Introduction
Through consistent struggle, Australia has become a beacon of hope in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia began opening its doors to the emigrants from British and Europe after the First World War. Rajendra (2002, p.28) adds that 50 years after the war the country became affluent due to creation of new labor and new markets.
Australia has established herself as true liberal democracy. According to Lansford (2007, p. 9) democracy means “government of the people, by the people and for the people” with parliamentary system form of government where the Queen of England is the head of the state with the Prime Minister as the head of the government.
Some of the democratic values held by the Australian government include the universal suffrage, respect to rule of law, political party pluralism, and respect to human rights amongst others (Seldie & Dodetry 2003, p. 57). Besides the Australian history, understanding national interests is fundamental in addressing this task. National interest refers to the country’s aspirations and goals to achieve economic, military, environmental and cultural greatness.
It is a political device used by the political class to seek support for domestic policy objectives. At the international level, a nation state tries to portray its public image and interests within the radical international super structure, which is constantly at risk. Referring to the words of a classical political realist Hans Morgenthau, when the government talks about its national interest, it refers to what seems the best for the country in relation to other states.
Finnermore (1996, p. 3) highlights how states constantly long for power, security and wealth to protect themselves from invasion, extinction and economic meltdown. Therefore, based on these reasons, Australia has set her own apparatus to align itself to the new international order based on its evident national interests: economic security, national security, international alliances and treaties amongst others.
National Interests
Economic prosperity is prerequisite for any government to measure as an economic power in the international standards. Australia economic power has been built on the international trade and investment.
Addressing the same subject, Clarke (2007, p.581) points out “Australia’s reputation as a nuclear non-proliferation standard bearer, regional strategic and economic considerations and the weight of the Australia-US alliance”. Further, Seldie and Dodetry (2003, p.23) observes that Australia’s foreign policy is concerned about these issues: economic security, national security, international alliances, treaties, and its core values.
In understanding the national interests of this country, one has to appreciate the existing democratic culture. Australia is a western country placed in South East Asia. As a result, it has borrowed much of her practices from the Western Europe and USA due to constant conduct in the past. Rajendra (2002, p.21) further argues based on how it prides itself on the heritage of the West.
Besides that, democracy is a form of government where power is vested on the people whereby they elect their leaders through a secret ballot. They exercise the rule of law, respect to human rights just to name a few. For instance, Australia has been instrumental in democratization process in the region.
For example, Australian government is supporting Indonesia on its transitional stage from an autocracy form of government to decentralized democracy. As Downer (2002, p.30) confirms, “Nowhere have Australian values been better demonstrated than through our contributions to peace and stability and the promotion of democracy in the region – in East Timor, Fiji, the Townsville Peace Agreement for the Solomon Islands and in…” This is to show its great contribution to peace and stability in the region.
As a newly elected member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, he further argues that his country is pushing for realistic measures to promote peace. Both mining and agricultural industries emerged with the help of global markets accessibility. The government also relies on the bilateral relations around the globe to progress its national interests.
For example, the trading profits between Australia and Malaysia amounted to $8 billion in 2001-02 while that of Australia and Germany was $10.2 billion in the same year (Downer & Vale 2003, p. 8). Government has further initiated economic reform programs, which have seen rapid growth in the exports. In the late 1990s, exporting firms grew by 8%. Australia has also lowered its trade barriers namely taxation, deregulation of market prices putting into place effective infrastructure, which has seen great economic development.
Australia has a major economic venture in the Asian markets with a $67 billion of merchandise exports in 2002. According to Dee (2011, p.74), the government has progressively pursued free trade agreement with China, South Korea, Malaysia, as well as the Gulf Co-operation Council that comprises of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Territorial sovereignty is another universal national interest for all countries including Australia. Each country has to maintain a through security of its borders. The government has made prior alliances with the USA since the Second World War when the USA set Pacific Base with million troops based in Melbourne. Rajendra (2002, p. 28) the government has put in place armed forces with technological training recognized in Asia and the Pacific. Terrorism poses a great concern to Australia and the rest of the world.
The pacific region alone has the world’s top three volatile flashpoints – the Taiwan channel, the Korean cape and Kashmir. Therefore, Australia is concerned about the regional peace in order to protect its interest (Downer 2002, p.40). The government works with the allies to enforce security in the Gulf. It also contributes to the UN keeping mission in Afghanistan with its naval forces serving a constant role the operations in the same Gulf.
Australia is much concerned about the security of Israel rejecting the use of terror and bombs. It condemns Iraq’s nuclear weapons, which pose a threat to the world peace and security (Downer & Vale 2003, p.106). After the September 11 attacks, a new world order emerged to fight terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab, USA being in the lead with partners such as Australia, France, Britain and Canada.
The issue of treaties stands out as another Australia’s national interest. Australia and United States have shared almost similar values and ideals that bind their relationship ranging democratic culture to shared sacrifice. Nevertheless, these countries do not agree on everything.
For instance, the Australian government opposed the USA’s implementation of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and Farm Bill. Besides this, close bilateral ties continue to exist (Downer & Vale 2003, p. 86). However, the two countries have remained great partners in trade, security training, funding of top world most organization, the United Nation and World Bank.
Climatic changes too form part of Australia’s key national interest. Australia and the US plus the other countries of the world have greatly involved themselves in fighting the issue of climate change. One of the main challenges that have fueled the fight is the emission of greenhouse gases (Hayley 2009, p. 169). Australia is one of top three highest emitters of green house gases in the globe, and its progress to avert the situation has been discreditable.
Brown (1999, p. 6) observes “The Environment Minister Robert Hill pressurizes the global community to accept the his country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 8% over 1990 levels, when most advanced countries agreed to a 5% decrease by 2008-2012” in addition to cease ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Also in Queensland state, 300 000 to 400 000 hectares of native vegetation cover is cut down per year.
Nevertheless, in the recent past, the government has attempted to show some respect to the International Agreement by putting implementation bills in place. According to Michalis (2009, p.61), “This bill will ensure that Australia meets its commitments under the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol — the international agreements which commit the global community to protect the Earth’s climate for present and future generations”.
Australia contributes significantly to the education system in the Asia. The first students to come to Australia for study were under the Colombo plan (Downer & Vale 2003, p. 74). Tertiary education accounted for 60% of education exports to Asia in 2000. Education is an income earner for the government.
Conclusion
In conclusion, national interests as Evans, (2010 p.38) points out are based on mutual principle. Therefore, in foreign policy terms, the paper has tabled some of its key national interests ranging from economy through security to climatic changes. For example, the September 11 Attacks saw allies help in the rescue operations.
The interest here is to reciprocate in times of crisis. Although some of the interests addressed may coincide with those of other countries, it is worth noting that they stand out well in the Australian government. Generally, national interests shape the country’s approach to expansionist nature in both economic and political advancement.
References
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