POLS2201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cutting In Line, Mateship, Aust
Lecture 3 - Identity, Traditions and History of Australian
Foreign Policy
Assignment:
Is the issue youve chosen within the remit of DFAT?
Is it a distinct policy issue?
Have you demonstrated sufficient understanding of current policy and debates?
Is it within the 2 page limit (excepting bibliography)?
While all information isnt always possible, have you made every effort to get all the
information you can?
Have you covered all the points in the ECP assessment description?
In tutorials: around the room so we can hear your choice and you can get feedback.
Timing to be confirmed in first tutorial.
Examples: plenty available on Blackboard, using the format as a template is
encouraged.
USE EXAMPLE FORMAT
CHECK FORMATTING
Use precedents for implications/budgetting
money is important - must be realistic
Aust History + Fo Pol
Origins of 20th Century Aus:
convicts, settlers, dispossession, penal colony until 1850s/60s
19th century conflict: convicts/settlers, workers/landowners, Catholics/Protestants,
whites/non-whites (e.g. gold fields 1850s)
movement to federation from 1870s: fear of invasion, economic interests, cheap
labour concerns - need to monitor, racism?
Aust Fo Pol
No fo pol pre-1901 (federation)
1901-WWI: wedded to UK
WWI: experience (e.g. Gallipoli) laid foundation for break with UK
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Interests didnt coincide
WWII: shift of focus to US, recalled troops for defence
1950s: ANZUS
1960s: end of White Aus Policy, Vietnam War
1979s: Asian engagement (e.g. Indonesia, East Timor)
Aust Identity + Fo Pol
Identity important for constructivists, because who we are and what we value
underpins interests
DFAT: out foreign policy must give expression to, and be formed not he basis of, the
values of our community
Aust identity + values:
white nation (e.g. asylum policy)
Egalitarianism (e.g. ODA, a fair go, treatment of boat people - queue jumping,
therefore unegalitarian)
mateship (e.g. Iraq?)
grounded (e.g. middle power diplomacy)
liberal (e.g. US alliance)
masculine (e.g. climate change, militarism - ANZAC legend)
Key questions
how sedimented are identity narratives?
do they underpin interests or provide resources for selling them?
in what ways do they enable/constrain action?
e.g. Iraq - masculinity drawn upon
should values and identity inform how Aus acts in world politics?
e.g. should we risk strategic interests due to opposing identities?
Traditions/Currents of Thought
Traditionalism:
cultural ties to similar states (e.g. Anglosphere)
Physical security concerns prominent
Seclusionism:
minimal global involvement
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
