3 Day Forum
Adelaide, South Australia
Australia
1 - 3 October 2003

*Subject to change
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

Wednesday
Vice-Chancellor Prof James McWha to open

Session 1 Dr John Bruni, Centre for Asian Studies, The University of Adelaide

The Four Types of Terror - Nationalist (Separatist); Religious (Apocalyptic); State-Sponsored (Strategic); Political (Left & Right Wing/Anarchist)

Ballistic Missile Proliferation

Macro Terrorism

Examines the potential threat of terrorist groups employing catastrophic acts of violence, either through the use of weapons of mass destruction, or conventional means - to achieve a strategic outcome.

Session 3 - Intelligence, Internal Security & Civil Liberties Panel

Chair Mr Clive Williams, Director - Terrorism Studies, Australian National University

Panel: Dr John Bruni, Centre for Australian Studies, The University of Adelaide, Cpt Remso Martinez, Defence Intelligence Training Centre, Stephen Kenny, Chairperson, Council of Civil Liberties (SA) and solicitor for David Hicks

Electronic Intelligence (Elint) vs. Human Intelligence (Humint): Getting the Right Balance

Examines the balance needed between Elint and Humint and whether Australia has managed to improve the balance between these two vital resources since the September 11th 2001 attacks on the US and the October 12th 2002 Bali Bombing.

Political-Social Dynamics in a Multicultural Society

Looks at the strains that have emerged in Australia during times of war between various minority ethnic and cultural groups and the dominant cultural group and what steps might be made to lessen the worst paranoia about the 'enemy within'.

Protection of Civil Liberties during a War on Terrorism

Explores the potential pitfalls for domestic civil liberties during the War on Terror. How does one balance the need for national security without undermining the fabric of an open and vibrant society?

Session 4

Chair: Dr John Bruni (as above)

Dr Brian Victoria, Centre for Asian Studies, The University of Adelaide, Archbishop John Hepworth, Arthur Saniotis, Department of Anthropology, The University of Adelaide& Mr David Olney, Department of Politics, The University of Adelaide.

Jihad and Just War Theory

Examines the philosophical differences in the Jihad and Just War traditions. Are the Islamic and Christian views of warfare so far apart, or do they share many features in common?

Faith is Power: Religion as a 'Force Multiplier' in Asymmetric Warfare

Examines the reasons behind the critically important role played by religion in warfare. It will be demonstrated that religion's role becomes even more important in asymmetrical warfare where the death of the weaker party is presupposed

The Role of Alienation in Motivating Sub-state Nihilistic Behaviour

What role does political/social/economic disenfranchisement have in making people give their lives for a cause, especially the cause of terrorism? Are terrorist groups comprised simply of irrational fanatics, or is theirs the cause of desperation and their actions the only logical solution to their plight?

.

Thursday

Session 1 - Dr Felix Patrikeeff, Department of Politics, The University of Adelaide & Dr John Bruni, Centre for Asian Studies, The University of Adelaide

Weak States, the Soft Underbelly?

Explores the idea that States with weak central governments are ripe for exploitation by terrorist movements either as targets (against resident Western interests), or as bases from which to conduct training and the planning of attacks. Which States in East Asia/Southwest Pacific forms the greatest level of concern to Australia's well-being and to what extent has the adoption of the idea of pre-emptively striking alleged terrorist bases in these areas complicated Canberra's foreign and defence policies?

Authoritarian States: supporting Evil to Fight a Greater Evil?

Examines the idea that by the Western alliance (i.e. the US, UK and Australia) supporting strong, authoritarian central governments throughout East/Central Asia in fighting the War on Terror may in fact by supporting one evil to root out the evil posed by international terrorism. Is the West ready to sacrifice the noble idea of democracy by turning to thuggish governments in order for Western strategic stability and interests to be maintained? Will this give succour to terrorists who see themselves as fighting the tyranny of Western imperialism?

Session 2 - Prof Carlyle Thayer, Australian Defence Force Academy

The Types of Terrorism & Asymmetric Confrontations in East Asia

Looks at the broad contemporary strategic environment of East Asia and the types of terrorism and asymmetric confrontations that exist in the region. How serious are these problems to destabilising the strategic status quo?

Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in East Asia

Examines the proliferation of WMD into the East Asian region. Is this really a problem for American and Australian geopolitical interests, or does it pose only a marginal threat?

Chair Dr John Bruni, Centre for Asian Studies, The University of Adelaide

Panel: Lt Col David Kilcullen, SO1 Force Projection, Directorate General of Future Land Warfare, Army Headquarters; Dr Niem Tri, Research Scientist, DSTO,

Fighting an Unconventional War with Traditional Military Power

Examines how Army/RAAF/RAN/DSTO are preparing to meet asymmetric threats from a largely traditional military power basis. What enhancements in terms of technologies/fighting styles are envisaged to give Australia the edge in future conflicts where the countries Australia will be deploying forces against will be seeking to undermine traditional military strength wherever they can?

Information War - the Real or Imagined Threat Posed by Cyber-terrorism

To what extent is information warfare already with us? Has the threat that Cyber-terrorism poses to future military operations been overstated given that of all the countries in the world, only the United States has the full spectrum capabilities for waging this kind of war?

Future War - the Promise of New Military Technological Solutions to Counter Asymmetric Threats

How do the Australian Armed Services view the evolution of warfare over the next decade (with special emphasis on East Asia & the Southwest Pacific)? Is Australia ready to face these challenges?

Defence Capabilities to Counter Asymmetric Warfare

Is Australia well placed to take care of most of its own war fighting needs, or is the country by and large dependent on overseas supply arrangements with the US?

Developing Military Warfighting Concepts

Examines developing warfighting concepts within the Australian Defence Force, with specific reference to the Army's concept for Manoeuvre Operations in the Littoral Environment. Warfighting concepts are optimised for conventional conflict but must also be relevant and effective in peace operations and against an asymmetric threat. Such conflict is likely to occur in the complex, urbanised and multi-adversary environment of the regional littoral.

Irregular Warfare in Asia: Cultural Dimensions of Aysmmetry

Examines the cultural aspect of asymmetric warfare, which tends to be poorly understood by comparison with technological asymmetry. Irregular warfare in Asia provides several key conceptual tools and insights into cultural
asymmetry.

The Mythologising of Huntington's World View

Examines the importance scholars have placed on Samuel Huntington's 'Clash of Civilisations' thesis. How significant has this thesis become in explaining the contemporary world environment? Has this thesis been overstated and oversimplified in order to justify political and policy agendas?

Friday

Session 1 - Mr Allan McDougall, State Emergency Management Training Officer, State Emergency Services

The Crucial Interfaces - including Intelligence, Defence and Emergency
Services

Examines the crucial link between Intelligence, Defence and the Emergency Services in being able to respond in a timely manner to a terrorist or other asymmetric warfare incident. What lessons has Australia learnt following September 11th and the Bali Bombings?

Homeland Security, the Australian, American and British Experiences Thus Far

Explores the experiences of the Australian, US and UK in dealing with homeland security issues in the War on Terror. Which of the countries has had the most success in developing defences against terrorist/asymmetric warfare incidents and why?

Chair Mr Adam Fitzpatrick, Director Seraphim Risk Management

Panel: Dr John Bruni, Centre for Asian Studies, The University of Adelaide & Dr Felix Patrikeeff. Department of Politics, The University of Adelaide

The inevitability of Negotiating with the Enemy: Legitimising the Illegitimate, or a Path to Lasting Peace?

In a number of different conflicts (Northern Ireland, Israel-Palestine, Russia-Chechnya and Sri Lanka), peace processes have inevitably come about by negotiating with a long-standing enemy. Can communities that have known nothing but violence between them for generations breach the gap and develop the means for lasting peace? Or are only lengthy cease-fires the best one can hope for between bouts of renewed bloodletting? What can this mean for the War on Terror?

The Problems of Negotiating Peace Amid Violence

With a long-standing conflict, the path to peace is often littered with sporadic, tit-for-tat violence between those who want to continue armed struggle and those who want to bring it to a decisive end. How can two parties wanting peace come to a permanent and honest agreement amid splinter groups seeking to undermine peace in favour of war?

Session 4 - Adam Fitzpatrick, Director Seraphim Risk Management

Civil Infrastructure and Corporate Security

Examines the counter measures taken by corporate Australia to defend critical nodes of economic enterprise from terrorism, espionage and cyber-attacks.

Conference 2003 > Topics

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