Hugh White argues that, right now, we confront the world's most dangerous crisis in generations, with the old global order facing a direct challenge in three crucial regions: Eastern Europe, the Middle East and East Asia.

And then there’s Donald Trump, under whose leadership America's retreat from any kind of coherence has been both swift and dramatic.

For Outspoken Hugh will be discussing his June 2025 Quarterly Essay : Hard New World, Our post-American Future

White examines the dynamics of the US–China rivalry, and the new regional order which is emerging. He explains the big strategic trends driving the war in Ukraine, and why America has already “lost” Asia. He discusses Albanese's record and Labor's future choices in this new world, and where they might lead. 

Hugh White is a former Deputy Secretary for Strategy in the Department of Defence, and was the founding Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. He is now Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra and is widely regarded as Australia’s pre-eminent commentator on defence matters.

In his 2022 essay Sleepwalk to War: Australia’s Unthinking Alliance with America, referring to AUKUS, he wrote: 'In the annals of defence policy failure, it is hard to recall anything more absurd than this whole sad mess.'

He will be in conversation with Steven Lang.

Our ‘introducing author’ will be the wonderful Joanna Jenkins.

Her first novel How To Kill a Client, became a massive best-seller. In her new novel, The Bluff, her focus moves from big-city legal firms to a small country town - but we’re still amongst the legal fraternity. 

I've now read The Bluff and can confirm it's a clever, rich, dynamic novel. So many books set in rural Australia, particularly thrillers, are filled up with weird stereotypes of bush characters. Joanna avoids this trap. The people in her novel are all real and believable, individuals caught up in events beyond their understanding.

Highly recommended.

Joanna grew up on a small farm in country Queensland. After graduating from the University of Queensland with degrees in English Literature and Law, she practised as a solicitor, including for many years as a partner of an international law firm. She now writes full-time.

Joanna lives in Brisbane.