Problems and Tensions in Australia’s National Interests

Ron AndersonSEV Student lectures

August 2011

Main focus of this talk

Two general sources of tension in AFP

1. the basic transition in AFP

2. Contradictions between component elements of AFP

Main historical themes (old – now out of date?)

1.Threat mentality (note change from past exaggerated threat perception to a more rational threat perception)

2. Vulnerability assumptions- feelings among A that we are at risk

3. Regional suspicion –we’re suspicious of the region; the region is suspicious of Australia.

4. Dependence assumptions – need for a strong and powerful alliance with a major western power

Since the ’70s Aust. has movedFROM TO

Traditional foreign policy• Exaggerated threat mentality -

vulnerability* cultural and racial xenophobia

* regional fears & vulnerability * DependencePolicies* strong ties to Europe * US alliance * isolation in Asia * regional security through

reliance on Western power * forward defence * economic ties with Europe

New foreign policy* Rational threat mentality No direct immediate threat * Regional independence * Aust. can operate in the

region by itself* greater independencePolicies * engagement with Asia * defence self reliance * regional independence

assertion of power in Pacific

* US alliance more global * regional trade * human rights etc

Aspects of this transition

1. It is incomplete – sections of Australians have not made this transition – they’re still in the old xenophobic phase

Hansonites; Anti- asylum seekers, Sydney ‘shock jocks’, Bolt

2. Some groups have gone further in the transition – more internationalist in orientation – the Greens

Effect: broader policy spectrum

Centrist acceptance of this transition

3. Considerable bipartisanship between the main parties – basic agreement over National interest; US alliance

BUTDifference in emphasis between themLib/coalition – primacy on security & alliance, +

economic growthALP and Greens – greater emphasis on

internationalism but not at expense of security or economic

growth

What is National Interest?

Protect & enhance basic way of life

Security Sector

Economic Sector

Socio-cultural Sector

Components of National Interest

1. Direct Security2. Regional Stability3. Global Stability4. Economic Prosperity and development5. Internationalist goalsSee table in accompanying notesExcept for 5. these are clearly aspects which are

essential to maintain Aust.’s sovereignty and way of life

1. Direct SecurityBasic elements - mainland security; border protection;

control of key strategic zones Policies & aspects - defence self reliance - adequate defence forces for

detection, deterrence and direct mainland defence;- Strategic surveillance – Cocos and Christmas Islands –

for Indian Ocean surveillance- Strong intelligence networks – advance knowledge of

‘threats’- maintain stability in key strategic zones –’Island Screen’

modern technological military equipment - Deterrence through collective security pacts – ANZUS- Strong regional diplomatic ties to detect or prevent

‘problems – terrorists, ‘asylum seekers’

2. Regional Stability & SecurityBasic Elements- stability in SW Pacific; South East Asia; Asia generally Policies and Aspects:- military capability intervene without sacrificing direct defence –

naval power projection - Fiji; Solomons etc- Strong influence (aid & diplomacy) on vulnerable micro states

in SW Pacific, and PNG – significant aid to PNG; - control of Pacific Forum; - Strong and positive regional ties with neighbours – Indonesia

SEA nations. - Sufficient force projection to deter, counter-attack any

potential regional attack - ‘Howard Doctrine’ – Australia to act to provide regional

stability as ‘deputy’ to the US

3. Global Stability & SecurityBasic Elements: maintain peaceful core global

relationships esp. with core allies Policies & Aspects:- US alliance A. tied to US global positions(i) core socio-cultural assumptions – democracy etc. (ii) defence ties - equipment, intelligence, training (iii) expectation of ANZUS - Aust. defence if required- ‘Traditional’ support for US wars - Korea Vietnam

wars; Gulf war 1 1990; Iraq; Afghanistan - Strengthened under Howard govt.: invocation of

ANZUS after Sept. 11; War on Terror - anti- weapons of mass destruction– Nuclear non

proliferation treaty (NNPT) ban on atmospheric testing etc: active in Chemical Weapons Treaty

4. Economic Devel. & Prosperity1. A’s wealth depends on exports and commodity prices2. Therefore reliance on (i) exports - from Farm to Quarry. - importance of export prices and access (ii) energy sources – esp. oil directly & to trading partners (iii) trade routes2. Importance of neo-liberalist views (since early ’80s under

Hawke) – deregulation, and integration into global environment (acceptance of Globalisation)

3. Preference for free markets- few subsidies, tariffs and quotas4. support for ‘Cairns group’ (1988), APEC, GATT (since 1947)

World Trade Organisation- bilateral free trade agreements 5. Internal implications – internal economic policies should follow –

cut tariffs and subsidies – this has encouraged (i) unemployment (ii) de-industrialisation and (iii) movement of industry offshore (globalisation)

5. ‘Internationalism’• Basic Elements:• Being, and being seen to be, Good International Citizens

(Evans) with regard to terrorism; narcotics; international crime; AIDS; refugees, slavery; piracy, climate change,

UN human rights and democracy; WMD • Policies & Aspects:- international agreements over – narcotics, AIDs,

refugees, international crime, the environment, weapons of mass destruction; piracy, slavery etc

- Support for the UN and other multilateral international organisations

- Advocacy of democracy, individualism and human rights

Tension between components (1)

1. Is internationalism part of National Interest?

Liberal Coalition might not agree that ‘internationalism’ is a national interest.

For them National Interest is dominated by SECURITY +

ECONOMIC developmentSome right wing ALP share this

Tension between components (2)But my view (Left idealist) Internationalism is a strong part

of national interest.Why? (i) core aspect of National Interest - maintain &

enhance A’s way of life: security – direct, regional and global economic prosperity socio-cultural assumptions liberal democracy respect for individual human rights rules based international order – not rule of the strong.Our way of life demands that we consider these

elements as important !!

Tension between components

(ii) Direct pragmatism in support for internationalist agenda:

- Direct benefit to Aust. if limit narcotics, piracy, gun running, AIDS, climate change etc

- Indirect benefit to our status and image (helps elsewhere)

‘being and being seen to be a good international citizen’ (Evans)

How is Internationalism part of National Interest?

• Maintaining way of life includes our socio-political values:

liberal democracy and individual human rightsCore components of the Australian state• It is in A’s national interest to maintain them• If we don’t work to enhance/extend them – we are guilty

of hypocrisy• But not all would agree: some say National interest is only about security stronger in the conservative partiesHence debates about the extent to which Australia should

be and be seen to be a good international citizen

2. Australia and the US alliance

Note this is broader than ANZUS:* does ANZUS still exist? NO! (no NZ)

* the formal Aust-US alliance is much broader than the treaty

* the treaty is vague & has never been testedDoes the US alliance enhance or diminish our

national interest?Is the US alliance consistent with other elements

of our National interest?

Australia & US in the past

Old view of US alliance(i) Limits Australia’s sovereignty participation in US wars US bases(ii) Regionalism – US alliance puts us off

side in the regionAre these still true?

Are these still true?Not really – less true now

(i) Aust’s participation in wars comes at least as much from- shared assumptions with the US about the world

(ii) Aust. has more say over bases now ‘joint facilities’– we are now part of the central command and control network

(iii) Regionalism – Aust. has won respect for role in the region independent of US

Cambodia late 1980s; Aid to Vietnam since 1974East Timor; working with Indonesia over Bali

bombings, ‘people smugglers” etc

Australia- China - US

Aust potentially caught betweenAlliance relations – US (security)Economics – resources trade with China

This is a problem if US and China are on a collision course - Are they?

US China relations – critical for Aust.

Problems over (1) Taiwan – US support for – therefore

Aust. must support?(2) US defence perimeter in Western Pacific- Potential problems as China grows

militarily(3) China’s push for increased regional and

global power – military and diplomatic

Australia’s key national interest

To help manage the potential China – US conflict

Prevent it from becoming dangerousAcknowledge competition between them

but work to stop this becoming conflict

NI tensions over the US alliance

2. US and War on Terror – Australia under Howard were complicit (to a limited

degree) in human rights violations of – Guantanamo Bay– Extraordinary Rendition– Torture and water boarding

Uncritical support for US erodes our socio-cultural assumptions about our way of life as a liberal democracy valuing human rights

NI tension over the US alliance

3. Issues of Pine Gap

Detail is uncertain but Pine Gap is part of US Theatre Missile Defence

– Missile defence system based on a attack from China (and Nth Korea)

- Involves US breaching agreements on anti-ballistic missiles

Therefore Aust. policy is aligned against China by the presence of US base

(less or no choice in FP?)

New sources of NI tension over the US alliance

4. US and cluster bombs (minor)

Currently a bill before the Australian Parliament which will or might allow US to store or transit cluster bombs on Australian soil

Should Aust’s defence relationship with US allow this?

5. US Free Trade Treaty & Sovereignty

• Alleged that Free Trade Treaty with the US limited Aust.’s sovereign capacity to act over:

Pharmaceutical Benefits Australian content of TV etc

Sources of tension with ChinaConflict between trade with China and some

key internationalist objectives• human rights and democracy• climate change and carbon emissions• regional autonomy –Tibet, Uighers

Manageable with occasional hiccups