Australia in International Politics: An introduction to Australian foreign policy

by Stewart Firth

Overview

The world changed for Australia after the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001 and the Bali bombings of 2002. Security became the dominant theme of Australian foreign policy. Australian military forces remained in Afghanistan years later, opposing the terrorist threat of the Taliban, while hundreds of Australian troops and police worked with public servants to build the state in Asia-Pacific countries such as East Timor and Solomon Islands. The world changed for Australia, too, when the global financial crisis of September 2008 threatened another Great Depression. Meantime the international community made slow progress on measures to stem climate change, potentially Australia's largest security threat.

In a newly revised and updated edition, Australia in International Politics shows how the nation is responding to these challenges. The book describes how Australian foreign policy has evolved since Federation and how it is made. It examines Australia's part in the United Nations, humanitarian intervention and peacekeeping. It analyses defence policy and nuclear arms control. It explains why Australia survived the global financial crisis and why the G20 has become the leading institution of global economic governance. It charts the course of Australia's climate change diplomacy, the growth of Australia's foreign aid, human rights in foreign relations and the rise of China as a great power.

Written by one of Australia's most experienced teachers of international relations, Australia in International Politics explains Australian foreign policy for readers new to the field.

'. one of the best books on Australian foreign policy that I have read in recent years' - Samuel M. Makinda, Australian Journal of Political Science

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781742372631
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/01/2011
Edition description:	Third Edition, Third edition
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Stewart Firth is a Visiting Fellow in the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program at the Australian National University.

Table of Contents

3012 3 Fore

52

4 The making of foreign policy 7811 Part II Secur

10512 5 The United Nations an

10712 6 Defence and regional s

13412 7 The nuclear challenge 15912

Intervention and state building 181

Part III Economy 213

9 Globalisation and the global financial crisis 215

10 The politics of international tra

23811 Part IV Issues in for

25912 11 The global environm

26112 12 Foreign ai

28312 13 Human rights 30701 Epilogue 33201 Glo

33601 Notes 34201 Index 351

Editorial Reviews

"One of the best books on Australian foreign policy that I have read in recent years." —Samuel M. Makinda, Australian Journal of Political Science



"A comprehensive and up-to-date account of Australian foreign policy. It provides a balanced and insightful appraisal of trends under the Coalition and Labor. A lucid and accessible style make this an ideal introductory text." —Karin von Strokirch, University of New England

From the Publisher