Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
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Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
Move beyond the headlines to see how the past defines our world. Whether it's a local or international story, Rear Vision's expert analysis gives you the background you need to understand today's news.
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Lessons in nuclear diplomacy after the fall of the Soviet Union
President Trump has made it clear he doesn’t think diplomacy on its own will stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.So what does history tell us ab...
America – land of the free, home of the gerrymander!
Gerrymandering is endemic in the United States and could determine the outcome of this year's mid-term elections. It has been a feature of the America...
Russia's Oil story - pipelines to Putin
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect economies around the world. But Russia has not only escaped the financial fallout, but has pr...
Who has the power and right to declare war in a democracy?
It may surprise you to know that the Australian parliament has no real say over whether the country goes to war. In the United States its effectively...
Capital gains tax in Australia — the essential backstory
The Federal Government is hoping tax reform will help address the widening generational wealth gap and rebalance the tax system in favour of younger p...
Is Scottish independence once again in play?
In 1707 the Scottish national parliament was disbanded, not to be reconvened until 1999. How and why Scotland regained its own Assembly is the story o...
Cuba and the US President - from FDR to Trump
IN 1959 Fidel Castro transformed Cuba into a socialist state. And ever since then, American presidents have been trying to undo it.
Now it’s Don...
The history and future of women in combat
Australia’s incoming Chief of Army, Lt. General Susan Coyle, will be the first woman ever to hold the Army’s top post. Her appointment in the lead-up...
Ending conflict — the art of negotiation
It’s a truism of peace talks that we’re not negotiating with our friends but rather with our enemies. And when our enemies have been designated as ter...
Australia’s energy security and resilience
The conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp rise in energy prices – and highlighted the issue of Australia’s energy security.
Why haven...
Flags, “flag-shaggers” and the co-opting of historic symbols
Wrapping yourself in the national flag has become a common practice for far-right activists right across the Western world, particularly anti-immigrat...
Pete Hegseth - war monger or true believer?
Pete Hegseth U.S. Secretary for War (previously Defense) is one of the most powerful people on the planet. He says that two things have defined his li...
Beijing’s justification for wanting to invade Taiwan
Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are due to meet in Beijing in the near future, following a March postponement. China’s wish to subsume democratic...
Innovation — from the spinning jenny to AI
A wide-angle lens on the history of Innovation.
An unprecedented surge in human ingenuity has created six great waves of innovation.
What...
Singapore and the long shadow of Lee Kuan Yew
The government of Singapore this year sacked the leader of the Opposition — that's the way things happen in Singaporean politics. Though it looks like...
China and the U.S - on a collision course in Latin America?
China is now the number one trading partner of South America.
How realistic are U.S. plans to dominate the Western hemisphere?
High speed rail in Australia - is it a dream that can ever become a relality
High speed rail spread around the globe from the 1960s when the first bullet trains took off in Japan. Rear Vision looks at why previous attempts to i...
Central bank independence − a tradition under threat
Since the 1970s central banks around the world have increasingly become “independent” of government. They’ve developed that way over time to ensure th...
Bangladesh 2026 - at a turning point
Bangladesh is having its first free and fair election in over 18 years.
Rear Vision looks back at the tumultuous history of this young nation.
From bicycles to “build your dreams” — how China conquered the global car market
Only a few decades ago China was known as the land of the bicycle – today it’s an automotive goliath. The PRC is now the world’s biggest car manufactu...
Controlling global oil — the backstory
Since the start of the 20th century, oil has been the lifeblood of global development. Today, the story behind oil — and the politics of supplying oil...
Weaponised trade and a return to gunboat diplomacy
From sanctions to tariffs to seizing oil fields — it feels like we've entered a new age of economic warfare. But experts say we're really just returni...
The story of Iran, a CIA Coup, a Revolution and the turbulent history that followed
For just over three weeks huge street protests have swept across Iran and threatened to topple The Islamic Republic regime of Iran. The regime has res...
Donald Trump and the wrecking ball: The end of the world as we know it
Is the liberal international rules-based order – that has underpinned international relations for the past 80 years - about to collapse. The United St...
Not so tolerant Allies: The story of Canada and the United States
President Trump not only want to make America great, he also wants to make it bigger and incorporating Canada as the 51st state would certainly do tha...
Greenland Donald Trump and the politics of empire
President Trump wants to buy or take control of Greenland from Denmark. But Denmark has made very clear, they don’t have the right to sell Greenland b...
Finland: A mad prepper nation or a role model for all small to medium democracies
As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous and uncertain place – how prepared are we in Australia to face these new challenges? This week on Rear...
Australia's superannuation system
This year, the Australian Labor government changed the country's superannuation rules — and reduced the 15% tax concession on balances over 3 million...
Pauline Hanson—– Australia’s Greatest Political Lazarus
Back in 1996 Pauline Hanson – rocked Australian politics when she was elected to the House of Representative in the seat of Oxley espousing anti-Asian...
The World Trade Organization
Rear Vision traces the story of the World Trade Organization from its origins as The GATT - and asks whether the WTO can still play a meaningful role...
Australian universities in crisis
Australian universities are confronting a firestorm, the loss of foreign students, the lay-off of academics, the underpayment of staff and radical cha...
Sudan Part two— a war we’ve all ignored for too long
Sudan is engulfed in a civil war. We know little about it, but we should. Sudan sits at the crossroad between Africa and the Middle East, and many of...
The story of Sudan Part 1
The history of the current conflict in Sudan is complex and long, but it's a history that matters. Sudan sits at the crossroad between Africa and the...
America's radical left - part 2
Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.
America's radical left - part 2
Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.
America's radical left - part 1
Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.
America's Democratic Socialists
Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.
The Gulf states - on a Middle East tightrope
The six countries of the Persian Gulf. From their rapid arrival on the world stage to their influence in Middle East politics today.
Venezuela, the United States and drugs
Venezuela - the latest country on US President Donald Trump's radar in his fight against drugs.
India and China - true partners or rivals?
India and China - one of the most complex and consequential relationships in modern geopolitics.