Australia`s International Responsibilities - Case Study Example

ustrаliа’s Intеrnаtiоnаl Rеsроnsibilitiеs Table of contents Table of contents 2 List of tables 3 List of figures 4 Introduction 1 International issues 1 Global cooperation 1 International peace and security 2 Human and environmental issues 3 Trade 3 Table 1: Australia’s leading export markets (2011-2014) 4 Table 2: Australia’s leading import markets (2011-2014) 5 Aid 6 Figure 1: Countries that receive aid from Australia and the level of aid they received in 2011/2012 8 Conclusion 8 References 10 List of tables Table of contents 2 List of tables 3 List of figures 4 Introduction 1 International issues 1 Trade 3 Table 1: Australia’s leading export markets (2011-2014) 4 Table 2: Australia’s leading import markets (2011-2014) 5 Aid 6 Figure 1: Countries that receive aid from Australia and the level of aid they received in 2011/2012 8 Conclusion 8 References 10 List of figures Table of contents 2 List of tables 3 List of figures 4 Introduction 1 International issues 1 Trade 3 Table 1: Australia’s leading export markets (2011-2014) 4 Table 2: Australia’s leading import markets (2011-2014) 5 Aid 6 Figure 1: Countries that receive aid from Australia and the level of aid they received in 2011/2012 8 Conclusion 8 References 10 Introduction Australia is the smallest continent in the world and the sixth biggest nation by area. It has a population of more than 20 million people and is divided into two territories and six states. Its capital city is Canberra, which is situated in the Australian Capital Territory. As a developed nation and one of the wealthiest economies in the world, Australia has many responsibilities not only within its borders but also internationally. The purpose of this report is to discuss Australia’s international responsibilities. The report will discuss the country’s international responsibilities in the following areas: international affairs, trade, and provision of aid across the world. International issues will be discussed under various subtopics including Australia’s involvement in global cooperation, global peace and security, and human and environmental issues. Under trade, the report will discuss Australia’s responsibilities in areas such as trade with other countries and its role in organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO). With respect to aid, the report will highlight the county’s aid responsibilities through the government’s overseas aid program. International issues Global cooperation Australia is strongly devoted to effective international cooperation. This commitment is seen through the country’s responsibilities as a member of the United Nations (UN), of which it was a founding member in 1945 (United Nations Academic Network (UNAA) 2012; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) 2014a). Since 1945 when the UN Charter was drafted, Australia’s foreign policy has been shaped by the fundamental philosophy and aims of the UN, which are to maintain global peace and security, to foster global cooperation, and to develop pleasant relations amongst countries (UNAA 2012; Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics 1971, p. 112). Australia considers the UN as an important forum through which to have an influence on world affairs and promote stable international frameworks while promoting its own values (UNAA 2012). Australia’s role in the UN has been seen through the country’s participation in the General Assembly and its membership in the UN Security Council in the years 1946-1947 as well a 1956-1957 (Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics 1971, p. 112). In recent times, Australia has been involved in various cooperation programs. One example is the Australian development cooperation program, which promotes Australia’s national interest by helping developing nations to lessen poverty and attain sustainable growth. The program is shaped by five themes: helping countries to have access to and reap maximum benefits from new information technologies and trade, promoting better governance, supporting better provision of basic services, enhancing sustainable management of resources, and supporting regional security (DFAT 2012a). International peace and security Australia has participated in peace and security initiatives by providing over 65,000 people to over 50 peace and security missions organized by the UN and other multilateral arrangements since 1957. Out of these, 30,000 personnel have been involved in UN peace operations while more than 20,000 others have been involved in operations mandated by the UN. As an able and reliable partner, Australia’s expertise is also sought in the development of frameworks that are aimed at protection of human rights, safeguarding vulnerable people in society, and preventing re-emergence of conflict in areas afflicted by conflict (DFAT 2014a).Australia has also been involved in global non-proliferation and disarmament initiatives such as playing a role in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention, the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (DFAT 2014a). Human and environmental issues Australia has an international environmental policy whose aims are to “protect the national interest, promote environment and sustainable development” (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 1998, p. 169). Through this policy, the country seeks to improve the standard of living of people and to offer assistance to developing nations. For instance, Australia is presently endeavoring to help find a strong remedy on climate change through bilateral, multilateral and regional activities as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change guidelines. The country also has an elaborate commitment to human rights globally and has ratified major treaties on human rights (DFAT 2014a). Trade Australia is a member of many international trade agreements including WTO, the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA), the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) among others (Australian Trade Commission 2014). The country’s major export markets include China, Chile, the United States, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore among others (Australian Trade Commission 2014). See table 1. The major types of goods and services exported by Australia include iron ore and concentrates, gold, coal, education-linked travel services, crude petroleum, personal travel, aluminium ores, wheat and copper ore and concentrates among others (DFAT 2012b). Table 1: Australia’s leading export markets (2011-2014) Source: DFAT (2014d) Australia also imports various types of goods and services. These include crude petroleum, personal travel services, passenger automobiles, cargo transport services, refined petroleum, telecom devices and parts, goods automotives, computers, medicaments, and civil engineering tools and parts (DFAT 2012c). The main countries from which Australia imports various types of goods and services include China, the United States, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand among others (DFAT 2014d). See table 2. Table 2: Australia’s leading import markets (2011-2014) Source: DFAT (2014d) Australia’s position as a trading country implies that it has a strong interest in making sure that the international trade regime of the WTO is open, fair and implementable (DFAT 2014b). Also, through being a member of the WTO, Australia has been able to make international efforts to ensure that there are substantial reductions in subsidies, tariff quotas and tariffs that are implemented by other countries and which are likely to distort trade (Department of Agriculture 2014). Australia is also committed to assisting developing nations to gain access to international trade opportunities. In particular, Australia asserts that developing nations need the capacity to capitalise on the benefits of trade and transform them into real development results so as to attain the Millennium Development Goals. In deed, Australia is one of the 189 nations that ratified the Millennium Declaration and dedicated themselves to attaining the Millennium Development Goals. These are goals comprise a shared international vision for reducing poverty (DFAT 2014c). Aid Australia provides financial support to the UN through its agencies and to a number of countries across the world (UNAA 2012). According to DFAT (2014e), the aim of the aid program is to promote the country’s national interests by making a contribution to poverty reduction and economic growth. The government believes that the best way through which poverty can be reduced is to promote sustainable economic growth. Hence, Australia’s aid funding program is used to expand trade between Australia and other countries, develop skills, create jobs, boost incomes, empower girls and women, and decrease economic insecurity (DFAT 2014e). In order to ensure responsibility, the government of Australia aspires to ensure high levels of accountability and performance in regard to the aid that is delivered. The government notes that making performance count revolves around linking aid funding decisions with performance assessments (DFAT 2014e). The countries that receive a lot of aid from Australia are particularly those in the Asia-Pacific region because of their suitability for aid based on UN agencies as well as their sustained effective performance with the financial assistance that they receive (UNAA 2012). The government of Australia also notes that some countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which are Australia’s closest neighbors, have a high number of people living in poverty and this is where the country can make most difference (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012). By focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, Australia is the largest bilateral donor to the Pacific region, and a significant donor in East Asia. In the financial year 2011/2012, aid from Australia reached a total of 113 countries. These countries span across West and South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. The geographical location of these countries and the level of aid that they received from Australia in 2011/2012 are shown in figure 1. Figure 1: Countries that receive aid from Australia and the level of aid they received in 2011/2012 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) Conclusion In conclusion, Australia’s international responsibilities are reflected through the country’s engagement in a number of international issues such as initiatives for global cooperation, international peace and security, and human and environmental issues. This involvement is through participation in the activities of various bodies such as the UN and its various frameworks and direct interactions with different countries. For instance, Australia is involved in various cooperation programs such as the development cooperation program, through which it works with other countries to reduce poverty and attain sustainable development. It also participates in peace and security initiatives and supports human and environmental programs. Australia also has a responsibility in international trade through which it interacts with various countries and is a party to many international agreements such as the WTO and various free trade agreements. By being a strong member of the WTO, Australia has been able to influence WTO policies to promote open, fair and implementable trade policies and reduction of subsidies and tariffs. Finally, Australia gives financial aid to many countries in the world and to organisations such as the UN. The aid is aimed at promoting poverty reduction and economic growth in the countries that are involved. References Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013, International relations, viewed 5 December 2014, Australian Trade Commission 2014, Free trade agreements, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics 1971, Official year book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 57, 1971, Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Canberra. Department of Agriculture 2014, World Trade Organization (WTO), Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2012a, Summary of Australia's international development cooperation 2004-05, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2012b, ‘Australia's top 25 exports, goods & services’, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2012c, ‘Australia's top 25 imports, goods & services’, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2014a, Australia and the United Nations, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2014b, Australia and WTO dispute settlement, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2014c, Millennium development goals, Australian Government, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2014d, Australia’s trade in goods and services 2013-14, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, DFAT 2014e, About Australia's aid program, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, OECD 1998, Environmental performance reviews: Australia, OECD Publishing, Paris. United Nations Academic Network (UNAA) 2012, Australia’s role in the UN, Australian Government, viewed 5 December 2014, Read More