Navigating the Return of Geopolitics: Implications for Public Service (Melbourne)
Price
$20 (AUD)
Location
Treasury Theatre, Lower Plaza, 1 Macarthur Street, East Melbourne
Duration
6:00pm - 7:30pm AEDT (1.5 hours)
Dates
3 April 2025
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Overview
The world is witnessing a profound shift—the ‘return of geopolitics’—marked by an unrelenting series of conflicts, crises, regime changes, and policy reversals. What may seem like isolated shocks are, in fact, symptoms of a deeper transformation: the fragmentation of the liberal, Western-style alliances and institutions that have shaped the post-Cold War order.
In this session, renowned academic Paul ‘t Hart will explore the long-term forces driving this shift—fragmentation of power centres, worldviews, and geopolitical arenas. We will examine key phenomena such as the weaponisation of interdependence, securitisation of everything, and Westlessness—and discuss their far-reaching implications.
The bottom line? These changes are already reshaping Australia’s global engagement. But they are also increasingly influencing traditionally ‘domestic’ public policy domains. How are Australian governments adapting? What challenges and trade-offs lie ahead? And critically—what capabilities will state and Commonwealth public services need to navigate this new landscape?
Join us for an insightful discussion on the evolving intersection of geopolitics and public policy—where global shifts meet local realities.
Events details
Date: 3 April 2025
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm AEDT (1.5 hours) | (5:30pm – 6:00pm Networking)
Price: $20 (AUD)
Location: Treasury Theatre, Lower Plaza, 1 Macarthur Street, East Melbourne
To register for the event, click here.
Key speaker - Paul 't Hart
Paul is professor of public administration at the Utrecht University School of Governance. Between 2005 and 2011 Paul also served as a professor of political science at the Australian National University in Canberra. He has held visiting positions at universities in the UK and Sweden, and remains a core faculty member of the Australia New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).
Since January 2023 Paul has also served as a member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy, the Dutch government’s independent think tank advising the Dutch cabinet and parliament about long-range and boundary-crossing public policy challenges. Paul was appointed vice-president of the Council in September 2024.
In June 2024, Paul was awarded the Stevin Prize for his contribution to the practical use of knowledge in society. The Steven Prize, referred to as a Dutch Nobel prize, is an award and honour for researchers who have exceptional achievements in the area of knowledge exchange and impact for society.