Brennan torpedo, monorail and helicopter : a study of innovative activity in the process of forming three related military weapons

In the context of nineteenth-century British defence planning Actor-network theory is used to examine technological and social activity in the development and operation of a secret, successful military weapon, the Brennan torpedo. Also in two subsequent inventions the continuity and development of a core innovative concept, gyroscopy, is traced.

Rethinking the region

This thesis explores the shift in focus of Australian regional defence and foreign policy away from Malaysia and towards Indonesia between 1965 and 1971. It finds that this shift was caused more by the consequences of Britain's military withdrawal from Malaysia and Singapore than by Suharto's accession to power.

The nexus between cultural and mainstream perceptions of security

Mainstream security analyses and security models are discussed. The central argument is that the multi-dimensional conditions, which are considered by analysts as central to the security of all collectives, are not representative of all cultures. Therefore, mainstream models are not suitable for every security collective's cultural security requirements.

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific security : a constructivist comparison

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of Australian and New Zealand foreign policy in the Pacific with particular emphasis on the Bougainville and Solomon Islands peace interventions. Through a constructivist lens, it argues that New Zealand's policies have been more effective and culturally appropriate than Australia's in recent years.

Chinese perceptions of Japan's security strategy post-11 September 2001

Looking mainly at the changing nature of the U.S.-Japan security alliance since 11 September 2001, this thesis argues that the recent emergence of a more assertive Japanese security policy has led to a more robust Chinese response to perceived security challenges from Tokyo and Washington.

Export quality : representing Fijian bodies and the economy of war

Fijian bodies have become a valuable commodity in the economy of war. Remittances from workers overseas are Fiji&rsquo;s largest income &ndash; exceeding that of tourism and sugar export. This essay examines historical and contemporary representations of the black male body that perpetuate the exploitation of Fijians by inscribing the Fijian male body as warrior, criminal and protector. Taking a multidisciplinary approach informed by sociology, cultural theory, Pacific studies, visual culture, feminist and post-colonial theory, my practice is the vehicle through which I address issues of neocolonial commodification of Fijian bodies. Through an analysis of my own staged photographs and vernacular images taken by Fijians working for private security military companies and British and US armies, I hope to challenge audiences to consider their own perceptions of Fijian agency and subjectivity. By theorising the politicisation of the black body and interrogating colonial representations of blackness, I argue that we can begin to create links between the historical and contemporary exploitation of Fijians and that at the essence of both is an underlying racial hierarchy and economic requirement for cheap and, arguably, expendable labour.<br />

Regional security and regional conflict

This chapter raises the following main points:<br />&bull; Regions are groupings of states that share either geographic proximity or have sufficient cultural/historic ties that bind them together.<br />&bull; Regionalization occurs within a region as interdependence is developed among the regional states.<br />&bull; The development of regionalism is dependent on the support of the regional great power(s), the extent of reciprocity that exists in the relations of the states in the region, and the level of strategic reassurance that exists among these states.<br />&bull; Regionalization is not a lineal process, that is, it can increase or decrease.<br />&bull; The pace of regionalism is different in each region but a basic pattern exists where economic integration precedes political and security integration.<br />&bull; Regional threats to security can be divided into four categories. The first two comprise traditional military threats such as balance of power contests between regional powers and &lsquo;grass fire&rsquo; conflicts between smaller powers or over more localized issues. The<br />third category includes, for example, intra-state conflicts for ethnic, religious, nationalist or ideological, issues. Finally, transnational threats such as environmental degradation or resource scarcity can also cause regional instability and conflict.

Loss of data : reflective case studies

This chapter will focus upon the impact of Generation F - the Facebook Generation - and their attitudes to security. The chapter is based around discussing the loss of data, the prevention approaches and enforcement policies that are currently being investigated, and the implications that this has upon the modern, working environment. The changing landscape of work presents the issue of the Need to Know against the modern, working practises of Need to Share, a conflict that needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency. Many hold the view that it would be wrong to return to the Cold War scenario, however the modern position of Need to Share leads to a steadily rising fear of Information Insecurity. Accepting this situation means that working practises within large organisations need to be reviewed without ignoring the benefits of the new and emerging technologies and yet still be vigilant with regards to Information security.<br />

American defence policy and the challenge of austerity : some implications for Southeast Asia

This article examines the Obama administration&rsquo;s attempt to rebalance U.S. strategy towards the Asia-Pacific region with special emphasis on Southeast Asia. It argues that America&rsquo;s regional pivot is occurring at a time of unprecedented domestic fiscal austerity caused by a staggering level of national debt. <br /><br />The U.S. domestic budget crisis, the current &ldquo;declinist&rdquo; debate, concern over the rise of China, and the impact of sequestration on American defence spending are analysed and their implications for Southeast Asia are assessed. The article suggests that the most serious aspect of the U.S. debt crisis may be its impact upon American strategic resilience and geopolitical confidence. <br /><br />Thus, while many ASEAN nations have welcomed the U.S. strategic pivot as a valuable reinforcement of their security, they remain unsure that it is a sustainable policy. In the future, it is likely that reassuring ASEAN of the longevity of the U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific will require of Washington a skilled blend of budgetary reform, military presence, and sustained diplomatic effort.

Surveillance, Security and Sporting Mega Events: Toward a Research Agenda on the Organisation of Security Networks

Surveillance and security at sports mega events have been the subject of considerable scholarly attention. Events such as the Olympic Games and F&eacute;d&eacute;ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cups have become occasions of almost unparalleled economic, political and social significance. In the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, scholars have examined issues such as the &lsquo;security legacies&rsquo; of sports mega events, the infrastructures and technologies used in an attempt to secure these events, and the planning mentalities underpinning the staggering &lsquo;security spectacle&rsquo; of these globally televised events. This paper deals with the subject of how surveillance and security practices at sports mega events are organised. It uses the emerging paradigm of &lsquo;security networks&rsquo; to call attention to some important issues involving the entire &lsquo;security assemblage&rsquo; that accompanies these mega events. The paper presents five levels of analysis&mdash;structural, cultural, policy, technological and relational&mdash;to examine these practices and documents several key areas for further research on sports mega events.