Australia's Foreign Policy

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the foreign policy of Australia and how Australia clearly plays a very important part as a political actor in regional and international politics. It specifically discusses how Australia's foreign policy has influenced its image as a middle power and also how its middle power status has influenced Australia's foreign policy. The paper also defines Australia's role as a middle power.

From the Paper:

"After 9/11, the alliance between Australia and U.S was even further tightened as Australia showed its full commitment in supporting the war initiated by the U.S. Australian officials have made it clear ever since that the decisions of their government will take into consideration the decisions of its allies and will follow these decisions. The middle power status makes it impossible for Australia to define its foreign policy without taking into consideration the initiatives of its allies, especially those of Great Britain or the U.S. As a middle power, Australia must constantly develop friendly relations with other nations, first of all on the basis of security reasons. A close cooperation with greater powers assures Australia more security and this is the most important thing in international relations."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Australia's Foreign Policy, available at http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/World-Leaders-2003/Australia-FOREIGN-POLICY.html;
• Dalrymple, Rawdon, "Looking for theory in Australian foreign policy", Symposium: Advancing the National Interest?, April 2003, available at http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2003/04/dalrymple.html;
• Darwall, Rupurt, "John Howard's Australia", Policy Review, August-September 2005;
• Downer, Alexander, "Should Australia Think Big or Small in Foreign Policy?", speech held at the Centre for Independent Studies: The Policymakers Forum, 10 July 2006, Sydney, available at http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2006/060710_bigorsmall.html;
• Patience, Allan, The ECP and Australia's middle power ambitions, available at http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/melanesia/discussion_papers/05_04_dp_patience.pdf.

More papers on Australia's Foreign Policy:

• Persuasive Essay # 100835 : "Australian Foreign Policy"
• Comparison Essay # 68731 : "European Foreign Policy"
• Research Paper # 128603 : "Australia's Policy Approaches to Confronting Terrorism"

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