Table of contents

‘honest, and provides a framework against which to judge foreign policy actions and achievements’ Cameron Forbes, Age ‘It will stand for the thoughtful Asian as the major document of Australia’s credentials for regional partnership . . . a dossier of almost everything you need to know about contemporary Australian foreign policy.’ Professor Stephen Fitzgerald, Director, Asia–Australia Institute Australia’s Foreign Relations is the most rigorous, lively and comprehensive ‘insider’ account ever written about the shape and direction of Australian foreign policy. This thoroughly revised edition keeps it fully abreast of a changing world. This book is indispensable for anyone who follows current affairs. Its contents range from a concise analysis of the practice and politics of making foreign policy—what it is that diplomats and foreign ministers do—to the exploration of Australia’s relationships, as a middle power, with all regions of the world. Among the many subjects covered is the new internationalist agenda, from human rights and global environmental issues to arms control. Australia’s Foreign Relations will be equally valuable for students of politics, history, international relations and economics—for, as the authors stress, foreign policy and Australia’s economic fortunes are now inextricably linked.

How does Australia's unique geographical, cultural and historical position influence its approach to foreign policy? What key challenges does Australia face on the world stage, and how can it overcome them? Reflecting the messy reality of foreign policy decision-making, this book helps you to understand the changes and continuities in Australia's approach. For example, does the US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973 and collapse of South Vietnam continue to cast a shadow over Australian foreign policy, or is it relevant only in understanding the dynamics of the cold war? Using an Australian Strategic Culture framework, O'Keefe sheds light on the characteristics that make Australia behave in a way different to any other country and equips you with analytic skills to understand the main debates, such as: - In what sense could Australia be seen as a 'good' international citizen? - Have national interests trumped global responsibilities? - How does the intersection between civil society and public opinion interact with foreign policy making? This book is essential reading if you are a student of Australian foreign policy, as well as of broader Australian domestic politics and international relations.

Australia's Foreign Relations is a rigorous, lively and comprehensive insider account of how Australian foreign policy works. It runs the full gamut of issues fundamental to Australia's place in, and relationships with, the world. It is aimed at researchers, policy makers and students of international relations, international economics, politics and history.

Paperback edition of an introductory survey designed for tertiary students of politics, international relations, history and economics. Addresses domestic interests and processes that shape foreign policy and also global, regional and bilateral issues. Includes references and index. The contributors are academics in fields such as history, political science and international studies. The editor is an associate professor in the School of Political Science at the University of NSW. His other publications include 'Australia in a Changing World'.

Examines how Australia's two dominant external relationships have evolved from 1788 to 1987.

Sea level rises pose a greater long term threat to Australia's coastline and major capital cities than a military attack by a foreign power. Citizens are more likely to experience a pandemic virus than a nuclear threat. Food shortages have already occurred as a result of flood or drought, and the tentacles of international trade in drugs, money laundering and human trafficking already reach far into Australian communities. Why Human Security Matters argues that Australian external relations needs to treat the 'soft' issues of security as seriously as it treats the 'hard' realities of military defence, but also the many complex situations in-between, whether it be civil war, political upheaval, terrorism or piracy. Australia needs to do this first and foremost in our region, but also in relation to the unresolved regional and global security issues as we confront an increasingly uncertain and turbulent world. With contributions from leading thinkers in foreign policy and strategic studies, Why Human Security Matters is essential reading for anyone seeking a thoughtful and thought-provoking analysis of Australia's place in an age of transition.