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Fear of Abandonment: Australia in the World Since 1942
Everything Australia wants to achieve as a country depends on its capacity to understand the world outside and to respond effectively to it.
In Fear of Abandonment, expert and insider Allan Gyngell tells the story of how Australia has shaped the world and been shaped by it since it established an independent foreign policy during the dangerous days of 1942. Gyngell argues that the fear of being abandoned – originally by Britain, and later by our most powerful ally, the United States – has been an important driver of how Australia acts in the world.
Spanning events as diverse as the Malayan Emergency, the White Australia Policy, the Vietnam War, Whitlam in China, apartheid in South Africa, East Timorese independence and the current South China Sea dispute, this vivid narrative history reveals how Australia has evolved as a nation on the world stage.
Fear of Abandonment is a gripping and authoritative account of the way Australians and their governments have helped create the world we now inhabit in the twenty-first century. In revealing the history of Australian foreign affairs, it lays the foundation for how it should change.
Allan Gyngell was Director-General of ONA, the Australian government’s central intelligence assessment agency, from 2009 to 2013. That followed six years as founding executive director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy. He was foreign policy adviser to Paul Keating and worked as a diplomat, policy officer and analyst in several government departments. He is the co-author of Making Australian Foreign Policy.
In Fear of Abandonment, expert and insider Allan Gyngell tells the story of how Australia has shaped the world and been shaped by it since it established an independent foreign policy during the dangerous days of 1942. Gyngell argues that the fear of being abandoned – originally by Britain, and later by our most powerful ally, the United States – has been an important driver of how Australia acts in the world.
Spanning events as diverse as the Malayan Emergency, the White Australia Policy, the Vietnam War, Whitlam in China, apartheid in South Africa, East Timorese independence and the current South China Sea dispute, this vivid narrative history reveals how Australia has evolved as a nation on the world stage.
Fear of Abandonment is a gripping and authoritative account of the way Australians and their governments have helped create the world we now inhabit in the twenty-first century. In revealing the history of Australian foreign affairs, it lays the foundation for how it should change.
Allan Gyngell was Director-General of ONA, the Australian government’s central intelligence assessment agency, from 2009 to 2013. That followed six years as founding executive director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy. He was foreign policy adviser to Paul Keating and worked as a diplomat, policy officer and analyst in several government departments. He is the co-author of Making Australian Foreign Policy.
718 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2017
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360 people want to read
About the author
Allan Gyngell
6 books3 followersAllan Gyngell is national president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and an honorary professor at the Australian National University.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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July 27, 2021This book is undoubtedly very informative. Unfortunately, the biggest thing I learnt is how much I hate reading e-books. Should have purchased, instead of toiling away on ProQuest for about 3 months. As such, no rating provided
July 11, 2025
thorough and interesting
January 6, 2020
"Fear of Abandonment" provides an excellent one volume account of Australian foreign policy through to 2016. Gyngell manages to tell a story that covers all the main issues over eight decades. This is always going to be a challenge. To cover such a long time span evenly. Gyngell stitches together his narrative seamlessly using a mix of archival and public sources and his excellent network of insiders - combined with his own experience as an important insider.
To keep the account within the constraints of a single volume there have to be omissions - fortunately these are not necessarily all that obvious. The account covers the main aspects of foreign and trade policy, aid gets a rather superficial treatment, while public diplomacy and consular services fail to get a mention at all. Gyngell could have recounted the rise and fall of the Australia Network, the expansion of the various foundations, councils and institutes, the evacuation of Australians trapped by various crises such as Lebanon in 2006, or several other events - but clearly a line had to be drawn somewhere.
Furthermore, the account focused heavily on the role of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, with occasional appearance of the a Trade and Defence ministers. Other actors rarely appeared. Thus the bulk of the diplomatic staff seem invisible in the account, only appearing in the final chapter.
Finally, Gyngell does a remarkable job in being even-handed. Australian policy is not without its failures, but Gyngell manages to put these in the context of circumstances of the time and the issues that drove the decision-makers. This is not an account of heroes and villains.
To keep the account within the constraints of a single volume there have to be omissions - fortunately these are not necessarily all that obvious. The account covers the main aspects of foreign and trade policy, aid gets a rather superficial treatment, while public diplomacy and consular services fail to get a mention at all. Gyngell could have recounted the rise and fall of the Australia Network, the expansion of the various foundations, councils and institutes, the evacuation of Australians trapped by various crises such as Lebanon in 2006, or several other events - but clearly a line had to be drawn somewhere.
Furthermore, the account focused heavily on the role of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, with occasional appearance of the a Trade and Defence ministers. Other actors rarely appeared. Thus the bulk of the diplomatic staff seem invisible in the account, only appearing in the final chapter.
Finally, Gyngell does a remarkable job in being even-handed. Australian policy is not without its failures, but Gyngell manages to put these in the context of circumstances of the time and the issues that drove the decision-makers. This is not an account of heroes and villains.
December 10, 2021
We're a multicultural continent nation operating and interacting across multiple zones of history, geography, culture, opportunities and deep seated fears.
GYNGELL'S "Fear of Abandonment" recounts and explains Australia's foreign policy decisions and directions from 1942- 2016. Offering an educated analysis of what's worked, what hasn't and how the personalities of our Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers have left their mark; Gyngell surprised me with the level of continuity between governments of different political tribes, you wouldn't think our political parties would work behind the scenes so well in securing major and minor agreements in our interests quite so well. I also hadn't fully appreciated how some treaties, institutional arrangements, and relationships were improved (sometimes markedly) by some human actors, whilst upset quite powerfully by others, taking years to recover. With this information, I can now see how our 75 years of modern foreign policy experience has led to a good foundation, but also where we have distinct gaps. I was particularly engaged by Gyngell's overarching historical narrative capturing Australia's trajectory from imperialist outpost, to Commonwealth partner, to American supporter. I would love to see the next logical step of us being an integrated nation with deep Indigenous narratives driving our world views, bringing a very strong new perspective to our position, role and purpose in the Indo-Asia-Pac region. Right now, we're more confident in our identity, but remain sometimes brain explodingly insensitive to nuance, which makes us look quite troubling, bogan, xenophobic, anti innovation and immature on the world stage. I'd really love to see in the next 75 years Australia dramatically increasing it's capacity to better resolve the complex difficulties of foreign policy by reaching for a more expansive, worldly and fine intellect and superior communication approach. Something to aim for.
GYNGELL'S "Fear of Abandonment" recounts and explains Australia's foreign policy decisions and directions from 1942- 2016. Offering an educated analysis of what's worked, what hasn't and how the personalities of our Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers have left their mark; Gyngell surprised me with the level of continuity between governments of different political tribes, you wouldn't think our political parties would work behind the scenes so well in securing major and minor agreements in our interests quite so well. I also hadn't fully appreciated how some treaties, institutional arrangements, and relationships were improved (sometimes markedly) by some human actors, whilst upset quite powerfully by others, taking years to recover. With this information, I can now see how our 75 years of modern foreign policy experience has led to a good foundation, but also where we have distinct gaps. I was particularly engaged by Gyngell's overarching historical narrative capturing Australia's trajectory from imperialist outpost, to Commonwealth partner, to American supporter. I would love to see the next logical step of us being an integrated nation with deep Indigenous narratives driving our world views, bringing a very strong new perspective to our position, role and purpose in the Indo-Asia-Pac region. Right now, we're more confident in our identity, but remain sometimes brain explodingly insensitive to nuance, which makes us look quite troubling, bogan, xenophobic, anti innovation and immature on the world stage. I'd really love to see in the next 75 years Australia dramatically increasing it's capacity to better resolve the complex difficulties of foreign policy by reaching for a more expansive, worldly and fine intellect and superior communication approach. Something to aim for.
February 3, 2018
Detailed summary of our international position
This is a very detailed summary of our international standing and for those interested in history of this nature, a great read.
It is a long and detailed read though, so prepare to truly invest time in this book.
This is a very detailed summary of our international standing and for those interested in history of this nature, a great read.
It is a long and detailed read though, so prepare to truly invest time in this book.
December 11, 2022
Absolutely essential reading for anyone studying IR, or interested in Australian foreign affairs.
December 18, 2022
A mammoth recount of Australian foreign policy since 1942. Only recommend reading for those who have a strong history in Australian foreign policy and diplomatic activity.
February 22, 2024
A very good overview of Australian Foreign Affairs since 1942.
September 1, 2024
Masterpiece!
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September 28, 2025Came for timeline, stayed for the many euphemisms deployed against Doc Evatt. Bless that man
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews