![\"Image](\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Tengger_Shamo-1024x706.jpg\" "\\"Image")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
There are only a couple of weeks left until the New York City presidential derby. The read of the week unfolded in the Fairfax press, with Peter Hartcher\u2019s three-part series <\/span>United Fates<\/span><\/i>, which covers off on \u2018The End of the Alliance?\u2019, \u2018Rise of the Demagogues\u2019 and \u2018As Risky as Terrorism\u2019. Muck in <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. A new documentary for those seeking to understand the geographic reality of Donald Trump\u2019s border wall plans could do worse than check out <\/span>Best of Luck with the Wall<\/span><\/i><\/a>, a 7-minute film released this week, along with <\/span>this write-up<\/span><\/a> from<\/span> Fusion<\/span><\/i>\u2019s<\/span> Alexis C. Madrigal. And <\/span>The New Yorker<\/span><\/i> spoke to <\/span>20 first-time voters about the presidential election<\/span><\/a>, producing a portrait of some of the issues motivating Americans this cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n Some key pieces that caught our eyes in the last week. From the latest issue of <\/span>Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/i>, Fareed Zakaria <\/span>catalogues and contemplates the rise of populism<\/span><\/a> in the West. From <\/span>The Intercept<\/span><\/i> comes <\/span>a yarn about Endace<\/span><\/a>, a little company in New Zealand that sells mass surveillance tools to governments around the world. Recommended on Twitter by <\/span>The Atlantic<\/span><\/i>\u2019s James Fallows was <\/span>this profile of Julian Assange<\/span><\/a>, who the author claims has delusions of grandeur about Wikileaks\u2019 impact and is out to get even with Hillary Clinton. And from <\/span>The New York Times<\/span><\/i>, a special piece of interactive journalism about <\/span>climate change in China\u2019s Tengger Desert<\/span><\/a>, which is growing at 1,300 square miles per year and pushing populations out to the way as it expands.<\/span><\/p>\n A couple of weeks back, <\/span>The Strategy Bridge<\/span><\/i> announced<\/span><\/a> that it would be running a fascinating new series which asks prominent strategic thinkers their thoughts on the \u2018confluence of ethical considerations, the development of strategy, and the conduct of war\u2019. We\u2019d recommend checking out Australian Army officer Thomas McDermott\u2019s <\/span>contribution on whether ethics should be central to political decision-making<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Rob Arnett\u2019s piece<\/span><\/a> on how Just War theory justifies the sale of weapons to other states. <\/span>The whole series<\/span><\/a> is perfect for the budding philosopher\/strategist.<\/span><\/p>\n New research alert! Up first, from CSIS, is the <\/span>brand new \u2018Reconnecting Asia\u2019<\/span><\/a> site, which maps new transport infrastructure initiatives across Eurasia and analyses their significance to the region\u2019s economic and geopolitical trajectory. <\/span>CNAS has published a series of recommendations<\/span><\/a> for the next US government on the benefits of prolonged transatlantic security and defence cooperation. Also on life after the US election is <\/span>this fresh paper from Chatham House<\/span><\/a>, which examines both presidential candidates\u2019 positions on climate change and global energy security policy. And energy theme flowing, this <\/span>new publication from The Atlantic Council<\/span><\/a> offers some thoughts on the challenges faced by developing countries as they attempt to move towards cleaner energy while increasing electricity access.<\/span><\/p>\n Podcast<\/b><\/p>\n On this week\u2019s episode of <\/span>The Conversation<\/span><\/i>\u2019s politics podcast (31 mins), <\/span>John Blaxland sits down with Michelle Grattan<\/span><\/a> to discuss the latest fine installment of <\/span>The Official History of ASIO<\/span><\/i>, which covers Russia\u2019s operations inside Australia in the years leading up to the end of the Cold War.<\/span><\/p>\n Videos<\/b><\/p>\n VICE News<\/span><\/i> has got two stellar but grounding video offerings this week. <\/span>The first<\/span><\/a> (4 mins) definitely has a \u2018viewer discretion advised\u2019 warning stamped all over it; it\u2019s not for the faint of heart, focusing on the work of Philippine photographer Dondi Tawatao as he travels through Manila\u2019s streets documenting the aftermath of President Rodrigo Duterte\u2019s war on drugs, which has led to the execution-style shootings of more than 3,500 people to date. <\/span><\/p>\n The second<\/span><\/a> (5 mins) takes a gander at the current state (read: failed) of the official ceasefires between Russian-backed separatists and and the Ukrainian Army in the separatist-controlled territory called the Promzone. It includes a number of interesting interviews with soldiers who have been fighting the war since they were teenagers.<\/span><\/p>\n Events<\/b><\/p>\n Canberra: The Blamey Oration, hosted by the Royal United Services Institute of Australia and ever-focused on emerging and future security threats, will this year be delivered by CT king Dr David Kilcullen. There are <\/span>a few tickets still available<\/span><\/a> for the 9 November event, so get in quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n