Kevin Rudd's World: The PM's global hopes and fears. Daniel Flitton

After two years and a whirlwind of activity in Australia's foreign affairs, what has Kevin Rudd got to show for all his global ambition? Australia has won a seat at the revamped G20 leaders' summit, while chasing another at the United Nations Security Council. But there have also been hurdles to surmount - relations with China soared then soured - so, too, with Indonesia. Then there's India, Afghanistan, climate change... How will Kevin Rudd, the former diplomat, see the world in an election year, and what part will it play in his stewardship of Australia's interests?

Daniel Flitton is diplomatic editor of The Age. He is a former intelligence analyst for the Australian Government and was at one time a university lecturer specialising in international relations.

Presented by the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Melbourne, February 2010