Revised, this book provides a comprehensive account of the shape and direction of Australian foreign policy. The 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 topics covered is the new internationalist agenda - from human rights and global environment issues to arms control. The text should be of interest to students of politics, history, international relations and economics, as well as to researchers and policy-makers.

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This book examines the impact of Australian public opinion towards defence and foreign policy from the mid-twentieth century to the present day. For most of this period, the public showed little interest in defence and security policy and possessed limited knowledge about the strategic options available. The principal post-war exception to this pattern is, of course, the Vietnam War, when political divisions over Australia’s support for the U.S.-led action eventually resulted in the withdrawal of troops in 1972. The period since 2001 has seen a fundamental change both in the public’s views of defence and foreign affairs, and in how these issues are debated by political elites. This has come about as a result of major changes in the strategic environment such as a heightened public awareness of terrorism, party political divisions over Australia’s military commitment to the 2003-11 Iraq War and the increasing overlap of economic and trade considerations with defence and foreign policies, which has increased the public’s interest in these issues. Combining the expertise of one of Australia's foremost scholars of public opinion with that of an expert of international relations, particularly as pertains to Australia in Asia, this book will be a critical read for those wishing to understand Australia's alliance with the U.S., interactions with Asia and China, and the distinctive challenges posed to Australia by its geographic position.

This book sets out to discuss what kind of ‘middle power’ Australia is, and whether its identity as a middle power negatively influences its relationship with Asia. It looks at the history of the middle power concept, develops three concepts of middle power status and examines Australia’s relationships with China, Japan and Indonesia as a focus. It argues that Australia is an ‘awkward partner’ in its relations with Asia due to both its historical colonial and discriminatory past, as well its current dependence upon the United States for a security alliance. It argues this should be changed by adopting a new middle power concept in Australian foreign policy.

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'.