In 2018, Australia finds itself at the center of a geopolitical storm within the Indo-Pacific region. With the meteoric rise of China and the perceived decline of U.S. influence and power in East Asia, Australia is faced with some rather difficult and uncomfortable questions concerning its economic future and its national security.
Historically, Australia has always had a major power as its key ally, especially in terms of its national security. In 1901, Australia became a self-governing nation. However, Great Britain continued to protect Australia from potential external enemies, because Australia remained an important and valued commonwealth nation within the British empire. However, at the beginning of the Pacific War during WWII, Australia reached out to America after the British colony Singapore collapsed in the face of the oncoming and powerful Japanese imperial military forces in February 1942.
With the empire of Japan marching southward in the Pacific region, Australian prime minister John Curtin anxiously requested, in late-December 1941, that America come save the nation from being invaded by the Japanese imperial army and naval forces. Due to its own strategic needs against Japan, the U.S. agreed to send its military forces to Australia. Thus, began a geostrategic relationship that has lasted for seventy-five years. Hence, Australia has remained one of America's most reliable allies throughout the post-WWII era.
But, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, the geostrategic dynamics of the Indo-Pacific have changed dramatically. China's unprecedented rise to power— economically, militarily and diplomatically—has forced Australia to reevaluate its policies and position within the East Asian hemisphere. And, to further complicate Australia's current predicament, America itself is experiencing a major political upheaval with the stunning election of Donald Trump as its new president in 2016.
Henceforth, Australia increasingly finds itself in uncharted waters—geopolitically. Australians are confronted with the irrefutable reality that they are living not only in the most pivotal region of the world, but one that is in the midst of an historic transformation. In essence, Australia finds itself at the center of a geostrategic storm.
In 2018, Australia finds itself at the center of a geopolitical storm within the Indo-Pacific region. With the meteoric rise of China and the perceived decline of U.S. influence and power in East Asia, Australia is faced with some rather difficult and uncomfortable questions concerning its economic future and its national security.
Historically, Australia has always had a major power as its key ally, especially in terms of its national security. In 1901, Australia became a self-governing nation. However, Great Britain continued to protect Australia from potential external enemies, because Australia remained an important and valued commonwealth nation within the British empire. However, at the beginning of the Pacific War during WWII, Australia reached out to America after the British colony Singapore collapsed in the face of the oncoming and powerful Japanese imperial military forces in February 1942.
With the empire of Japan marching southward in the Pacific region, Australian prime minister John Curtin anxiously requested, in late-December 1941, that America come save the nation from being invaded by the Japanese imperial army and naval forces. Due to its own strategic needs against Japan, the U.S. agreed to send its military forces to Australia. Thus, began a geostrategic relationship that has lasted for seventy-five years. Hence, Australia has remained one of America's most reliable allies throughout the post-WWII era.
But, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, the geostrategic dynamics of the Indo-Pacific have changed dramatically. China's unprecedented rise to power— economically, militarily and diplomatically—has forced Australia to reevaluate its policies and position within the East Asian hemisphere. And, to further complicate Australia's current predicament, America itself is experiencing a major political upheaval with the stunning election of Donald Trump as its new president in 2016.
Henceforth, Australia increasingly finds itself in uncharted waters—geopolitically. Australians are confronted with the irrefutable reality that they are living not only in the most pivotal region of the world, but one that is in the midst of an historic transformation. In essence, Australia finds itself at the center of a geostrategic storm.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Journey to the Land Down Under and a Brief Shining
Light
Chapter 1: NCS Harold E. Holt: An American Cold War Outpost
Chapter 2: Gough Whitlam: The Death of an Australian Politician
Part II: The Great Unknown - Australia and America and the
Indo-Pacific
Chapter 3: Red Sky in Morning, Australia Take Warning
Chapter 4: The Epochal Moment Arrives in the Indo-Pacific: America,
Australia, China and the Quest for Peace and Prosperity
Appendix: Australia, the Indo-Pacific, and the American Empire
Bibliography
About the Author
Randall Doyle is adjunct professor of history and government at Mid Michigan College.
Dr. Randall Doyle, a prolific author, offers a new monograph on
Australia’s importance in the shaping of the complicated
international relations in the Indo-Pacific region. By using
voluminous sources, personal experience, and eloquent language, he
highlights Australia’s heritage from Britain, stresses Australian
alliance with the United States of America, and underscores
Australia’s relationship with other regional powers. Although
Australia was silent in the past as a British colony and then a
British dependency and in the recent decades as an American ally
under U.S. paternalism, the country now is a rising nation. Its
rich natural resources and its strategic position determine the
fate of the nation as a regional power. As Doyle argues, Australia
is posited in the center of storm as it will continue to play an
important role in 21st century global and regional affairs, in
particular, in the Indo-Pacific region. Doyle has written this book
with his easy-to-understand language, while offering funny stories
and rendering quick-witted remarks.
*Patrick Shan, Grand Valley State University*
Dr. Doyle has once again demonstrated his considerable ability to
boil the Asia-Pacific region down to its essential motivations.
There are few teachers and practitioners working today who’ve spent
more time thinking about Australia. In “The Australian Nexus” Dr.
Doyle shows clearly why the world’s sixth largest country – over
twice as large as its neighbor India – is emerging as one of the
region’s most important actors in this century. His portrait is at
once alarming and hopeful, accurately portraying today’s tensions
but also considering how regional and global powers might win the
western Pacific.
*Micah Watson*
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