Australian foreign policy focuses on Asia
Australian foreign policy focuses on Asia
Australia's Foreign Relations In the World of the 1990s. Gareth Evans and Bruce Grant. Melbourne University Press. Second edition 1995. 417 pages, A$34.95.
MELBOURNE (JP): "Thinking of ourselves occasionally...as an East Asian hemisphere nation, and having others in the region comfortably think of us in this way, can do nothing to harm, and much to advance." Those words were articulated by Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans in his speech to the Asia-Australia Institute on March 20, 1995.
If an Australian had been trapped in a time wrap for 40 years, he'd be in for a big surprise. Forty years ago, Prime Minister Robert Menzies stated over and over again that Australia was British, and Asia was the sinister "near North".
The sinister near North, Asia is no longer, at least according to Gareth Evans and Bruce Grant. The revised edition of Australia's Foreign Relations, brought out early in March by Melbourne University Press, places Australia in the context of the post-Cold War constellation of world powers. It recounts historical events and addressed issues in a sober way, without pointing an accusing finger at anyone, or passing excessive self- congratulatory remarks, or remorseful self-flagellation.
Evans and Grant set the scene in the opening chapter by illustrating the rapid change in the international environment because of the collapse of Soviet communism, the revolutions that swept Eastern Europe, the reunification of Germany, the flare-ups in the Middle East and the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa. They then go on to interpret the new internationalism, where globalization of trade plays a crucial role. And in this play of capital, the Asia-Pacific region stands out as the most dynamic part.
The book itself is a statement of how far Australia has advanced from the era of dependency to the British. As part of global political and economic policies, trade and investment are unmistakably directed to the Asia-Pacific region, especially the fast expanding markets in Northeast and Southeast Asia. Although some of the book verges on the ideals, such as extolling the virtue of public diplomacy, most of it is honest and touchingly humble. It doesn't only claim altruism in Australia's development assistance to the developing countries, but also admits self- interest. In other words, how can Asians be good consumers if they remain abjectly poor? Another fact of which many objecting Australian taxpayers are unaware is the commercial side of development aid. Australian aid activities are mainly carried out by Australians, using Australian goods and services. So, along with the recipient countries, some Australian manufacturers, consultants and other service givers reap the benefit of the aid programs.
World War II plays a crucial role in breaking Australia's foreign policy dependence on Britain. When the Japanese attacked the Australian continent, it was not the British who came to the rescue, but the Americans. Even now Australia, with no illusion of grandeur in terms of its defense capabilities, still regards the USA as the "balancing wheel" and steadfastly holds on to the ANZUS Alliance.
On the diplomatic front, Australia has been balancing between principle and pragmatism. While raising human rights cases with 90 countries in 1993 alone, for instance, it now maintains a low profile. "Quiet dialogue and persuasion, systematically pursued in the context of broad multi-dimensional relationship, will more often than not, give better results than noisy drum-beating, however much emotional gratification the latter might generate at home," Evans said, outlining the country's diplomatic stance and his own style..
In the section on Indonesia, the authors glow with optimism despite a roller-coaster relationship in the past with its closest neighbor. A great deal of faith has been put into the recent strengthening of friendship between the countries' two foreign ministers.
The book names two main factors central to Australia's challenge in the 1990s: Its status as a middle power, and the implied capacity for effective action and influence; and its location beside Southeast Asia in the Asia-Pacific region, what the authors call the most economically dynamic region in the world. How well it can take advantage of these two factors will determine the place it will occupy in the power-play of the world.
Despite the incredible amount of information it contains, the book is extremely readable. It throws light on some of the actions taken by Australia which, viewed individually, seem unreasonable and inconsistent. It has a glossary of acronyms, for those (the reviewer included) whose capability for remembering wanes after the 15th seven-letter acronym. This book is imperative reading for aspiring diplomats and foreign mission staff in the region.
-- Dewi Anggraeni