Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

The history and future of women in combat

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 le...

Ending conflict — the art of negotiation

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Rear Vision

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ending conflict - the art of negotiation

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a truism of peace talks that we’re not negotiating with our friends but rather with our enemies. And when enemies have been designated as te...

Australia’s energy security and resilience

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp rise in energy prices – and highlighted the issue of Australia’s energy security.  If you hap...

Flags, “flag-shaggers” and the co-opting of historic symbols

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Wrapping yourself in the national flag has become a common practice for far-right activists right across the Western world, particularly anti-immigra...

Pete Hegseth - war monger or true believer?

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 l...

Beijing’s justification for wanting to invade Taiwan

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are due to meet in Beijing in just a few days, with China’s wish to subsume democratic Taiwan certain to be o...

Innovation — from the spinning jenny to AI

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A wide-angle lens on the history of Innovation.An unprecedented surge in human ingenuity has created six great waves of innovation.What drove these b...

Singapore and the long shadow of Lee Kuan Yew

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The government of Singapore has just sacked the leader of the Opposition — that's the way things happen in Singaporean politics. Though it looks li...

China and the U.S - on a collision course in Latin America?

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Central bank independence − a tradition under threat

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Since the 1970s central banks around the world have increasingly become “independent” of government. They’ve developed that way over time to en...

Bangladesh 2026 - at a turning point

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

Controlling global oil — the backstory

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Weaponised trade and a return to gunboat diplomacy

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 retu...

The story of Iran, a CIA Coup, a Revolution and the turbulent history that followed

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 re...

Donald Trump and the wrecking ball: The end of the world as we know it

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is the liberal international rules-based order – that has underpinned international relations for the past 80 years - about to collapse. The United...

Not so tolerant Allies: The story of Canada and the United States

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Greenland Donald Trump and the politics of empire

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Greenlan...

Finland: A mad prepper nation or a role model for all small to medium democracies

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous and uncertain place – how prepared are we in Australia to face these new challenges?  This week on ...

Australia's superannuation system

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia's superannuation balance is the envy of the world.This year, the Albanese Labor government changed the superannuation rules — and reduced...

Pauline Hanson—– Australia’s Greatest Political Lazarus

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Back in 1996 Pauline Hanson – rocked Australian politics when she was elected to the House of Representative in the seat of Oxley espousing anti-As...

The World Trade Organization

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.

Australian universities in crisis

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australian universities are confronting a firestorm, the loss of foreign students, the lay-off of academics, the underpayment of staff and radical ch...

Sudan Part two— a war we’ve all ignored for too long

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.

America's radical left - part 1

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.

The Gulf states - on a Middle East tightrope

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Venezuela  -  the latest country on US President Donald Trump's radar in his fight against drugs.

India and China - true partners or rivals?

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

India and China - one of the most complex and consequential relationships in modern geopolitics.

Northern Ireland 1998 - what can we learn?

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1998 The Good Friday Agreement was signed in Britain and Ireland, bringing an end to 30 years of violence, murder and religious conflict.How did t...

Israel Palestine and the move for peace - Is this a tipping point?

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The last two months has seen a shift in international politics as Israeli westerns allies move to recognise a Palestinian state. Could this be a hist...

Brazil - Bolsonaro's legacy

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.

Australian security - Is United States our best option?

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since the end of WW2, the security alliance between Australia and the United States ANZUS has been the cornerstone of our foreign policy and security...

Drones and how they are changing modern warfare

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington – that the drone became America’s weapon of choice in war on terror. U...

Controlling The Pacific

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since the end of World War II, America has dominated the Pacific, but China’s expanding economy and growing military might is  challenging that do...

Rear Vision - Australia’s Green Iron plan

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What can Australia do to maintain its mineral wealth in a decarbonising world? Rear Vision drills down into our coal and iron-ore industries. And a...

The history of the Israeli Settler movement

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Israeli settlements in the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem are are illegal under international law. They are a key stumb...

Rear Vision - The rise of Vladimir Putin

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990's, Vladimir Putin has emerged as a powerful player in world events. How has this happened?

Could the Baltic States be the new Ukraine?

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – once part of the Soviet Union - are now all members of NATO. But Latvia and Estonia both have l...

War in Ukraine - the military story

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The history of the Russia Ukraine conflict. The situation in Ukraine today and why Russia invaded. 

Australia's superannuation system

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The rise and rise of Australian superannuation. Having now reached the 4 trillion dollar mark we ask,  How did we get here? And is our retirement sy...

2014 and Ukraine's relationship with Russia

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After 1991 Ukraine followed the bumpy path of many post-Soviet states, attempting to forge a modern democracy next door to a powerful neighbour with ...

The history of immigration and detention in the so-called land of immigrants: United States of America

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The United States like to see itself as a nation of immigrants, yet it’s always had a difficult relationship with immigrants. The history of US imm...

Israel's nuclear history

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rear Vision, the story of Israel's nuclear industry.

Iran's nuclear program

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Rear Vision we revisit the story of Iran's nuclear industry.

The assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The story behind the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on October 16, 2017.

Rare Earth minerals

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rare earth minerals are in the headlines. Their  supply and who control’s them, are ringing alarm bells, as Tariff negotiations put world trade o...

A new Gilded Age

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Periods of rapid technological and social unrest are not unique. Over 100 years ago, many of the same conditions existed. What can we learn from thi...

The silencing of Voice of America

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.

The history of the electric car

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

100 years ago there were more electric vehicles on the road than gasoline or petrol cars. 

Romania at a political crossroads

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last Sunday a far-right anti-European candidate won the first round of the Romanian presidential election with 40 per cent of the vote. The stage is ...

Kashmir

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kashmir is a mountainous region bordering India and Pakistan. The Pakistanis will tell you that Kashmir is in the north east corner of Pakistan. The ...

Finland: A mad prepper nation or a role model for all small to medium democracies

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous and uncertain place – how prepared are we in Australia to face these new challenges?  This week on...

Chocolate - the back story

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chocolate is one of our most popular indulgences but there is a darker side to the industry – one connected with colonialism, the industrial revolu...

Donald Trump and the wrecking ball: The end of the world as we know it

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is the liberal international rules-based order – that has underpinned international relations for the past 80 years - about to collapse. The United...

The anti-vaccination movement

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While many children miss out on vaccines due to poor health services, some parents choose not to have their children vaccinated. This Rear Vision ...

Not so tolerant Allies: The story of Canada and the United States

30 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Trump, trade and tariffs

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump loves tariffs but most economists hate them.We look at how tariffs work and what history can tell us about their impact on economies....

Undersea communication cables: Critical infrastructure and vulnerable

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over 95% of the world’s communications travels over undersea cables. In the last few months, in two of the most politically volatile regions of the...

In the shadow of slavery: The post-civil rights period

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump has made a point of purging the federal government of D.E.I. - Diversity Equity and Inclusion i...

In the shadow of slavery: The events that led to the Civil Rights movement

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump has made a point of purging the federal government of D.E.I. - Diversity Equity and Inclusion in...

In the shadow of slavery: From the civil war through reconstruction to 1900

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump has made a point of purging the federal government of D.E.I. - Diversity Equity and Inclusion in...

Once the most political stable nation in Europe and an economic powerhouse__ Germany is now in trouble

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Historically Germany has been one of the most politically stable nations in Europe and an economic powerhouse. But over the past few year’s things ...

The Panama Canal: How it was built and Panama’s relationship with the United States

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald  Trump wants Panama to hand back, one of the most important waterways on the planet, the Panama Canal, to the United States and he ...

Greenland Donald Trump and the politics of empire

02 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Greenlan...

Sydney: first encounters

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On 26 January 1788, the ships of the First Fleet started unloading the first of more than a thousand people – convicted criminals, officers, marine...

A tsunami of Trumpness

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In June 2015 Donald Trump, real estate tycoon and TV personality, announced he was running in the Republican Presidential race. At first many people...

How to end conflict—The art of peace making

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a truism of peace talks that we’re not negotiating with our friends but rather our enemies. And when most of our enemies have been designate...

When the US Secret Service fails

12 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The assassination attempt on Trump was a shocking mission failure for the Secret Service.  From JFK to Reagan, we examine what the agency’s histor...

Joe Biden the man who wanted to be President

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Biden became the 46 President of the United States. Twice before he ran for the Democrat presidential nomination and both times he lost - but he ...

How political violence has shaped American politics

05 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While America was founded on lofty ideas – like democracy, equality and freedom – it’s was also shaped and continues to be shaped by political ...

Nancy Pelosi once the most powerful woman in US politics

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nancy Pelosi was the Democrat Speaker of the House of Representative, during Donald Trump's first presidency. She was a constant thorn in his side an...

Capital gains are income so why are they taxed less than wages?

29 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australia starting taxing capital gains in 1986, stamping out a whole lot of tax evasion in the process.So why in 1999 did the Howard government intr...

Hillary Clinton

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.

The two-state solution—A way forward or more of the same

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

International leaders are calling for a two-state solution – as the only long-term way to solve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in...

Bernie Sanders: an idea whose time has come?

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bernie Sanders was the first independent and first self-professed socialist to be voted first into the House and then the US Senate, for decades. He ...

How Australia's supermarket sector became one of the most concentrated in the world

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coles and Woolworths didn't start out in food retail but after making the switch in the 1950s they quickly started taking over the competition.  We ...

Can you compare America in 2024 with Germany in 1930 or Donald Trump to a Fascist?

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does history rhyme? Should we make comparison between Germany in the 1930 and America in 2024? Are there parallels between the rise of Adolf Hitler a...

Trump, trade and tariffs

30 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump loves tariffs but most economists hate them.We look at how tariffs work and what history can tell us about their impact on economies....

Treaty of Waitangi

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week in New Zealand saw one of the biggest protests its seen for decades. A nine-day march ending in the capital Wellington – with a demonstra...

Abortion law reform—And the fight for access

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For over a century having or performing an abortion was a crime across Australia – but over the past decade it’s been decriminalised every state ...

A housing crisis and the battle between millennials and boomers

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The yes in my backyard movement (YIMBY) wants greater density in established suburbs and inner city.  Nimbies (NIMBY) are happy with the status quo ...

The 2020 US Presidential election—Lies, Fraud and a Democracy in Trouble

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week the America goes to the polls to elect its President. It will be close, possibly coming down to a few swing states and a few thousand voter...

How Oct 7th shattered the vision for Arab-Israeli normalisation

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In recent years, several Arab nations had begun to normalise relations with Israel. We examine what normalisation meant for the Palestinian cause. ...

What’s the connection between the rise of the far-right party the Alternative for Germany and the Roman Empire?

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The far-right party the Alternative for Germany or AfD has made impressive electoral gains in recent states elections in Germany – but only in East...

The Iranian Revolution__Modern Iran and the United States Role in its creation

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, has escalated over the past month to a point where a region conflict seems almo...

Iran__Oil, democracy and a CIA Coup

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the early 1950s Iran had a democratic government led by Mohammad Mosaddeq. On 19 August 1953 that government was overthrown by a CIA coup and the ...

The power play for control of the Murdoch Family Trust

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rupert Murdoch retired last year but now wants his eldest son to have control of the family trust when he dies.  The move would disempower three of ...

Hezbollah — Israel the Middle East and threat of war Part 2

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Middle East teetering on the brink of a war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. While seen by many western nations as a ter...

Hezbollah — Israel the Middle East and threat of war

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Lebanese Shiite militant group, Hezbollah is seen by many western governments as a terrorist organisation but it’s also much more than that. He...

Too crowded? What's behind the backlash against tourism?

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The world's most popular tourist destinations have been having a bumper 2024.But many places are again struggling with over tourism.We look back on t...

Water Privatisation in England and why it’s failed

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Raw sewage is being pumped into rivers and waterways across England and it’s increasing becoming a political and health issues. What’s going wron...

The Space Shuttle to Space X – why NASA turned to the private sector

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We examine the evolution of NASA's human space flight programAnd how past disasters influenced their cautious approach with the two astronauts stuck ...

Bangladesh—Politics and the Business of Remembering

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The protests that engulfed Bangladesh last month, that resulted in the removal of the Sheikh Hasina Government, were led by students and sparked by t...

Justice or retribution: the story of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 1971 a conflict marred by atrocities and war crimes led to the creation of the state of Bangladesh.After 40 years of inaction the government of Ba...

A mini casino in your pocket – how sport became a gambling product

24 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australians have always loved to gamble but sports betting apps are making it more accessible to more of us.We look at the history of online sports g...