Japan’s Role in a Fragmenting World, with Professor Michael Green, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney

Japan’s Role in a Fragmenting World

with Professor Michael Green of the US Studies Centre

Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific framework left a lasting impact, fostering deeper connectivity across the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Euro-Atlantic to uphold the rules-based order. However, the global economic order is increasing fragmented, driven by rising protectionism, supply chain disruptions, and economic nationalism. The Trump White House’s aggressive trade policies, including tariffs on key allies and a retreat from multilateral trade agreements, highlight the trend.

In this shifting landscape, Japan's role remains crucial—but can it sustain its leadership? Are Japan’s domestic politics stable enough to support an active diplomatic strategy? Amid ongoing uncertainty in Washington, can Japan help shape U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific? Most importantly, how can Japan and Australia work together to strengthen their partnership not only for regional stability but for collective influence on U.S. policy?

Our speaker, Professor Michael Green, CEO of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, will discuss such questions and possibilities. This is a not-to-be-missed event providing food for thought for business and anyone interested in the Australia-Japan - US relationship.

His talk will be followed by Q&A and networking over drinks.

Registration is now open HERE. We look forward to seeing you.

SPEAKER BIO

Dr Michael Jonathan Green is Professor and CEO at the United States Studies Centre. Previously Dr Green was Senior Vice President for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and is on leave from Georgetown University where he was Director of Asian Studies and Chair in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He served on the staff of the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House from 2001 through 2005.

Dr Green has authored numerous books and articles on Japan and Indo-Pacific security, including most recently Line of Advantage: Japan’s Grand Strategy in the Era of Abe Shinzō, and By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University and did additional graduate and postgraduate research at Tokyo University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has a black belt in Iaido.