The Brisbane Institute is an ideas marketplace, where anyone is welcome to attend our seminars, policy briefings and conferences, join in the discussion and share their own ideas. Our forum encourages a unique, informal learning network which crosses the boundaries of traditional learning and business networking. Our driving force is reflected in a Charter which embraces the value of learning through discussion and the most innovative tools of the information society.

The center's staff engage in areas of research relating to security developments in Australia and Asia Pacific and the global balance of power. Members of staff undertake consultancies.

Geographic Focus: Australia and other Asia Pacific

The center provides research, policy advice, and information on peace and security issues, especially on the Asia Pacific region, to illuminate the implications of new thinking for the region and to show how Asian complexities challenge simplistic notions of global order. Special areas of interest include regional security, confidence building and the development of a new security architecture in the Asia Pacific region, multilateral issues and the work of the United Nations, ethnocentrism, internal conflicts, and fundamental sources of violence.

Geographic Focus: Asia general

CSAAR promotes the study of Australia's contemporary relations with Asia through an extensive research and publications program, conferences, and workshops.

Geographic Focus: Asia general

The broad aim of the center is to provide a focal point in Australia for analysis of the Australian constitutional system and for comparative study of the constitutional systems of other countries and regions. Center projects are organized within four broad programs: the Australian constitutional system, relations between levels of government, Asia Pacific constitutional systems, and worldwide patterns and trends. Specific objectives include examination of:

• the constitutional and legal framework for relations between levels of government
• comparative constitutional concepts
• the constitutional system of New Zealand
• constitutional systems of countries in the Asia Pacific region
• the underlying principles, structure, and operation in practice of the European Community, the North American Free Trade Agreement, ASEAN, Closer Economic Relations with New Zealand, and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum arrangements

Geographic Focus: The Asia Pacific region and worldwide trends

ASPI has been set up to help Australians understand the critical strategic choices which our country will face over the coming years, and to help Government make better-informed decisions.

Australians live in a complex and strategically dynamic region. Like people everywhere, we face risks from terrorism and other transnational threats. But we also face unique uncertainties about the stability of our immediate neighbourhood, and about the strategic balance of the wider Asia-Pacific region. We must meet major technological challenges to keep our forces up to date. And we must overcome managerial and budget problems to achieve the strategic goals we set ourselves.