Ep. 77: Debating democracy and the competition of systems
b'In an episode recorded on 24 June, Allan and Darren take a step back from the news to discuss an emerging theme in international affairs: the competition of systems, which arrays liberal democracies against various types of authoritarianism, with the China model most prominent. President Biden has made both restoring American democracy, and cooperation with likeminded democracies, core pillars of his foreign policy.\\nAllan and Darren compare and contrast Biden\\u2019s approach with the neoconservative vision from the early 2000s. What is notable is his inward focus on restoring the health of American democracy, which they agree is a necessary starting point. But what then does a \\u201ccompetition of systems\\u201d actually entail? Darren tries to articulate a concrete theory of the case, which leads into a longer discussion of the differences between foreign policy, diplomacy and grand strategy, and the extent to which the world has changed since the Treaties of Westphalia in 1648!\\nWhile it\\u2019s clear demonstrating the continuing success of democratic models is essential to western leadership of the international order, can democracy be an organising principle of international cooperation? Should the trajectory of other political systems be a matter of direct national interest? Is there a concrete policy agenda that does not collapse into the flawed neoconservative approach or complete hypocrisy? What does one do about \\u201cilliberal democracies\\u201d or \\u201celected autocracies\\u201d? And where does Australia, and PM Morrison\\u2019s call for a \\u201cworld order that favours freedom\\u201d, fit in?\\nAs always, we invite our listeners to email us at this address: australia.world.pod [at] gmail.com We welcome feedback, requests and suggestions. You can also contact Darren on twitter @limdarrenj\\nWe thank AIIA intern Dominique Yap for her help and bid her a fond farewell. We also thank Rory Stenning for composing our theme music. \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\nRelevant links \\nWhite House, \\u201cInterim National Security Strategic Guidance\\u201d, 3 March 2021: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/03/interim-national-security-strategic-guidance/\\nLowy Institute Poll 2021: https://poll.lowyinstitute.org/\\nC. Lee Shea, \\u201cThe longest telegram: A visionary blueprint for the comprehensive grand strategy against China we need\\u201d, War on the Rocks, 1 April 2021: https://warontherocks.com/2021/04/the-longest-telegram-a-visionary-blueprint-for-the-comprehensive-grand-strategy-against-china-we-need/\\nFrances Adamson, National Press Club Address, 23 June 2021: https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/speech/national-press-club-address\\nLDC Podcast, \\u201cWorking From home\\u201d, 15 June 2021: https://longdistancecall.com.au/episodes/episode165'