In "Adapting to the Poly-crisis: The View of a Middle Power from Down Under" John Blaxland argues that the world faces a poly-crisis: a set of interconnected and mutually reinforcing challenges spanning strategic competition, technological disruption, climate change, economic fragmentation, demographic pressures, pandemics, cyber threats and declining confidence in international institutions. Each problem amplifies the others, creating cascading risks.
Blaxland argues that the Indo-Pacific has become the principal arena in which these dynamics converge. Australia's geography, alliance with the United States, deep economic ties with Asia and dependence on secure maritime trade make it particularly exposed to systemic shocks. Rather than viewing China, climate change, technological competition or regional instability as separate policy issues, governments must recognize their interdependence and develop integrated responses.
The presentation advocates a shift from reactive crisis management to strategic adaptation. This requires strengthening national resilience and calls for reinforcing alliances while broadening partnerships with Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Japan, India, Canada, Europe and other middle powers. Australia, in this view, should exercise greater strategic agency by helping shape the regional order rather than merely responding to external events. Australia, he argues, must invest in trusted relationships, and foster innovation to navigate an increasingly uncertain strategic environment.
About the Speaker:
Dr John Blaxland is Director of the ANU North America Liaison Office and Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC), Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University (ANU). A former Australian military intelligence officer, he is a trusted and highly regarded historian who has authored or co-authored over a dozen broad-ranging works on international, military, security and intelligence affairs. He is also an occasional media commentator.