1. Dr. David Mickler School of Social and Political Sciences Security Issues and Australian Foreign Policy

2. National security National security is central to any governments foreign policy objectives … The first priority of government is the nations security (PM Rudd 2008) = protection of population, territory, resources, infrastructure, way of life, from external (and internal) threats in anarchical international environment.

3. Major themes in Australias security Australias geo-strategic isolation: geography vs history (security) Asia as historical source of insecurity Need for great and powerful friends Globalisation and new security threats

4. In the past … Defense against military attack by another state the primary concern Security via British Empire until WWII Shift to military alliance with USA: ANZUS Treaty 1951 Cold War: tied to US global anti-communist security agenda

5. Approaches to Australian defence (1) Forward defence: make contribution as junior partner to the overseas wars of allies (as insurance policy). Global focus. (2) Continental defence: focus on defending Australian mainland from local threats. Regional focus.

6. Contemporary global security environment Less actual or potential traditional wars between states Concerns about intra-state conflict and risks from failed states Globalisation and transnational security threats

7. New security issues for Australian govt Transnational terrorism Proliferation of WMD (+ terrorism) Transnational organised crime Global health pandemics Climate change

8. Australian govt foreign policy responses Tighten border security Forward defence: Iraq & Afghanistan Intervention in regional arc of instability: East Timor & Solomon Islands International cooperation (global, regional, bilateral)

9. Key questions … US alliance: enhance or undermine Australian national security? Defence self-reliance? Impact of rise of China and India on international (& Australias) security? Security focus: regional or global? How to manage inter-dependent security in a globalised world?

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