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Quarterly Essay #39
Power Shift: Australia's Future Between Washington and Beijing
In the third Quarterly Essay of 2010, Hugh White considers Australia’s future between Beijing and Washington. As the power balance shifts, and China’s influence grows, what might this mean for our nation?
Throughout our history, we have counted first on British then on American primacy in Asia. Now the rise of China as an economic powerhouse challenges US dominance and raises questions for Australia that go well beyond diplomacy and trade – questions about our place in the world, our loyalties and our long-term security.
Will China replace the US as regional leader? If so, we will be dealing with an undemocratic and vastly more powerful nation. Will China wield its power differently from the US? If so, should we continue to support America and so divide Asia between our biggest ally and our biggest trading partner? How to define the national interest in the Asian century?
This visionary essay considers the shape of the world to come and the implications for Australia as it seeks to carve out a place in the new world order.
Throughout our history, we have counted first on British then on American primacy in Asia. Now the rise of China as an economic powerhouse challenges US dominance and raises questions for Australia that go well beyond diplomacy and trade – questions about our place in the world, our loyalties and our long-term security.
Will China replace the US as regional leader? If so, we will be dealing with an undemocratic and vastly more powerful nation. Will China wield its power differently from the US? If so, should we continue to support America and so divide Asia between our biggest ally and our biggest trading partner? How to define the national interest in the Asian century?
This visionary essay considers the shape of the world to come and the implications for Australia as it seeks to carve out a place in the new world order.
Audio CD
First published August 30, 2010
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About the author
Hugh White
14 books14 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Hugh White (born 1953) is a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, long time defence and intelligence analyst, and author who has published works on military strategy and international relations. He was Deputy Secretary for Strategy and Intelligence in the Australian Department of Defence from 1995 until 2000 and was the inaugural Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). (Source: Wikipedia)
Hugh White (born 1953) is a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, long time defence and intelligence analyst, and author who has published works on military strategy and international relations. He was Deputy Secretary for Strategy and Intelligence in the Australian Department of Defence from 1995 until 2000 and was the inaugural Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). (Source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2023
A Quarterly Essay from 2010 that deals with the rise of China and the retreat of America and its impact on Australia. It's interesting to see how the author assessed the potential future paths.
The correspondence about the previous Essay which related to Kevin Rudd's anger issues really brought me back in time. Interestingly enough Rudd is today in 2023 the Australian ambassador to the US.
The correspondence about the previous Essay which related to Kevin Rudd's anger issues really brought me back in time. Interestingly enough Rudd is today in 2023 the Australian ambassador to the US.
June 24, 2013
The quick growth of China from a backwater to a great power in the world is been one of the central geopolitical issues of today, and the single greatest threat to the post-Cold War American hegemony yet how to deal with the new status quo has not been adequately addressed by western nations.
This slim volume (71 pages, excepting correspondence and notes) is ANU academic Hugh White's attempt to address one question. In a changing world, torn between an increasingly confident China and a United States of America which shows no sign of abandoning the Asia-Pacific or surrendering it's hegemony, what does Australia - a middle power, traditionally reliant on great and powerful allies - do?
As White explains, there are no easy answers. The Asia-Pacific region is a playground of giants, and short of abandoning its middle power status and charting its own course in history, Australia's fate in the 21st century will depend as much on decisions made in Beijing and Washington as in Canberra.
This is a confronting essay, but it lays out the issues in clear and simple terms and its arguments are always solid and well referenced. It should be considered essential reading for anyone interested in one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
This slim volume (71 pages, excepting correspondence and notes) is ANU academic Hugh White's attempt to address one question. In a changing world, torn between an increasingly confident China and a United States of America which shows no sign of abandoning the Asia-Pacific or surrendering it's hegemony, what does Australia - a middle power, traditionally reliant on great and powerful allies - do?
As White explains, there are no easy answers. The Asia-Pacific region is a playground of giants, and short of abandoning its middle power status and charting its own course in history, Australia's fate in the 21st century will depend as much on decisions made in Beijing and Washington as in Canberra.
This is a confronting essay, but it lays out the issues in clear and simple terms and its arguments are always solid and well referenced. It should be considered essential reading for anyone interested in one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
February 5, 2012
Succinct essay outlining critical foreign and defence policy questions for Australia. In brief, how to deal with a changing political, economic and security landscape in Asia that is largely driven by the rise of China and America's, so far unclear, response to it. This has significant implications for Australia and the political elite is not adequately addressing the issue. White argues for a 'concert of Asia' with America sharing regional power with China and other major powers such as India, Japan and Russia; and, for Australia to seriously contemplate the benefits and costs of remaining a middle power in a region despite potentially no longer having a 'great and powerful' western ally (friend) to protect its interests.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews