Catch up with events produced by the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney with USSC Live. These events offer new insights and perspectives on topics including American foreign policy, economics, politics and culture.
Americans will vote in the midterm elections ― a referendum on the president and his party ― at a time when US President Donald Trump's approval rating is at a record low.
The Democrats are fighting to win back Congress, leading Trump to push for new voter requirement laws and toy with suggestions he will call a national security emergency ahead of the polls.
At this event, Herald editor Jordan Baker (https://www.smh.com.au/by/jordan-baker-h0zh4a) unpacked the key issues of the midterms with political and international editor Peter Hartcher (https://www.smh.com.au/by/peter-hartcher-hve0w) and columnist Jacqueline Maley (https://www.smh.com.au/by/jacqueline-maley-hve78).
They were joined by experts from the United States Studies Centre (USSC): CEO Dr Michael Green (https://www.ussc.edu.au/dr-michael-green) and Director of Research Jared Mondschein (https://www.ussc.edu.au/jared-mondschein).
Renowned US political analyst and bestselling author Dr Larry Sabato (https://politics.virginia.edu/people/larry-j-sabato) also provided video remarks from Virginia. Sabato was in conversation with Herald columnist and USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe (https://www.ussc.edu.au/bruce-wolpe).
This exclusive event was held in partnership with The Sydney Morning Herald.
17 Oct 2026
Tibet at the epicentre: Geopolitics, religion and climate security
With much of the world’s attention focused on global flashpoints, Tibet’s uncertain future is often sidelined in geopolitical conversations. Yet the Tibetan plateau holds major implications for the region’s balance of power, climate security, and human rights around the world.
What is the geopolitical significance of Tibet in the 21st century? How could Tibet’s environmental future affect millions of lives across Asia? And what does Tibet’s political future mean for religious freedom and international law around the world?
To answer these questions, the United States Studies Centre hosted a discussion with Tibet Policy Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr Tenzin Desal (https://tibetpolicy.net/about-us/fellows/dr-tenzin-desal/), UTS Associate Professor in China Studies Dr Feng Chongyi (https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Chongyi.Feng) and La Trobe Asia Director Dr Ruth Gamble (https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/rgamble), in conversation with United States Studies Centre CEO Dr Michael Green (https://www.ussc.edu.au/dr-michael-green).
6 Oct 2026
What does the China-Russia-North Korea axis mean for the Indo-Pacific?
China, Russia and North Korea have significantly deepened strategic ties in recent years. China and North Korea have played significant roles in enabling Russia to prosecute its war on Ukraine, providing direct and indirect military, technological, economic and diplomatic support. Beyond the Ukraine war, the three countries share a common resistance to the US-led world order, promoting their own diplomatic groupings and alternative vision for a multipolar order.
For some, this represents a deep and enduring ideological and strategic challenge to a fracturing Western-led global order and portends a greater likelihood of conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Others are less convinced that a China-Russia-North Korea axis can or will endure beyond the Ukraine war and argue that assessments of the combined threat are overblown.
How should we understand the deepening relations between China, Russia and North Korea? Where is the emerging authoritarian axis likely to produce collective and bilateral strategic effects in Indo-Pacific region? Is there a divergence of views among countries in the region on the significance of the axis? And how should Australia and its partners respond?
Bringing together leading experts from Australia, India, Singapore and the Philippines, USSC hosted a panel discussion unpacking these big questions facing the region. The panel featured Hudson Institute Senior Fellow, Dr Aparna Pande (https://www.hudson.org/experts/599-aparna-pande), University of the Philippines Professor Herman Joseph Kraft (https://polisci.upd.edu.ph/faculty/kraft/), National University of Singapore Associate Professor, Dr Ja Ian Chong (https://discovery.nus.edu.sg/2380-ja-ian-chong) and United States Studies Centre Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Program, Dr Lavina Lee (https://www.ussc.edu.au/lavina-lee), in conversation with Foreign Affairs and National Security Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Matthew Knott (https://www.smh.com.au/by/matthew-knott-hvf2k).
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