Recognition of culture, stronger regional relationships and leadership by example can make Australia’s engagement in the Pacific more effective, writes Michael Dillon.

Before the federal government arms up for the recolonisation of the region, it should take a look at the new proposal for a United Nations Emergency Peace Service, write Annie Herro and Stuart Rees.

George Quinn hopes that the recent troubles in East Timor will force the ideologues and activists to adopt a pragmatic approach to the problems that beset the young democracy. According to Quinn there are crises in security, the military and police, politics and the economy. Quinn believes that policymakers should give consideration to a permanent international police-military presence, scaling back the Portuguese language policy and a security treaty with Australia.

Tim Anderson writes that a more ‘Australian friendly’ government could be bad news for poor people in East Timor – which means most of the population. If East Timor becomes a ‘neo-liberal protectorate’, Anderson argues, it will meet the fate of other small countries whose attempts to gain economic independence have been quashed by international institutions and powerful neighbours

Cavan Hogue writes that Australia needs to remember that the countries we call 'failed states' are in fact artificial, colonial creations. He argues that we should not be surprised if these 'non-states' fail but only if they succeed, and that pushing them down the 'democratic nation-state' model may not be in their best interests – or our own

Rodolfo Severino provides an international perspective on Australia's attitude to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. More enthusiasm and less reluctance on Canberra's part would have strengthened not undermined Australia's stature in the region, he argues.

James Gallaway interviews Singapore's former ambassador to the UN, Kishore Mahbubani, on Australia's back flip on the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation and his expectations for the East Asian Summit later this year.

Rawdon Dalrymple on Australia's engagement with Asia.