In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Liam Garman, Steve Kuper, and Robert Dougherty address confusion surrounding the government’s recent recruitment announcement and examine why governments in the West remain complacent despite the continued rise of authoritarian powers. Dougherty unpacks the federal government’s recent announcement to open ADF recruitment to permanent residents from New Zealand, the UK, the US, and Canada and what this will mean for Defence. The trio then examine the West’s continued complacency regarding national security and America’s waning geopolitical hegemony, discussing whether we are looking at the end of the “end of history”. The podcast wraps up analysing the recent Collins Class life-of-type extension and the extent of Australia’s deterrence gap. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team