Mr Benedict Moleta

Benedict is a PhD student in the Department of International Relations, writing on the intellectual legacy of Coral Bell. Other research interests include political Islam, and thought and action in the public sphere, from Lessing to Lenin and later.

Primary supervisor: Professor George Lawson.
Associate Supervisors: Professor Angela Woollacott, Dr Benjamin Zala

Contact: [email protected]

Conference papers 2025:

• "Russia is a Necessary Partner:" Coral Bell on NATO in 1994
  (2025 Oceanic Conference on International Studies, University of New South Wales, July 9-11)
  
  
• Avoiding Armageddon: Roundtable on Coral Bell’s Contribution to International Relations 
  (British International Studies Association 50th Anniversary Conference, Belfast, 17-20 June)
  Chair: Toni Erskine (Australian National University)
  Participants: Michael Cox (London School of Economics), Benedict Moleta (ANU), Cornelia Navari (Emeritus, University of Birmingham), Gregory Stiles (University of Sheffield), Nicholas Wheeler (University of Birmingham)

Conference papers 2024:

• Where Have All the Public Spheres Gone? From Brian Penton via Donald Horne, to Allan Behm and Emma Shortis
  (Fifth Annual Australia & the World Symposium, Australian National University, November 13)
  
  
• The Non-Failure of Political Islam: From Olivier Roy in Theory to Hamas in Practice
  (Middle East Studies Forum, Deakin  University, October 7-8)

Analysis and commentary:

• After Trump’s Peace Plan: Three Problems Facing Israel in Gaza
  (Near East Policy Forum)
  
  
• Two years since Hamas’ attack on Israel: Jumping to political conclusions?
  (Australian Outlook)
  
  
• Strength and Negotiation in Gaza After Israel’s War With Iran
  (Australian Outlook)
  
  
• Why Resign from the State Department? Principled Resignation and Public Service in the Case of Josh Paul
  (Australian Outlook)
  
  
• Allan Behm: The Odd Couple: The Australia-America Relationship (book review) 
  (Independent Australia)
  
  
• The Primacy of Foreign Policy in Reverse: Israel’s War Aims After the Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
  (Australian Outlook)
  Republished in Arabic + five languages in World and New World Journal
  
  
• Fatima Payman: Mascot, Menace or Member of Parliament? (Muslims Down Under)
  
  
• Reading Coral Bell on the Fortieth Anniversary of Dependent Ally: Style and Substance
  (Australian Outlook)
  
  
• The German Question in 2024: Zeitenwende, Leitkultur, or Simply Gesamtdeutsch?
  (Australian Outlook)
  
  
• Fatima Payman: The Principle and Practice of Service
  (Muslims Down Under)
  
  
• From Ceasefire to Post-War Government in Israel and Gaza (Australian Outlook)
  Republished in Arabic + five languages in World and New World Journal
  
  
• “EU has to Learn to Use the Language of Power” Says Borrell (johnmenadue.com)
  
  
• Ismail Haniyeh's Peace Proposal: A Superior Proposal from Netanyahu is Now Awaited
  (Australian Outlook)
  
  
• Hamas’ Attack on Israel: Realistic Assessment Requires Attention Beyond Gaza
  (Australian Outlook)

Languages:

English: Native or bilingual proficiency
German: Full professional proficiency
French: Limited working proficiency
Indonesian: Elementary proficiency 
Italian: Limited working proficiency
Arabic: A few basic greetings and phrases
Persian: A few basic greetings and phrases
HTML: Full professional proficiency

Concept Club

Benedict convenes a PhD student research seminar in the Coral Bell school, called Concept Club. It is a forum in which 10-minute talks are presented on any concept in international affairs. Topics have ranged from regionalism to neutralism, para-diplomacy to violence, and emptiness to instinct.

On the first anniversary of the club Benedict took Concept Club to the Australian Institute of International Affairs, for a night of talks on the concepts of ambiguity, luck and listening. 

You can read more about Concept Club here.