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