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National Observer Home > No. 42 - Spring 1999 > Book Review Australia in International PoliticsSydney, Allen & Unwin, 1999, pp. 292 and index. This book, by Associate Professor Stewart Firth of Macquarie University, attempts to provide an introduction to various issues of Australian foreign policy. It is written from a point of view that might be perceived as somewhat favourable to policies of the Australian Labor Party; and those wanting a "comprehensive examination of Australian foreign policy" are, significantly, referred by the author to Gareth Evans and Bruce Grant, Australia's Foreign Relations in the World of the 1990s. Readers may be left with the impression that the author has been unduly influenced by a "rivalry between superpowers" view of the Cold War. In fact the Cold War represented a resolute and necessary attempt to contain communism and prevent democracies form being turned into totalitarian regimes. It is significant that the author refers disparagingly to "two obsessions of the 1960s, a fear of threats from the north and a desire to please the Americans". In fact, concerns as to threats from the north were reasonable (and longer-term threats from that direction remain), and also a desire to co-operate prudently with the United States was (and remains) reasonable in the interests of Australia. Likewise, in regard to the Vietnamese, the author refers disparagingly to "those who thought we should help the Americans to stop the Communists at all costs". In fact, those who supported the Americans did not favour helping them "at all costs," but rather made an assessment that in particular circumstances it was proper to assist the United States to defend South Vietnam. In view of a number of positions such as these taken by the author on various matters this book is not recommended. R. M. Pearce National Observer No. 42 - Spring 1999 |
