International Politics and Security n the next decade will be dominated by a cluster of inter-related problems including "global warming; uncontrolled mass migration; nuclear proliferation; the establishment and implementation of rules for globalisation; the spread of AIDS and other pandemics; terrorism and global poverty and anarchy" according to Mr Owen Harries, foreign policy advisor to former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and founding editor of the influential US policy Journal, The National Interest.

Mr Harries was speaking alongside Professor Alan Dupont, Director of the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney, at a University of Sydney 'Frontiers of Knowledge' Research Symposium at Parliament House in Canberra. The Symposium took place on Thursday 13 March as part of an inaugural day of Canberra events run by the University with over 200 University of Sydney Alumni and their guests in attendance.

According to Mr Harries, it is going to be difficult to combat this cluster of problems as this will require "sustained attention and cooperation amongst nation states", which will be a significant challenge in itself for a number of reasons. These reasons include: the fact that the impact of the problems will "be gradual rather than sudden" offering opportunities for "delay and prevarication" the fact that the "esponsibilities for the creation of the problems may not be aligned to those who experience the full effect of the problems" and the fact that the "mpact on different states and their respective capacities to contribute to a solution will be different"

Professor Alan Dupont echoed Mr Harries words. He emphasised that Australian policy makers have a job ahead of them that is ‘"unprecedented" as it is, in the words of Thomas Homer-Dixon, the "multiplicity of the challenges that is the problem rather than the challenges themselves" and the "connections between all of the problems" that make them difficult to deal with from a policy point of view. He added that nation states will now have to factor in the increasing influence of those he referred to as "non-state actors" and "transnationals" whilst addressing these problems. These new categories include various political, corporate, social and religious groups, such as ‘Al Qaeda’ and multinationals, as well as natural phenomena not constrained by natural borders such as epidemics and weather disturbances.

Professor Dupont and Mr Harries views are timely as they foreshadow the Federal Government's inaugural 'National Security Statement', slated for release in the distant future.

Both speakers spoke further on the challenges and opportunities faced by governments in dealing with this new and changing paradigm, examining both the historical roles that the US, EU and Australia have traditionally played as well as the new roles they will now need to play with each other along with China and other emerging powers. They called for strong leadership and close cooperation under what will be extremely difficult and changing circumstances.

Click here to listen to a complete podcast of the symposium - including the introductory speeches, and responses from the lively Q&A session which followed.

After the Research Symposium, guests proceeded on to a gala Alumni Cocktail Reception in the Mural Hall hosted by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Gavin Brown AO FAA CorrFRSE.

Professor Brown welcomed guests and highlighted the University's alumni links with both Canberra and the various levels of Australian government which include: 20 alumni in the current House of Representatives and 8 alumni in Senate; five former Prime Ministers; four former Governors-General; seven former and current State Governors and six former and current State Premiers.

Professor Andrew Coats, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the newly formed Community Portfolio and Dr Barry Catchlove (MBBS '66) spoke of the value and importance the University of Sydney places on its Alumni and announced the establishment of a Canberra/ACT Alumni Association, which all Alumni are most welcome to join.

Click here for photographs of the reception.