Benjamin Cherry-Smith

Benjamin Cherry-Smith

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Benjamin Cherry-Smith is a current PhD candidate in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide. He is currently researching the impact of the US-Australia Alliances' on Australian foreign policy and approach to the Indo-Pacific and Antarctic regions.

Benjamin has previously completed a research Masters at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He has also completed a Master of International Relations by coursework and Bachelor of Government and International Relations at Griffith University and a Graduate Diploma of Public Policy at the University of Tasmania.

My research is focused on understanding how a state's culture and identity contribute to and impact state policy development, articulation, and implementation. Specifically, I employ an ontological security lens examining how language is deployed to convey policy priorities. My research is principally focused on historic and contemporary Australian foreign and security policy and American policy and political communication. Along these lines, my PhD thesis investigates how the US-Australia Alliance has shaped Australia's foreign policy development and approach to the Indo-Pacific and Antarctic regions.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - 2023 Research Intern Defence Science and Technology Group
    2022 - 2023 Editor Australia-Pacific Youth Dialogue
    2021 - 2021 Reserach Assistant The University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2022 Teaching Award Individual Teaching (Early Career Contract & Sessional) Prize for Excellence in Teaching Faculty of Arts, Business, Law, and Economics Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2018 - 2020 University of the Sunshine Coast Australia Master of Arts
    2017 - 2017 Griffith University Australia Master of International Relations
    2015 - 2016 University of Tasmania Australia Graduate Diploma of Public Policy
    2012 - 2014 Griffith University Australia Bachelor of Government and International Relations

  • Research Interests
    Defence Studies Globalisation and Culture International Relations People, behaviour and choices Strategic, Defence & Security Studies

My PhD is funded under the University of Adelaide's priority ‘Information Capability’ research area.

Lecturer:

Course Code Course Title Year
POLIS 2140 Australia's Security in the Indo-Pacific 2021, Semester 2

Tutor: 

Course Code Course Title Year
POLIS 7026 International Security 2023, Semester 1
POLIS 2140 Australia's Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific 2023, Semester 1
POLIS 7027 International Security Final Project 2022, Semester 2
POLIS 7026 International Security 2022, Semester 1
POLIS 2140 Australia's Security in the Indo-Pacific 2021, Semester 2
POLIS 7026 International Security 2021, Semester 1

Marker:

Course Code Course Title Year
POLIS 3002 International Security 2023, Semester 1
POLIS 7026 International Security 2023, Semester 1
POLIS 2140 Australia's Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific 2023, Semester 1
POLIS 7026 International Security 2022, Semester 1
POLIS 2140 Australia's Security in the Indo-Pacific 2021, Semester 2
POLIS 7026 International Security 2021, Semester 1

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2022 - 2023 Member U.S. Consulate Melbourne Youth Council Network U.S. Consulate General Melbourne Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2022 - ongoing Member International Studies Association Australia
    2021 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand American Studies Association Australia
    2021 - ongoing Member Australian Political Studies Association Australia

  • Event Participation
    Date Event Name Event Type Institution Country
    2022 - 2022 U.S.-Australia Alliance Next Generation Leaders National Workshop Workshop University of Western Australia Australia
    2022 - 2022 Sociology, Social Influence and the Grey Zone Challenge Conference University of South Australia Australia
    2021 - 2021 U.S.-Australia Alliance Next Generation Leaders Regional Workshop Workshop University of Western Australia Australia
    2021 - 2021 The Alliance: Next Generation Workshop Workshop The Jeff Bleich Centre, Flinders University Australia

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2023 - 2023 The Political Construction and Necessity of Middle Powers during Great Power Competition and a Shifting World Order Defence School of Intelligence Australian Defence Force Australia
    2023 - 2023 The Political Construction and Necessity of Middle Powers during Great Power Competition and a Shifting World Order Influence and Conflict Analysis (ICA) Seminar Series 2023 Defence Science and Technology Group Australia
    2023 - 2023 The Role of Middle Powers in Global Governance International Studies Association 2023 Annual Confernece International Studies Association Canada
    2022 - 2022 Articulating Anxiety: Australia 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, Rules-Based Order, and the Role of China The New Zealand Political Studies Association 2022 Annual Conference The New Zealand Political Studies Association New Zealand
    2022 - 2022 Anxious Australia: World Order Change and China The Australian Political Studies Association 2022 Annual Conference The Australian Political Studies Association Australia
    2021 - 2021 Catholic Universalism, (Neo)Colonialism, and the tradition of Global Human Rights The Australian Political Studies Association 2021 Annual Conference The Australian Political Studies Association Australia

  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2019 - 2020 The United Nations: Friend or Foe of Self-Determination? Editorial E-International Relations United Kingdom
    2019 - 2019 Sexuality and Translation in World Politics Editorial E-International Relations United Kingdom
Connect With Me
External Profiles