CONTESTED GROUND: Successive governments have failed to prepare Australia for the era of polycrisis, with Marc Ablong PSM, Geostrategic Risk Partners

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

The war in the Middle East has served to reveal the now metastising vulnerabilities that permeate Australia’s economic, political and strategic ecosystems, leaving the nation and its interests exposed.

The war in the Middle East has served to reveal the now metastising vulnerabilities that permeate Australia’s economic, political and strategic ecosystems, leaving the nation and its interests exposed.

Australians are increasingly getting the sense that the country is rudderless, struggling to overcome the mounting swell that is serving to swamp our seemingly ill-prepared national “boat”.

In the latest episode of the special Contested Ground series unpacking the fallout and implications of the conflict in the Middle East, host Steve Kuper is joined by geostrategic analyst and former Defence policymaker Marc Ablong PSM as they interrogate the nation’s preparedness, the era of polycrisis and mobilisation in the modern era.

 
 

As part of this, the pair deep dive into what makes a “polycrisis” and why it feels like Australia and Australians are seemingly paddling from one storm to another, both at home and abroad, undermining our national resilience and the nation’s capacity to rally in the event of major regional crisis.

They then move on to dissect the challenges of contemporary mobilisation being faced by Australia and like-minded nations across Europe and the United Kingdom, specifically the issues surrounding social cohesion, economic, political and social dislocation and atomisation among young Australians that directly impact national security and resilience.

Finally, the pair discuss Australia’s glaring lack of compelling narrative and plan to rally Australians of all generations that leave many feeling like Australia is inescapably caught in a period of managed decline, at a time when the nation’s economic, political and strategic security and prosperity faces increasing tension and challenge.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Defence policy, domestic manufacturing and military culture, with Senator Malcolm Roberts
Episode 10: SPOTLIGHT: LAND 156, counter-drone warfare and electronic warfare capability, with Department 13’s Ben Westgarth
Episode 9: PODCAST: Australia’s first 3D printed autonomous USV, with Josh Wigley and Harry Hubbert
Episode 8: PODCAST: Australia’s shipbuilding future, landing craft pipeline and autonomous vessels, with Austal CEO Paddy Gregg
Episode 7: CONTESTED GROUND: Assessing the fallout and implications of the latest Trump–Xi meeting for Iran, Taiwan and Australia
Episode 6: PODCAST: Missile manufacturing, Collins LOTE upgrades and submarine base east
Episode 5: PODCAST: Aerobatics, military aviation and Australian air shows, with Paul Bennet
Episode 4: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia and the West must ask themselves new questions in the face of the modern world, with Robbin Laird
Episode 3: PODCAST: Black Hawk capability, B-21 bomber debate, and upcoming budget
Episode 2: PODCAST: Supermarine Spitfire, warbird aviation and modern aerial innovation, with Keith Russell