Australias National Identity - Essay Example

AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL IDENTITY - ASIAN INFLUENCES AND PERSPECTIVES Australia's national identity has come under increased public scrutiny and intensenational introspection in the recent years. While fundamental issues as to whether Australia ever had or even need a national identity continues to be debated and remain unresolved, many contemporary socio-political and cultural discourses suggest the increasing 'Asianisation' of Australia. The integration of Australia with Asian region also present a national dilemma as it directly conflicts with White Australia's traditional stance of being categorically non-Asian and decidedly insulated from Asian influences. Evidently Australian politicians and public stands divided on the issue of Asianisation, yet, it remains a reality that contemporary Australia's socio-economic and political future as a nation is more directed towards its geographical neighbour Asia, than the country's historical allies - Europe and United States. Asian influences in shaping the identity of contemporary Australia is apparent in almost all spheres of national significance. The paper explores the Asian influences and challenges that have shaped Australia's changing national identities - from the imperial 'White Australia's' image as a European settler-society to its assumed identity as a multicultural nation, positioned alongside Asia. However as a prelude to the analysis a definite understanding of the percepts of national identity as well as an understanding of the evolution of Australia's national identity may be worthwhile. National Identity - Nature and Percepts National identity and national character of a country is an abstract concept and difficult to define. The different theoretical perspectives which attempt to define the percepts and nature of national identity are too complex and beyond the scope of this paper, however, explained in simple terms national identity refers to those aspects of social, cultural, political, economic and geographical significance to a country, which homogenizes the identity and the sense of belongingness of its people. Individuals and groups form various identities based on historical entities such as home, community, religion, region, gender and class, which offer them a sense of belonging; the unit that provides the highest sense of belonging being the nation or country. [Ignatieff, 1994 in Byung-Jin, 2003] Hans Kohn offers a comprehensive perception of national identity, which may be of contextual significance when analyzing the national identity of Australia. He explains nationalism and national identity as a volatile entity subject to constant alterations and not fixed or self-contained unit existing objectively. Kohn considers nationality as the product of a living force in both conceptually historical and political terms, and according to him national identity comprises of elements including a common blood lineage, language, territory, political entity, ideological power, customs, tradition, and religion. More importantly it includes an essentially positive and perceptible common will -- a national spirit --which binds the people together as a nation. [Kohn, 1965] While nationality was originally limited to a hereditary group or a tribe defined by blood lineage, as nation-states evolved nationality also extended and expanded to the unit comprising a country. [Byung-Jin, 2003] Thus national identities transform organically and any change within a group identity more often occurs in an incremental way. Evolution of Australia's National Identity Much in line with Kohn's explication of the percepts and nature of national identity, the Australian national identity has evolved in an organic way over the past centuries. Discovered in 1770 by British sea captain James Cook, Australia became a formal European settlement by 1788, impinging its native aboriginal tribal identity. Originally designated as a penal colony, European convicts -repeat offenders who had been found guilty of minor crimes including mutiny, insubordination etc, in their homeland - were exiled in punishment to Australia, referred to as the land "down under". [Rhodes, 1997; p.14] While this early convict population mainly comprising of English, Irish and Scottish nationals, and also including nationals from other European colonies, presented a distinct multicultural flavor to Australian national identity, the British colonial rule in the country could effectively homogenize and integrate the essentially white society with its European roots, as Australian national identity took shape as a European settler society. During the whole of nineteenth century Australian identity was closely linked with that of its motherland, Europe. In 1901, after over a century of British colonial rule, the Commonwealth of Australia was established as a dominion of the British Empire. However the new sovereign power had little impact on Australia's national identity, as Australia continued to defend the socio-cultural values and political perceptions of its European patrons. Australians joined the British troops in different regions in both World War I and II, fighting for their mother country, with a fervor that was no less than winning the wars for their own country. [Rhodes, 1997] It was during World War II, following its historical defeat to the Japanese at the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, that Australia took its first turn in its political stance - the defeat of the apparently unbeatable Europeans by the perceptibly "backward" Asians was perceived as the waning of British colonial power; Australia shifted focus to the United States. Australian Labour Prime Minister John Curtin's declaration: "I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free from any pangs about our traditional links of friendship to Britain," [Rhodes, 1997; p.15] marked a clear shift in public policy, initiating changes in Australia's national identity and political character. However, Australia's strategic alliance with the United States was mostly limited to defense and trade relations; the geopolitical realities of the nation and changing power structures on the world scenario during the later 1900s triggered an Asian commitment, as Australia's national identity began to be influenced and shaped by Asia. Contemporary Australian Identity - Asian Influences Though Australia continued to be a member of the British Commonwealth under the British crown, the postwar years have seen Australia distancing from its mother country, initially getting close with United States and then shifting focus on to Asia -- Southeast Asia being its primary security focus and the country's major trading partners being in Northeast Asia. The geopolitical integration with Asia was perceived as a solution, perhaps the only solution to the national dilemma, characterized by economic marginalisation, strategic loneliness and political irrelevance, irking the nation since the post-WWII years. [Thakur, 2005] Though a considerable section of the Australian society remained committed to Australia's constitutional monarchy, the national realization led to many policy decisions, primarily aimed at increased engagement with the Asian neighbors. It is significant to note that Australia's possible engagement with Asia was not triggered by its respect or interest in its neighbour, but by fear of threat as well as its economic marginalisation, heightened by its geo-political distance from its Western patrons and the rise of Asian nations. While analyzing Asian influence in shaping Australian identity, Ramesh Thakur's observation is noteworthy: 'Asia has always been central to the definition of Australian identity. For most of Australia's history as a European settler society, Asia as the "other' was the point of reference for defining Australia as the "self."' [Thakur, 2005] He explains that though Australia's cultural antecedents and the ideas on which its society are constructed are all European, since Australia is not part of Europe, its distinctive identity could only be interpreted with reference to the geographical dislocation from Europe on the edge of Asia. [Thakur, 2005] However, it is significant to note that this conceptual reference to Asia during the years of European dominion only helped Australia in defining a strictly non-Asian identity. In real and positive terms the Asian influence in transforming Australia's national identity may be considered to have begun with the abolition of the "white Australia" policy in 1973, permitting Asians to enter the country. The dramatic change in the country's demography is also perceived to be a major factor facilitating Australia's shift of orientation towards Asia. From the perspective of national identity, the demographic transformation of Australian society, caused by the increasing flow of Asian migrants in the 1970s and 1980s, resulted in public policies favoring multiculturalism, as opposed to its earlier white identity. Ideologically multiculturalism accepts and promotes cultural diversity and supports policies of sustaining ethnic identities, socio-cultural values and lifestyles within an overarching framework of common laws and shared institutions. [Thakur, 2005] According to Bob Gould, multiculturalism ensures the right of migrants to preserve ethnic, religious and cultural identities, while at the same time enable them to totally integrate themselves into Australian life and Australian identity as well. [Gould, 1999] However, Stephen Rimmer, criticizes that Australian multiculturalism "serves as a cloak for the undeclared policy of Asianisation, which involves linking Australia economically, ethnically, and culturally with the nations of North-East Asia." [Rimmer, 1991; p.15] Multiculturalism and increased Asianisation of the society has led to major changes in public policy, particularly in terms of Asian language training, cross-cultural training or familiarisation with Asian history, politics or culture. [Jupp, 1994] Unlike during the 'white Australia' years, when Asian settlements were scare, small and deteriorating, Australian cities and suburbs today have much bigger and prosperous Chinatowns housing hordes of Indochinese refugees. Estimates suggest that Australia presently has about 250,000 nationals of Chinese origin. Over half of the two million tourists visiting Australia, are from Asia, mainly from Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. [Jupp, 1994] Australian demographic expert Charles Price has predicted that "the year 2020 would see some 2.7 million persons of unmixed Asian origin and about 3.9 million persons of part Asian ancestry; a Total Descent figure of 6.6 million persons of whole or part Asian origin; that is, 26.7% of the total Australian population" [Price, 1993; p. 31] The increasing influx of Asians, together with the public policies, is slowly but steadily transforming the national identity of Australia from Western and/or European into an oriental identity - which could be characterized as Eurasian or even Asian. Even as many Australians strive hard to avoid Australia's shift in identity and to preserve its colonial identity as a Western nation on the edge of Asia, Australia today finds itself economically dependent on Asian trade, tourism and investment to a degree unforeseen during the World War II years. The Australian political leadership is today increasingly aware that Australia's future possibilities will be largely shaped and determined by the broader political, economic and social forces at work around Asia and the Pacific; its security will be threatened by the state of relations between the major powers of Asia-Pacific; and its economic prosperity would be basically dependent on the economic health and interaction of the major economic players in the region, as it would be on its domestic policy. [Thakur, 2005] James Jupp observes that despite the collective fear and public dissent, "there is an official reluctance to admit that Australia can still continue as a predominantly European and English-speaking society without necessarily missing out on available opportunities in East Asia." [Jupp, 1994; p.78] The political consensus in signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), facilitating Australia's participation in the inaugural East Asian summit in December 2005, [Thakur, 2005] is a major step towards establishing an Asian identity. Many Australians continue to be apprehensive of the political developments favoring Asianisation, fearing that the national unity and identity created by White Australia will be ruined. Philpott observes that "fear has been perhaps the dominant factor in shaping Australia's relations and policies towards Asia and its perceptions of a sceptical community". [Philpott, 2001] John Howard reportedly claimed that since Australians are aware of their identity - ' a European, Western civilisation with strong links to North America...' they no longer have to fret about being part of Asia and that they can participate in regional affairs 'on their own terms.' [Brenchley 1999 in Philpott, 2001] However, Australia's economic dependence on Asia and the shifting world power structure towards Asia is increasingly impinging on Australia's ability to participate in regional affairs on its own terms, as insecurities and apprehensions surface the Australian national - socio-political. Economic and cultural - settings. While the Australian's concerns may be reasonable, the continued apprehensions suggest that a collective insecurity is becoming central to contemporary Australia's sense of identity, as Australia focuses on regional integration with Asia. From a neutral point of view, the developments can only be seen as positive as its suggests Australia's emergence from its troubled status as far-flung outpost of Europe to a possible sovereign republic, its regional integration ensuring its economic and physical security. Conclusion The Australian national identity has evolved organically over the past century. Beginning the century as a bastion of the British Empire, presenting a European white identity, Australia shifted focus briefly to the United States during the post WWII years, and towards Asia since the 1970s. The increased Asian presence in Australia directed Australia towards the policy of multiculturalism, as Australian national identity changed from being distinctly European to that with oriental overtones. There has been strong public resentment against Asianisation of Australia, being perceived as the end of Australian society, its national identity and culture. While the multiculturalism policies of Australia had its inevitable consequences on the socio-cultural, economic and political landscapes of Australia, the most significant aspect is the lingering sense of insecurity in contemporary Australia's sense of identity, as the nation fears a loss of its national spirit and identity. Yet the political and economic realities suggests that Australia's future prospects as a nation lies in its engagement and integration with Asia, as its national identity is expected to be transformed into Eurasian or even Asian in the coming years. Works Cited 1. Byung-Jin, Lee. "Education and National Identity" Policy Futures in Education, Vol.1, No. 2, 2003: 332- 341 2. Gould, Bob "Multiculturalism and Australian National Identity" Ozleft (June 3) 1999 Available at: http://members.optushome.com.au/spainter/Multiculturalism.html Accessed 10/01/05 3. Jupp, James. "Identity" in Australian Civilisation, Richard Nile (ed) Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1994: 74-92. 4. Kohn, Hans. Nationalism: Its Meaning and History, Van Nostrand Company, New York, 1965 5. Philpott S. "Indonesia and the Australian National Imagination" Australian Journal of International Affairs, (1 November), Vol. 55, no. 3, 2001: 371-388 Available at: http://www.aiia.asn.au/publications/indon.html Accessed 10/01/05 6. Price, Charles A. "Australia As Intermediary With Asia: A Demographic View", Journal of Intercultural Studies, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1993: 31. 7. Rhodes, Melvin "Australia: A Nation Changes Direction" The Good News, Vol. 2, No. 6, November/December 1997: 14- 17 8. Rimmer, Stephen. "Counting the $7 Billion Cost of Multiculturalism", The Age, (30 June) 1991 9. Thakur, Ramesh "Aussies Adjust the Moorings" The Japan Times (Sept. 11) 2005 Available at: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/makeprfy.pl5eo20050911a2.htm Accessed 10/01/05 Read More