Problems and Tensions in Australia’s National Interests

1. Problems and Tensions in Australia’s National Interests Ron Anderson SEV Student lectures August 2011

2. 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

3. Main historical themes (old – now out of date?) 1.Threat mentality (note change from past exaggerated threat perception to a more rational threat perception) 2.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

4. Traditional foreign policy Exaggerated threat mentality - vulnerability * cultural and racial xenophobia * regional fears & vulnerability * Dependence Policies * 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 independence Policies * engagement with Asia * defence self reliance * regional independence assertion of power in Pacific * US alliance more global * regional trade * human rights etc Since the ’70s Aust. has movedFROM TO

5. Aspects of this transition • 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

7. Centrist acceptance of this transition 3. Considerable bipartisanship between the main parties – basic agreement over National interest; US alliance BUT Difference in emphasis between them Lib/coalition – primacy on security & alliance, + economic growth ALP and Greens – greater emphasis on internationalism but not at expense of security or economic growth

8. Security Sector Socio-cultural Sector Protect & enhance basic way of life Economic Sector What is National Interest?

9. Components of National Interest • Direct Security • Regional Stability • Global Stability • Economic Prosperity and development • Internationalist goals See table in accompanying notes Except for 5. these are clearly aspects which are essential to maintain Aust.’s sovereignty and way of life

11. 1. Direct Security • Basic 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’

12. 2. Regional Stability & Security • Basic 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

13. 3. Global Stability & Security • Basic Elements:maintain peaceful core global relationships esp. with core allies • Policies & Aspects: • US alliance A. tied to US global positions • core socio-cultural assumptions – democracy etc. • 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

14. 4. Economic Devel. & Prosperity • A’s wealth depends on exports and commodity prices • 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 routes • 2. 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 quotas • 4. 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)

15. 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

16. Tension between components (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 development Some right wing ALP share this

17. 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 !!

18. 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)

19. How is Internationalism part of National Interest? • Maintaining way of life includes our socio-political values: liberal democracy and individual human rights Core 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 parties Hence debates about the extent to which Australia should be and be seen to be a good international citizen

20. 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 tested Does the US alliance enhance or diminish our national interest? Is the US alliance consistent with other elements of our National interest?

21. Australia & US in the past Old view of US alliance • Limits Australia’s sovereignty participation in US wars US bases (ii) Regionalism – US alliance puts us off side in the region Are these still true?

22. Are these still true?Not really – less true now • Aust’s participation in wars comes at least as much from- shared assumptions with the US about the world • Aust. has more say over bases now ‘joint facilities’– we are now part of the central command and control network • Regionalism – Aust. has won respect for role in the region independent of US Cambodia late 1980s; Aid to Vietnam since 1974 East Timor; working with Indonesia over Bali bombings, ‘people smugglers” etc

23. Australia- China - US Aust potentially caught between Alliance relations – US (security) Economics – resources trade with China This is a problem if US and China are on a collision course - Are they?

24. US China relations – critical for Aust. Problems over • Taiwan – US support for – therefore Aust. must support? • 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

25. Australia’s key national interest To help manage the potential China – US conflict Prevent it from becoming dangerous Acknowledge competition between them but work to stop this becoming conflict

26. NI tensions over the US alliance2. 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

27. NI tension over the US alliance3. 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?)

28. New sources of NI tension over the US alliance4. 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?

29. 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

30. Sources of tension with China Conflict 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