Australian security, defence and foreign policy; Asian strategic dynamics, including an Indo-Pacific concept of the Asian strategic environment; maritime security; nuclear issues; strategic implications of the rise of China and India; Australia-India relations.

Publications

Medcalf, R. and Mattoo, A. 2015 (forthcoming). 'Universities and Think Tanks' in  Malone, D. and Mohan, C. R. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Medcalf R. 2015. 'Canberra’s Beijing Balance: Australian Perceptions of and Responses to Chinese Power' in  Mingjiang, L. and Kemburi, K. (eds) China’s Power and Asian Security, London: Routledge.

Medcalf R. 2015. Malcolm Fraser’s Asia Delusion. Australian Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 69. No 1, February 2015.

Medcalf R. 2014. The Balancing Kangaroo: Australia and Chinese Power. Issues and Studies: A Social Science Quarterly on China, Taiwan, and East Asian Affairs, Vol. 50. No. 3, September 2014.

Medcalf R. 2014. 'Mapping the Indo-Pacific: China, India and the United States' in Malik, M. (ed)  Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific: Perspectives from China, India and the United States. New York: Rowman and Littlefield.

Medcalf, R. 2014. In Defence of the Indo-Pacific: Australia’s New Strategic Map. Australian Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 68. No. 4, June 2014.

Medaclf, R. 2014. 'Powers in the Middle: Japan, India, Russia, Australia, South Korea' in Huxley, T. (ed) Asia-Pacific Strategic Dossier. London: International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Medcalf, R. 2014. The Indo-Pacific: What’s in a Name? The American Interest, Vol. 9 No. 2, Nov/Dec 2013.

Medcalf, R. and Townsend, A. 2013. 'India and China: Competitive Coexistence in the Asian Century' in Palit, A. and  Spittel, G. (eds) South Asia in the New Decade: Challenges and Prospects.World Scientific: Singapore.

Medcalf, R. 2012. 'Pivoting the Map: Australia’s Indo-Pacific System'. The Inaugural Centre of Gravity Lecture, Canberra, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, November 2012.

Medcalf, R. 2012. 'India and China: Past, Present and Future' in Amitabh, M. (ed) Reluctant Superpower: Understanding India and its Aspirations. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Medcalf, R. 2012. Unselfish Giants? Understanding China and India as Security Providers. Australian Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 66. No. 3.

Medcalf, R. 2012. 'Introduction and Overview' and 'Conclusion: Extending Uncertainty or Disarming Doubt?' in Medcalf, R, and Cunningham, F. (eds) Disarming Doubt: The Future of Extended Nuclear Deterrence in East Asia. Sydney: Lowy Institute for International Policy.

Medcalf, R. 2011. 'Powering Major Powers: Understanding Australian Uranium Export Decisions on China, Russia and India in Clark, M., Fruehling, S. and O’Neil, A., Australia’s Uranium Trade: The Domestic and Foreign Policy Challenges of a Contentious Export. London: Ashgate. 

Medcalf, R. 2011. 'Grand Stakes: Australia's Future between China and India' in Tellis, A.J., Tanner, T. and Keough, J. (eds) Strategic Asia 2011-12: Asia Responds to its Rising Powers – China and India. Seattle/Washington DC: National Bureau of Asian Research.

Medcalf, R. 2010. 'Australian Perspective' Bateman, S. and Hoin, J. (eds) Southeast Asia and the Rise of Chinese and Indian Naval Power. London: Routledge.

Medcalf, R. 2009. Australia’s Strategic Analysis Capabilities: Reaching Critical Mass. Security Challenges, Vol. 5, No. 1.

Medcalf, R. 2008. 'Australia' in Fitzpatrick, M. (ed) Preventing Nuclear Dangers in Southeast Asia and Australasia. International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Medcalf, R. 2008. 'Squaring the Triangle: An Australian Perspective on Asian Security Minilateralism' in Assessing the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (National Bureau of Asian Research Special Report #16). Seattle/Washington DC: National Bureau of Asian Research.

Medcalf, R. 2008. 'Australia: Allied in Transition' in Tellis, A., Kuo, M. and Marble, A. (eds) Strategic Asia 2008-09: Challenges and Choices. Seattle/Washington DC: National Bureau of Asian Research.

Medcalf, R. 2007. Strategic Roles Beyond the Paramount Area: Asia Northeast and West. Security Challenges, Vol. 3. No. 3.

Professor Rory Medcalf commenced as the Head of the National Security College inJanuary 2015. His professional background spans diplomacy, intelligence analysis, thinktanks and journalism. Most recently he was the Director of the International SecurityProgram at the Lowy Institute for International Policy from 2007 to 2015.

Prior to that, Professor Medcalf worked as a senior strategic analyst with the Office ofNational Assessments. His experience as an Australian diplomat included a posting toNew Delhi, a secondment to Japan’s foreign ministry and truce monitoring after the civilconflict in Bougainville. He has contributed to three landmark global reports on nucleararms control. His earlier work in journalism was commended in Australia’s leading mediaawards, the Walkleys.

Professor Medcalf has been active in developing Australia’s relations with India. He is thefounding convener and co-chair of the Australia-India Roundtable, the leading informalpolicy dialogue between the two countries. His current research areas include Australia’sstrategic and defence challenges, the further development of an Indo-Pacific conceptof the Asian strategic environment, and prospects for maritime and nuclear stability inIndo-Pacific Asia. He holds nonresident affiliations with the Brookings Institution and theLowy Institute, and is a member of the independent expert panel providing advice on theAustralian Government’s 2015 Defence White Paper.

MacArthur Foundation projects on Indo-Pacific maritime security, Indo-Pacific (nuclear) strategic stability (Lowy Institute), and China-India maritime security relations (Australia-India Institute).