In episode 18 of Australia in the World, Allan and Darren discuss terrorism and counter-terrorism in the wake of the Sri Lanka terror attacks. Allan touches on why foreign policy is downplayed in Australian elections and Darren lets listeners know where to find the best round-up on the Battle of Winterfell.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, the hosts focus this episode on understanding and responding to the challenges posed by these types of attacks. How has Sri Lanka typically been viewed through the lens of Australian foreign policy, and do these attacks change that? How should we understand these attacks through the lens of the broader challenge of Islamic extremism and what policy responses are available? What role do DFAT and other security agencies play? And do these attacks cast the issue of foreign fighters – with which Australia has been grappling in recent years – in a different light? Allan concludes the episode with some thoughts on why foreign policy challenges tend to be downplayed or ignored during Australian election seasons.

Allan Gyngell AO FAIIA is national president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and an honorary professor at the ANU’s College of Asia and the Pacific.

Dr Darren Lim is a lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations at the Australian National University.

As always, we invite our listeners to email us at this address: australia.world.pod@gmail.com We welcome feedback, requests and suggestions. You can also contact Darren on twitter @limdarrenj.

Our thanks go to AIIA intern Charlie Henshall for his help both with research and audio editing, and Rory Stenning for composing our theme music.