Австралия саясатын зерттеу институты: Lowy институты

Australian policy think tank

The Lowy Institute is an independent think tank founded in April 2003 by Frank Lowy to conduct original, policy relevant research regarding international political, strategic and economic issues from an Australian perspective. It is based in Sydney, Australia. The institute has been described as "neoliberal", "centre right" leaning and "reactionary". It states that its research and analysis aim to be non partisan, and its programme of conferences, seminars and other events are designed to inform and deepen the debate about international policy in Australia and to help shape the broader international discussion of these issues.

Based in Sydney, the Lowy Institute was founded in 2003 by Slovakian born, Australian Israeli billionaire businessman Sir Frank Lowy.

The institute receives funds from the Australian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Defence, and the Department of Home Affairs. Companies which provide funding include BHP, Capital Group, Rio Tinto, and Rothschild & Co. In 2003, Lowy endowed the institute with a donation sufficient to fund the first eight years of its operation.

The institute publishes polls, white papers and rankings on various international affairs subjects—particularly regarding Australia and the Asia Pacific region—and advocates for a proactive and globally engaged Australian foreign policy. It hosts conferences, seminars and other events. Its annual Lowy Lecture is the institute's "signature event", where a "prominent individual", from Australia or abroad, comments on Australia's global role and on global influences on Australia. The institute commonly meets and interacts with Australian officials, and with visiting international leaders, and is a source of influence on Australian government. The resulting internal and external computer activity, including email traffic, which could be of interest to foreign powers, is credited with attracting information harvesting cyber attacks on the institute, during and before 2012—comparable to similar attacks against U. S. think tanks. The attacks were generally attributed to China. A cable dated 17 December 2010 sent from the US embassy in Australia was released to Italian investigative journalist Stefania Maurizi in December 2023 under freedom of information. The US cable concerned reactions in Australia to the United States diplomatic cables leak. The cable revealed that US officials monitored pro Assange protests in Australia for "anti US sentiment" and warned that there was "increasing sympathy, particularly on the left" for Assange. It described the institute's Michael Fullilove as a "moderating voice" who, "while calling the leaks 'fascinating', also termed WikiLeaks' conduct reckless in a blog post. But for the most part, sensationalist headlines are drowning out Fullilove and other reasonable observers."

The institute's website offers publications for free download. In 2006 the regular talks began to be recorded and made available on the website. The Lowy Institute launched a blog The Interpreter in November 2007. According to former Executive Director Allan Gyngell: "it aims to provide you with fresh insights into international events and a new way to engage with the Institute." Lowy Institute also developed analytical tool Asia Power Index. This tool allows changes in the global distribution of power. Countries can be compared on the basis of which measures eight types of power: military capability, defence networks, economic resources, economic relationships, diplomatic influence, cultural influence, resilience and future resources.

The annual Lowy Poll surveys a nationally representative sample of the adult Australian population on foreign policy issues and is the Lowy Institute's flagship publication. It is wholly funded by the Lowy Institute and its results are widely cited in the Australian and international media. The Lowy Institute has also conducted opinion polling in Indonesia, New Zealand and China. The first Lowy Poll was in 2005. In April 2023, the Lowy Institute poll indicated that one in five Chinese Australians were called offensive names in 2022, down 10 points from 31% in 2020, highlighting that Chinese Australians face fewer racist insults than at height of diplomatic tensions with Beijing.

The format of the 2011 Lowy Institute Poll was considered inadequate for formulating Australian policy compared to studies undertaken by CSIRO, Ipsos Eureka, Cardiff University, Stanford University, and Yale University. In 2012, the institute was criticised by Jim Green, national nuclear campaigner of Friends of the Earth Australia, alleging that the institute ran "a disgraceful propaganda campaign" to advocate for Australian uranium sales to India, in contravention of Australia's longstanding policy of refusing to sell uranium to nations who did not join the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).