The Australia in World Affairs series commenced in 1950 and provides a continuous, researched scholarly account of Australia's foreign policy. The twelfth volume, Australia in World Affairs 2011–2015: Navigating the New International Disorder, covered a turbulent period both domestically and internationally. Australia had four Prime Ministers in this period alone, there were growing challenges in the Middle East and Europe, as well as on Australia's own doorstep with the South China Sea disputes. Australia had a role in these multifaceted, complex and often unconventional global issues. The foreign policy landscape was very much about navigating the new international disorder and confronting unprecedented issues.