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 29:05


    Is the India - Australia relationship even more important than the Quad?

    COP26: how will the world agree to slash emissions?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 28:57


    Will Glasgow address the right issues to tackle climate change?

    Alan Tudge on the challenges of teaching Australian history, and mounting evidence of the Wuhan coronavirus lab leak

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 29:07


    The balancing act of teaching both Indigenous and European- Australian history. And the Chinese government denial of the Wuhan lab 'theory'

    COP 21- can we really stop relying on fossil fuels? And the legacy of Colin Powell

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 29:05


    Can anything meaningful be achieved at COP21? And the passing of Colin Powell

    What now for post-Merkel Germany? And a bipartisan approach to China relations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 28:56


    After the 'boring' result of the recent election, what is Germany's post-Angela Merkel future? And two opposing senators take on China.

    Should vaccine passports be mandated? And the Philippines' strained relationship with China

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 28:57


    Are vaccine passports the answer to achieving a COVID-normal life? And how the Philippines are targeted by China

    How do Westminster and Washington justify AUKUS? And Anthony Albanese's working-class rugby league roots

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 28:56


    Will our new security alliance with the US and the UK just provoke China? And Anthony Albanese on his working-class constituents.... and rugby league

    In defence of the AUKUS alliance, and meet the generation who will inherit the fallout from COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 29:05


    Does the AUKUS alliance constitute a loss of sovereignty? And how the next generation will cope with the COVID recovery

    Our first Indigenous MP and North Korea's 'zero cases' of COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 29:07


    Paying tribute to Neville Bonner, our first Aboriginal MP and how has North Korea's tyrannical regime coped with COVID-19?

    Who does America blame for the mess in Afghanistan? And how COVID has exposed a splintering of our Federation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 29:10


    Bush, Obama, Trump or Biden: who should we blame for the crisis in Afghanistan? And COVID has exposed our increasingly fractured federation. But was it flawed at its 1901 inception?

    ISIS-K challenges the Taliban; and Philip Ruddock on the 20 year anniversary of the Tampa crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 29:08


    How has ISIS affected the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan? And Philip Ruddock on the 20th anniversary of the Tampa crisis

    Defending the US withdrawal from Afghanistan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 29:07


    Paul Wolfowitz on the 20-year war as the Taliban reclaims Afghanistan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2021 28:57


    As the Taliban storms into Kabul, Paul Wolfowitz reflects on the 'never-ending war' and Biden's withdrawal of troops

    What will the global economy of the 2020s bring for developing countries? And the history of unsung 'true believers' of the Labor Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 29:07


    Could the 2020s be a good economic decade for developing nations? And the very interesting Labor people you've never heard about

    The Southeast Asia COVID crisis worsens, and the 'Wuhan lab' theory

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 29:07


    Indonesia is now the epicentre of COVID. How did the outbreak spiral out of control? And the 'Wuhan lab' theory gains more attention

    Do COVID lockdowns help or hurt the community?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2021 29:08


    It's been 18 months since the COVID outbreak in Australia, yet half the country is in lockdown. Is a zero cases strategy still justified?

    China: friend or foe?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2021 28:57


    Is Canberra's response to China in our national interest or is it driven by hysteria and xenophobia?

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