AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN POLICY

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Unit 4 AOS 2

• AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN POLICY

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Some Key Areas

• Change in
• Orientations
• and Goals
• of AFP

Historical Background
Security Alliance
Regional Relationships
Economic Dimension
Debate About National Interest
Recent Changes in AFP
The Role of Internationalism
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• The historical background to
• Australian foreign
• policy

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Underlying Themes in AFP

• Protection of its own physical security and
  ultimately its own survival as a white
  Anglo-Saxon society - based on large land mass
  huge coast line and small population fear.
  Examples White Australian Policy. We are the
  frightened country.-David Hunter Deakin
  University.
• Distrust in our nearest neighbours. -Yellow
  Peril, not like us
• Threat mentality we are at danger of being
  invaded because of our land, resources, wealth
  etc..
• A need for a Great Powerful Friend - to defend
  us as we could not defend ourselves need help and
  help from who we trust the most.

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FOREIGN POLICY 1900 - 1945

• Well into the 20th century Australian FP was a
  matter decided by the national interests of the
  British Commonwealth. Grey (1990) has referred to
  this policy of securing our defence through
  contributions to the British empires defence as
  an expeditionary force mentality.
• Strong desire to show are capability to help and
  support the British Empire. Fought in Boer War,
  WW I and WW II. Note language used
• see Firth pp 8-9
• WW I Australian casualties
• 215,585 casualties of the 331,781 total troops
  who fought at a very high rate of 64.98
• In fact Australia did not have its own Department
  of Foreign Affairs until 1936! No separate
  source of information, opinion or voice was
  deemed to be necessary.
• But Australia did take control of Papua in 1906,
  1911 saw the establishment of the Australian
  Navy, the Australian Imperial Forces (1914)
• In 1941 Prime Minister Curtin declared that
  Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as
  to our traditional links or kinship with the UK.
• UK however, could do little to help us once
  Singapore fell in 1942. Therefore we shifted our
  focus to gaining support from the USA. Still
  needed a GPF.

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THE COLD WAR

• Establishment of ANZUS alliance in 1951. Navel
  communication base in WA in 1963. Finally
  abolished the White Australia Policy in 1972
  under Whitlam.
• SEATO South East Asia Treaty Organisation
  (1954) was established in order to oppose further
  communist gains in Asia. Never really effective
  and was dissolved in 1975.
• Rearming and rebuilding of Japan to counter the
  spread of communism in North Asia.
• Adoption of Forward Defence principle
• Vietnam (1962-72) 46,000 troops but much
  criticism over Australias willingness to fight
  other peoples wars. It did provide excellent
  opportunities to exchange share military
  defence technology.
• Fear of red peril the domino theory in the
  Australian mindset. Supported the US policy of
  containment.

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The whitlam government1972-1975

• The ALP had been in opposition since 1949 until
  the election of Gough Whitlam as PM ushered in
  one of he most transformative periods of AFP
  ever. In just three years the Whitlam government
• Recognised East Germany and the PRC
• Abolished conscription and withdrew troops from
  South Vietnam
• Raised Australias criticism of colonial powers
  in Africa
• Took France to the ICJ over its nuclear bomb
  testing in the South Pacific
• Abolished the last remnants of the WAP
• Condemned US bombing missions into North Vietnam
• Accepted the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in
  1975
• Chose to accept the existence of US bases on
  Australian soil
• Asserted a more independent stance for AFP than
  all previous Australian governments.making
  enemies along the way.

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The Fraser Government1975-1983

• Like Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser took a very active
  approach to the formulation of AFP, but with a
  more traditional pro-US focus
• He distrusted the USSR but chose to not respond
  to the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and
  accepted Australias participation in the 1980
  Moscow Olympics
• Developed stronger relations with many African
  developing states to diminish racism and boost
  fairness in global trade
• Supported the embargo on South Africa because of
  its apartheid policies
• Encouraged a shift towards Asian immigration into
  Australia.
• Actively encouraged Australians to look toward
  Asia without the bias and prejudices of the past.

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Hawke Keating governments1983-1996

• This was an era of dramatic changes in the focus
  and purpose of AFP. In this period there were
  not only significant events to deal with but also
  a wide range of initiatives taken up by F.M.s
  Hayden and later on Evans.
• Globalisation of Australian financial markets
• Created DFAT in 1987
• Established the Cairns Group to campaign for
  global trade reform
• Signed the CER with NZ
• Helped create the Asia- Pacific Economic
  Cooperation (APEC)
• Encouraged a more Asian focus on trade and
  regional relationships
• Reiterated the importance of the US alliance
  especially after NZ left ANZUS in 1985..Together
  forever (Hawke). Creation of AUSMIN
• Enthusiastically sent two frigates to the
  blockade of Iraq in Gulf War
• Maintained strong ties with Indonesia despite the
  issue of East Timor

Take Brief Notes pp 42-48
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• Security
• and
• alliance
• relationships

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ALLIANCES

• An alliance is a form of marriage or liaison for
  certain purposes, with all problems of
  compatibility, pride, shared interest varying
  expectations that relationships bring.
• Alliances offer participants many things,
  depending on the nature of the alliance itself
  its particular provisions.
• For Australia, the ANZUS alliance is the basic
  document underlying a range of bilateral
  agreements and treaties which support an intense
  military, scientific and intelligence
  collaboration.
• K. Beazley Australias ambassador to the US
  February 2011

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For More than sixty years

• The key focus or essence of Australias foreign
  policy has been its very special relationship
  with the USA. The relationship forged in World
  War 2, has been remarkably strong and resilient
  and survived every issue and crisis to date
• Namely the Vietnam War, when Australia continued
  to support the US when other allies did not and
  the recent War on Terror and the invasion of
  Iraq, as an enthusiastic member of the Coalition
  of the Willing.

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• Australias expectations of the alliance have
  always been the same, are part of its overall
  priority of military and economic security. The
  USA expected Australia to part of the general
  western alliance providing economic and military
  security for the USA. With changes in government
  there have been different expectations and
  relations with the USA. e.g. Menzies, Whitlam,
  Fraser, Hawke, Keating, Howard, Rudd and now
  Gillard.
• The Australian-US relationship covers far more
  than the formal military agreements that have
  been entered into. The relationship covers a
  whole range of areas, trade, cultural exchange,
  intelligence sharing, information, (about other
  states).

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THE ANZUS TREATY

• A mere 800 words.

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ANZUS

• We have developed relations with the US due to
  the following FP priorities
• WW2 ANZUS Alliance
• Vietnam War all the way with LBJ
• Gulf War
• Iraq War coalition of the willing /deputy
  sheriff
• Many Australians support the US alliance
  because
• We have similar political systems
• A belief in individualism
• The common aspects of our cultures
• The diversity pluralism in our societies
• Shared interests in the Asia-pacific region
• US helped Australia to defeat the Japanese in WW2
• Underlying belief that USA would save us if
  invaded
• Defence spending can be lowered assuming USA will
  help us.

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KEY SECURITY ISSUES AGREEMENTS

• Today Australias security depends largely on
  developing stronger security ties with our near
  neighbours. Political instability, global
  terrorism fundamentalism are all on the rise in
  the Asia-Pacific region are the main influences!
• Today Australias security relies on maintaining
  key strategic partnerships for example
• APEC Asia Pacific Economic Corporation
• ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations
• ANZUS - Alliance (w/o New Zealand)
• AUSMIN Bilateral consultations with the USA
• FPDA Five Power Defence Arrangements
• ARF ASEAN Regional Forum
• EAS East Asia Summit
• PIF Pacific Islands Forum
• Arms Controls Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty,
  Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Convention on
  the Banning of Cluster Bombs the Ottawa Treaty
  (Land Mine Ban)

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US MILITARY BASES

• Pine Gap, Geraldton North West Cape
• The arguments for the bases
• Commitment to ANZUS so increase
• the likelihood of the US assisting Aust in
  any military/security crisis
• Loyalty future bargaining power
• Australia contributes to the global balance of
  power
• Share military intelligence
• Arguments against the bases
• Australia a target for security threats
• Sovereignty is compromised
• Contribute to instability in the region

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Attitudes to the Alliance

• Essentially bipartisan- main elements are agreed
  upon by both of the major parties.
• But differences do exist. Generally speaking the
  ALP is more critical of aspects loss of
  sovereignty too locked into the US global
  security position denies internationalist
  positions. On the other hand the Coalition tend
  to believe in the totality of the whole alliance
  have to accept it all cant pick and choose
  one or two aims and ignore the rest.

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3. The difference is mainly one of priority
with the ALP US alliance for direct defence,
and a greater reliance on independence and
different regional positions 4. Lib/National
more inclined to threat perceptions and hence to
support the alliance in total 5. US alliance is
a delicate balance of cost benefits 6. Note
the Howard Doctrine was new form of
Australias alignment with the US.
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HOWARD DOCTRINE1996( but really 2001) to 2007

• National interest equation countries in the
  region that are most able to provide Australia
  with security economic growth potential
• National security strengthening and refocusing
  on ANZUS, war on terrorism, (Howard in USA on
  9/11) Iraq conflict, East Timor forward
  defence. Tension with Indonesia
• Trade and economic interests. Increase
  commodity-based export markets. Advance
  globalisation China, US Free Trade Agreement,
  Korea, Indonesia. Cairns group. Malaysia sees
  Australia as a bully.
• Role as a global citizen peacekeeping in East
  Timor Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea,
  Cambodia, aid to Pakistan, Vietnam, Mongolia,
  Mozambique Tsunami-torn countries. But
  reputation in jeopardy as we refused UN agreement
  on women, asylum seekers anti-terror legislation
• Global environment no Australian ratification
  of the Kyoto protocol but signed Valdivia group

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HOWARDS COMMITMENT

• 1996 Joint Security Declaration with the USA
• ANZUS being evoked for the first time, by Aust
  following the 9/11 bombings. Howard was in US at
  the time
• Sending of troops to aid the war on terrorism in
  Afghanistan
• Australia being the only state in the region to
  sign up military for the invasion of Iraq
• Support for the USs pre-emptive strikes even
  suggested Australia would use them as well.
• Howard taking five days to deny that he said
  Australia was Americas deputy in the
  Asia-Pacific

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Rudd Gillard post 2007

• As has been the case in Australian politics since
  the early 1950s there is broad bi-partisan
  support for ANZUS and the broader US alliance.
• Very much steady as always but clearly without
  the effusive rhetoric that PM Howard was famous
  for.
• Rudd withdrew Australian combat troops from Iraq
  and increasing our commitment in Afghanistan,
  which sat better with many in Australia as
  Afghanistan is a UN/NATO mission which Iraq is
  not and never was.
• Casualties however, are on the rise 28 service
  personnel have been killed as at 8/8/2011. Seven
  in 2011 alone.

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USA Alliance Always Popular

• The Lowy Institute's 2009 survey of the nation's
  views on a range of foreign policy issues has
  revealed that 83 of Australians trust the USA to
  act responsibly in the world - up from 60 in
  2006.
• President Obama has revived Australians'
  optimism about their relationship with the USA,
  with 85 now saying it was important for
  Australia's security.

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Alliance Questions

• Define security as it related to the study of
  international relations.
• Explain one specific way the Australian
  Government has tried to achieve security since
  1999.
• What is the ANZUS agreement?
• The ANZUS treaty was signed nearly 60 years ago.
  Why is it still a relevant factor in Australian
  foreign policy decision making?
• Describe two arguments for and argument against
  the ANZUS agreement from Australia's point of
  view.
• What does ANZUS require any of the parties to do
  in the event that one of them is attacked?
• What was the 'Howard Doctrine'?
• Why do you think the alliance with America is
  viewed favourably by the majority of the
  Australian population?

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• The
• role of
• Internationalism

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GOOD GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

• Success in this area is measured by Australias
  willingness to tackle particular issues such as
  human rights, terrorism, third world debt, drug
  problems, environmental issues
• How we tried to achieve these objectives?
• Membership of the UN trying to get elected to the
  SC in 2013-14
• Foreign Aid aims are political stability,
  pro-Western stance, national economic interest
  size of the aid. Examples Vietnam, Pakistan,
  natural disaster devastated states.
• Formal Agreements WTO APEC WHO
• Peacekeeping Solomon Islands, East Timor,
  Middle East Afghanistan
• But problems do exist
• Human Rights Aboriginal rights
• Refugee Issues mandatory detention, Tampa,
  Malaysian solution
• Environmental Issues Took a lot of years to
  sign Kyoto Protocol
• Conduct as the South-Pacific Superpower

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OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (ODA)

• Australias aid to the Asia-Pacific region
  included
• Promoted improved governance
• Assisting countries to access maximise benefits
  from trade new information technologies
• Supporting improved delivery of basic services,
• Strengthening regional security
• Promoting sustainable resource management.
• Specific examples in recent years include
• 1b to Australia-Indonesia Partnership for
  Reconstruction Development
• Funding to the Pacific 463 million
• 600 million to HIV/AIDS strategy
• 170 million to humanitarian, emergency refugee
  funding
• 6.5 million to tackle chronic food shortages in
  Indonesia
• 55 million to help Burma in the aftermath of
  Cyclone Nargis
• 2 million to aid Chinas earthquake victims in
  2008
• 5 million aid to assist Pakistan in coping with
  devastating floods in August 2010

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Who Receives AusAid?
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The Foreign Aid Budget

• In the 2008-09 Federal Budget the government
  increased foreign aid to 3.7b or 0.31 of GNI.
• In the 2011-12 Federal Budget the government
  plans to increase aid to 4.8b or 0.35 of GNI
• The Gillard governments longer term aim was to
  raise ODA to 8 billion (0.5 of GDP) by 2015-16
  however this has been revised downwards to just
  0.4 by 2013-14 well short of previous Rudd
  governments target and the Millennium
  Development Goal (MDG) standard of 0.7 of GNI.

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Source OECD
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Source 2009/10 Budget Papers
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Features of ausaid

• Australias aid program is traditionally focused
  on the Asia-Pacific region. AusAid itself says
  that
• Two-thirds of the worlds poor live in
  Australias region- out of our twenty nearest
  neighbours, eighteen are developing countries.
  Many of these countries are also important
  trading partners. We export almost 90b in goods
  and services to the major countries where
  Australian aid is delivered.

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AUSTRALIA THE UN

• UN website
• Australia is firmly committed to the UN system.
  As a middle-sized nation, our interests are
  served by functioning, effective mechanisms for
  multilateral cooperation that compliment our
  bilateral regional relationships. The UNs
  importance to Australia can be seen in core
  areas, such as international peace security
  (including arms control disarmament) the
  development of international legal instruments
  norms. It is also found in the work of the UNs
  programs technical agencies which deal with
  issues such as women and children, protection
  of the environment sustainable development.

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A Seat On The UNSC

• In March 2008, then PM Rudd announced that
  Australia would stand for election for a two-year
  term as a non-permanent member of the United
  Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2013-14. 
• Not having served on the Security Council since
  1986, Rudd was especially keen to have Australia
  have a term on the worlds pre-eminent security
  body. 
• Ideally Australia sees itself being able to play
  a role as an independent, constructive member of
  the SC. 
• Anticipated cost of project, 40 million.
• Critics has said the government is simply wasting
  money and has no chance of succeeding

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Current Global operations
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Australian Peacekeepers as at May 2011
Operation Location Numbers Purpose
Astute Tower Timor Leste 404 Restore Peace
Mazurka Egypt 25 Support UN
Azure Sudan 25 Restore Peace
Kruger Iraq 35 Restore Peace Combat
Paladin West Bank 12 Restore Peace
Slipper Afghanistan 2352 Restore Peace, Training Combat
Anode Solomon Is 80 Restore Peace
Resolute EEZ 400 Protect
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Internationalism since 2007

• Historically Labor governments have been strong
  supporters of the UN. Since 2007 they have
• Signed the Kyoto Protocol
• Campaigned for a comprehensive treaty at
  Copenhagen in 2010
• Abandoned a promised ETS in 2010
• Promised a Carbon Tax to commence on July 2012
• Increased its commitment to the ISAF mission in
  Afghanistan
• Campaigned heavily for a seat on the UNSC
• Strongly supported the rise of the G20 as a body
  best suited to coordinate responses to global
  economic instability since 2008
• Signed treaties such as the one banning cluster
  bombs
• Established an off shore asylum detention centre
  in Malaysia and PNG
• Increased ODA commitments but will not achieve
  MDG standard in 2015

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Internationalism Questions

1. What is foreign aid?
2. Name two countries that receive the bulk of
   Australian foreign aid. Give a reason why
   Australia provides this aid.
3. What is meant by "enlightened self-interest" in
   relation to foreign aid?
4. State 3 ways Australia fulfils its
   responsibilities as a global citizen.
5. What is the United Nations?
6. Explain three involvements Australia has with the
   United Nations
7. What is a treaty?
8. Name two economic treaties and one military
   treaty to which Australia is a party.
9. Analyse the argument that Australia should attach
   specific conditions to the foreign aid it
   provides to other countries.