Political Australia in the 20th Century - Assignment Example

POLITICAL AUSTRALIA IN THE 20TH CENTURY ‘White Australia: Yellow Peril’ Australia’s restrictive policy of excluding any non-European immigrants was met with divided perspectives. There were those who felt that the act did not carry any major impact on the country because they had Europe to rely on. Asia, who was the major victim of the insulation, was a major source and power behind industrialization. Japan and China for instance, carried a significant number of the technocrats that America and Europe used to develop their industrial sector. Australia had secluded themselves from the key industrialists. Regardless of the policy, a number of non-Europeans held genuine residence after 1945. Australia today has not allied itself to the British only or still having the White Australia notion in their minds, sacrificing their economy at the altar of Asian fear. A different policy of integration was vehemently promoted which brought about significant changes in the 1950s. Interactions with non-Europeans are now based business on terms, in educations and in other private terms. There was a visible shift cultural and ethnic composition brought about by the mass migration. The Australian economy opened up when they liberalized the monetary fields and reduced tariffs and finally, they diversified their investment market sources. Their rise to a comparable state with Europe, reduced Europe from being an imperial and financial muscle. There was a massive flow of tourism from Asia. Australia, colonized, colonizer? Australia’s military commitment to Vietnam was in 1962 but with an initial role of training but were barred from accompanying the Vietnamese charges on operations, but by 1964, they were allowed the role of operational advisory tasks with combat units. More talks were held together with the Americans and their military assistance was requested. The offer for military assistance was granted to the Americans. The Australians compromised a lot in the ‘60s and to a large extent diverted from the foreign policy and went ahead to bootlick the United States. Back at home, this bootlicking was met with resistance and countrywide activism from students. Austraria involved itself with the United states and other warring countries and this did not paint a very pleasing picture to the world outside. For the first time since the war started, in the ’70, there was a widespread public concern and their involvement in the areas of defense and foreign policy, were in for serious questioning. The election of the first labor government showed that they had brought to mind the concerns from overseas. ‘Australia-Indonesia relations: tension or amity?’ Australia played a very big role in the attainment of Indonesia’s independence and this was a most important aspect that contributed largely to the birth of Indonesia. The facts speak for themselves and this was a heroic and historic responsibility and yes this strengthened ties between the two countries. But there still exists push and pulls between the two countries and a strained relationship. The reason behind this is that Australia was lukewarm and playing behind the scenes all the while. They provided military assistance to those who colonized the same country that they help secure their independence. They then appear after an overspread outcry over their involvement in the war, to save another. Indonesia expected the Australians to show sympathy especially to a weak government, but on the other hand, Australia supported those who oppressed Indonesia. On the other hand Australian’s view Indonesian as “corrupt, brutal, militaristic, authoritarian and always with an iron grip”, (Hall Hill and Chris Manning). These were the differences that cannot be refuted bearing in mind that from the beginning Australia was so much against Asia and some immigrants from Asia were even deported for instance the Chinese. The difference between the English culture and the Asian cultures could bring the strenuous relationship. The Indonesians thought that the Australians were behaving still in their militarized ways and were infiltrating into their space and freedom. Do development and democracy go together in Asia? Looking at the trend in different democracies in Asia we would not be wrong to assert this notion. Pye, sited that there is a pattern from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, of a sizeable economic growth immediately after these countries broke from the bondage of single-parties to multiparty system. With this kind of trend then there a light at the end of the tunnel for these other countries in Asia, for instance China. According to the modernization theory as explained by Pye, is that the greatest expectation is that the provision of economic aid and by facilitating economic development, then there would be a way of bringing democracy to a country. This though is not the case for some countries like Beijing and Singapore who have not experienced a smooth Passover from economic to a political change. Leaders here are of a different opinion that such a change is not at all desirable. Fareed cautions us to digress from thinking that free and fair elections or when the majority of citizens are involved in politics, is what we would call democracy. There is more to democracy, and that is when “a country guarantees a comprehensive catalogue of social, political, economic and religious rights. Australia-Asia relations: An abiding fear of a ‘threat from the North White Australians must continue to feel threatened by the fact that originally, they were the despisers of the Asians but this time Australia has aligned itself so much with the Asians. The Indonesian population is rapidly growing and this is not a good sign. The population is also largely a Muslim community. Politicians have capitalized on the politics of fear. “Domestic anxiety about the policies of multiculturalism and immigration overlaps with other concerns about events and people from outside Australia. Indonesia, not only do they have a past history in colonial interpretation of Indonesia but also are inclined to imply that Australian values are superior.” (Simon). The key to establishing a stronger relationship with Indonesia is not trying to understand them clearly but trying to always thoughtfully understand the values and fears that constitute Australia. Who are the major contributors to Australia’s economy? This question must alarm white Australians. An economy in the west without industries cannot do very well, the Asians are promising in their growth industrially and therefore Australia must align itself for such kind of benefits. Controversies over migrants and refugees. The aim of the immigration policy was to put a stop to what they called ‘racial contamination’ and to take an action to fears of a massive Asian immigration. The White Australia philosophy started off during the gold rushes of the 1850s when laws were instituted to limit Chinese immigration. At this time the Immigration Act was put to power with its aim to bring “certain restrictions on Immigration and to provide for the removal from the Commonwealth of prohibited immigrants” with a major focus on the country of origin. These policies were eventually never achieved because they were applied lightly. This is because for instance, in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the number of non-European immigrants rose by almost four times. Later on the policies were abolished after the introduction of reforms by the Whitlam government. The new immigrants being received today have been dealt with firmer control although still being absorbed. The government has allowed voluntary agencies to nominate and resettle refugees, though the process of selection is entirely by the government. The presence of these immigrants has caused tension especially due to their high rate of unemployment. The residents view it that the issue of immigrants should be done away with because they may soon end up losing their jobs or never getting them. Emerging powers in Asia: a new multi-polarity? The rise of other economic powers from Asia has kept the Australian’s minds bubbling. The adopted the western definition of minimalist democracy and forgot that this does not work well with a country that is rising. Democracy like we learnt earlier should encompass all freedoms and rights and the involvement of the citizens in making national choices. The western may be said to have democracies but looking at some of the states like analyzed by Fareed Zakaria, this is not the case. England has a state religion for instance, while France on the other hand had until lately a monopoly on state television. Many also argue that Sweden has an economic that “curtails individual property rights”. Is Australia becoming an Asian country? Australia has for a long time been an undoubted collaborator of America and been with America at war since World War II. In the ‘70s, Britain showed her back on Australia during the White Australia policy which was brought to an end by Whitlam. The major population in Australia is no longer European but made a swing to Asia and the Middle East. At one time, the Australian agriculture and agricultural exports were primarily purchased by the British market and free of taxation. As we make this analysis, Australia’s biggest customer is China. Asian immigration makes up for well over half of the people migrating to Australia. The bond with the British dominion is slowly deteriorating and Australia is rethinking on how to change their system of government from a parliamentary democracy to a republic. Moreover, Protestants which was the dominant religion, is slowly dying away and becoming extinct and the RCC is now becoming the single largest religious denomination in the country. These are not the best kind for the West. If by any chance, Australia becomes an ally, of the Asians, this will in one way or another have a great affect on the global “geo-political arena”. This could mark a beginning of the end for Western dominance. The intervention in Afghanistan I would strongly agree with tow on that fact that the rest of the ANZUS are taking advantage of America and Australia in that< the war in Afghanistan has been left to the two alone and none of the others seem to have any involvement in it, and even if there is then it is done discreetly. Interest in the war are that US wanted its allies to ratify a peace treaty with Japan, Australia and New Zealand wanted an inclusion into the West’s innermost global strategic planning circles. From the onset Australian policy planners wanted “to strike a balance between global and regional strategies to ensure their survival.” Racism in Australia and Asia There is a strong believe that racism is very evident in Australia. Research has evidently proven this. In a paper by Dunn Kevin, he sampled 5056 calls from all over Queensland and NSW to test on their level of tolerance to cultural differences, perception on the extent of racism and many other aspects connected to racism. Kevin notes that there is a great sentiment about anti-Muslims and a persistent intolerance against Asians. He laments that racists have a slight attitude with people who do not speak English, but bear an issue with a certain age and those who do not have tertiary education. To another smaller extent there is an issue with males and the Australian born. Racism has predominant effects in the political and cultural arena from the statistics provide by Kevin. He covered some of the important institutions in a country and these are; education, housing, at workplaces and most importantly, during policy making. In Indonesia, violence has been experienced against the well off Chinese residents who are often blamed for the economic problems experienced in the country 1. Anup Shah Racism, http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism 2. Dunn, Kevin; Racism in Australia: Findings of a survey on racist attitudes and experiences of racism February 2003. University of Sydney 3. Andrew Markus "White Australia" The Oxford Companion to Australian History. Ed. Graeme Davison, John Hirst and Stuart Macintyre. Oxford University Press, 2001. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Curtin University of Technology. 18 October 2011 4. Philpott, S. (2001). "Fear of the dark: Indonesia and the Australian national imagination." Australian Journal of International Affairs 55(3), pp. 371-388. 5. Price, Charles. "Immigration Policies and Refugees in Australia." International Migration Review 15, no. 1/2 (1981): 99-108 6. Stephen Fitzgerald (1997), Is Australia an Asian Country? Allen & Unwin, chapter 1, „Do we belong in Asia?‟ 7. Tow, William T. The ANZUS case: alliance interests, costs and benefits in a 9/11 context.. Australian Army Journal, v.3, no.2, Winter 2006: 27-50. Availability: ISSN: 1448-2843. 8. James, Jupp, „From 'White Australia' to 'Part of Asia': Recent Shifts in Australian Immigration Policy towards the Region‟ in International Migration Review, Vol. 29, No. 1, Special Issue: Diversity and Comparability: International Migrants in Host Countries on Four Continents (Spring, 1995), pp. 207-228 Published by: The Center for Migration Studies of New York, Inc Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2547002 Read More