Welcome to the Society!

Our Recommended Media

As part of our commitment as a society, we want to make sure members have opportunities to learn about what's going on. The purpose of our recommended Media page as such is to show members media to members to help them learn.

Have something to recommend?

Let us know at mqsscsociety@gmail.com

This page is managed by the Professional Development & Education Committee

Disclaimer: Some of the displayed content is licensed and can only be accessed via a student account.

Macquarie's Own

To find more about the work of Macquarie University academics, you can search the Macquarie University Research Portal.

Articles

'Contracting for Australia's Diplomatic Security' (2018) - Dr Jon Cottam

Books

Religion and Hezbollah: Political Ideology and Legitimacy - Mariam Farida

Book Reviews

'The Danger imperative: violence, death and the soul of policing' (2025) - Dr Vincent Hurley

Journals

Journal Of Policing Intelligence and Counter Terrorism

Our Society

Currently our Academic & Research subcommittee are still working on their first project

Want to join the Academic & Research subcommittee?

Email us as at mqsscsociety@gmail.com

Public Reports

'The Cost of Espionage'

By the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Institute of Criminology

Click here to view!

Abstract

Espionage has become one of the most significant national security threats to Australia, impacting government, businesses and the university sector. The highly secretive nature of espionage makes it extremely difficult to measure. In this study we estimated, for the first time, the actual and prevented costs of espionage. Building on the Australian Institute of Criminology’s method for measuring the costs of serious and organised crime, we estimated the mitigation and response costs and the direct costs of espionage impacting Australia. We also estimated the preventable costs associated with a number of possible scenarios. The numbers are conservative and an underestimate of the true cost, given the challenges in identifying and measuring espionage activity and its consequences.

In 2023–24, espionage cost Australia at least $12.5 billion. This includes the direct costs of the consequences of known or probable espionage activity – primarily losses due to state or state-sponsored cyber attacks, insider threats and intellectual property theft – as well as the public and private sector response, remediation and mitigation costs. There are also tens of billions in additional costs that Australia may have prevented by countering potential espionage. For example, in just one week, a single incident of espionage-enabled sabotage from a large-scale cyber attack could cost the Australian economy nearly $6 billion. These prevented costs are significant, and highlight the importance and benefit of investing in efforts to reduce the threat of espionage and minimise the harm in high-risk settings.

'Disengagement from online misogynistic incel communities and it's implications for attitudes to gendered violence'

By the Australian Institute of Criminology

Click here to view!

Abstract

Online communities of ‘incels’ (involuntary celibates) have become synonymous with the promotion of misogyny and violence against women, particularly in light of recent violent incidents connected to them. Understanding how men stop engaging with these online communities is therefore important for broader violence prevention efforts.

This study used a qualitative survey of self-identified former incels to determine motivations for disengagement, strategies to facilitate disengagement, and whether and how their attitudes towards violence against women changed with disengagement.

Findings indicate that, while motivations to disengage varied, the strongest was disillusionment. This motivation in particular often led to improved attitudes towards women upon disengagement.