Geo-Strategic Orbit

Napoleon Bonaparte said of China:
“Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.”

And so, two hundred-plus years later China—and its impact on the Asia-Pacific       (A-P)/Indo-Pacific (I-P) region in general—is fulfilling Bonaparte’s prediction.

To be sure, the epicentre of the world is shifting from the Western-European post-World War Two American ‘model,’ of geo-strategic dominance–which is essentially an advance on what has become known colloquially as the’Vasco da Gama’ era–to a world that will be Sino-driven in the A-P.  Australia will, due to its geographic location and its previous policy-making, be at the forefront of what will become a contested arena.   Commentary is offered in the below mentioned categories, and is offered through the prism of evidence-based argument.

• A-P/I-P regional geo-strategic and geo-political analyses;
• rise of China/rise of India;
• conflict forecasting and interpretation in the A-P/I-P regions;
• terrorism analysis;
• war studies; and
• foreign policy relevant to conflict.

 

This blog is premised upon, and underpinned by independent, informative and succinct analysis without fear or favour–and it is a registered business and consultancy is available.  Through the aforementioned prism it is meant to offer information and analysis in order to delineate a deeper view of geo-strategic happenings.  All analysis, whether tailored or general, is  accompanied by erudite scholarly information and at times interpretation, which is  further formed and informed by an historical evidence-base.  The blog is secure in the knowledge that the new challenges that will be faced by the rise of China will definitively alter the way things ‘were,’ to the way in which things will now have to ‘be.’ For Australia, and the West in general it is clear that the ‘Vasco da Gama’ era is already being heavily impacted upon as the A-P and I-P regions become increasingly fractious.  There is no sign of the geo-strategic an geo-political maneuverings decreasing and thus, it is time for Australia (and the West) to understand that the ‘winds of war’ are blowing.  This will become more urgent as the third decade of the twenty-first century commences–a decade that is often referred to by strategic analysts as the ‘dangerous decade’–and one which is due in large part, to China and India having blue-water/ocean-going navies.  

This  blog  will supply a continuous stream of information in order for this understanding to gain ground in the public sphere as Australia in particular will, due to its reactive (rather than pro-active) status progress ever-more to a war in the region.  This will happen due to consecutive Australian governments’ misguided decision-making; and  their historical ‘baggage’ of being being dragged into a war that has been created by others.

This blog as stipulated offers written and audio commentary on the ‘coming storm’ and said commentary will have, at its core, an understanding that unless foreign and domestic policies become more cosmopolitan and articulate there will be a war in the   A-P, one in which Australia will be completely and thoroughly, immersed.  Geo-strategic and geo-political independent comment and assessment/s are within the aforementioned areas and where necessary related issues such as Australian, European, Central Asian, East Asian and/or American domestic politics, when and where necessary will also be addressed.

All of the information contained in this blog is © Strobe Driver.

The link to my doctoral thesis can be found on my Curriculum Vitae  page.

Dr. Strobe Driver

 

Recent publications:

May, 2018

What war would mean for Taiwan

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2018/05/03/2003692412/1

April, 2018

Irredentism, Nationalism and a Looming Asia-Pacific War

http://www.e-ir.info/2018/04/13/irredentism-nationalism-and-a-looming-asia-pacific-war/

Thinking through the US’ ‘closer ties’

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2018/04/08/2003690895

Feb, 2018

China following West’s example

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2018/02/24/2003688126

Sept, 2017

A New Age of Violence: Terrorism as an Asymmetrical and ‘Existential’ Threat

http://www.e-ir.info/2017/09/27/terrorism-as-an-asymmetrical-and-existential-threat/

May, 2017

Winning Hostilities Without War: United  States- North Korea Machinations

http://www.e-ir.info/2017/05/30/winning-hostilities-without-war-united-states-north-korea-machinations/

Federation University: Cultural Enquiry and Research Group

Presentation:  ‘The Dragon is Swimming’: How China is following the West’s ‘model of expansionism’ in the South China Sea

 January, 2017

Australian Herald http://www.australianherald.com/index.php/sid/249922993

December, 2016

War with China: Ascending Powers, Expansionism and the Use-of-Force

(modified for an Australian audience)

http://theaimn.com/war-china-ascending-powers-expansionism-use-force/

November, 2016

War with China: Ascending Powers, Expansionism and the Use-of-Force

http://www.e-ir.info/2016/11/22/war-with-china-ascending-powers-expansionism-and-the-use-of-force/

July, 2016

Australian Independent Media Network

War in a public place: The Bastille Day attack,  the strategy and tactics of Insurgencies

http://theaimn.com/war-public-place-bastille-day-attack-strategy-tactics-insurgencies/

June, 2016

Blog comment re: Turkey

Australian Independent Media Network

Where fools rush in: The Leasing of the Port of Darwin and the Rise of China

http://theaimn.com/?s=where+fools+rush+in

June, 2016

E-International Relations

Beyond the Asia-Pacific: China’s Next Geo-Strategic ‘Stepping Stone’

http://www.e-ir.info/2016/06/04/beyond-the-asia-pacific-chinas-next-geo-strategic-stepping-stone/

 

NB.

For a complete list of my writing please ‘click on’ ‘Writing/Publications’ on the banner at the top of this page; and

I can also be contacted  at the following email address,

s.driver@federation.edu.au