Amit's Blog

Australia's Journey from Racial Exclusion to Multicultural Resilience: Transformation and Tension Australia's history reveals a profound evolution from entrenched racial discrimination, akin to apartheid, to a vibrant multicultural society shaped by immigration. Beginning with colonial-era policies like the White Australia Policy and Aboriginal Protection Acts, which enforced segregation and exclusion, the nation underwent pivotal changes through activism, international pressure, and legislative reforms, such as the 1967 Referendum and the 1975 Racial Discrimination Act. Sporting events, including West Indies and Indian cricket tours, and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics mirrored shifting racial attitudes, culminating in the dismantling of discriminatory immigration in the 1970s. This opened doors to Asian migrants, transforming demographics: from a predominantly Anglo-Celtic population of 19 million in 1999 to over 27 million today, with 31.5% overseas-born and Asian ancestries s...

A Golden Parachute for Allies, a Budget Sinkhole for Rivals   The United States’ massive defense spending, averaging 3.4–3.7% of GDP ($778–968 billion annually from 2020–2024), has reshaped global geopolitics, providing a security blanket for allies like Japan, Germany, South Korea, Canada, and Australia while forcing adversaries like Russia to overspend on defense. Allies thrive with low budgets—Japan at 1.4%, Canada at ~1.5%, South Korea at ~2.5%, Australia at ~2.1%, and Germany at 1.8% in 2024—channeling savings into economic growth that fueled their prosperity over 50 years. Russia’s spending soared to 7.1% of GDP ($149 billion) in 2024, driven by Ukraine and NATO pressures, while China’s 1.7% ($314 billion) and India’s 2.4% ($86.1 billion) reflect strategic priorities. This note dives into how the U.S. security umbrella enabled allies’ wealth, compares budgets with major spenders, explores U.S. impatience with allies, and reflects on the sustainability of this lopsided sys...