The Howard Coalition government that took office in March 1996 faced two acute challenges to Australia's long-standing policy of regional engagement: the Asian financial crisis and the humanitarian disaster in East Timor. These events forced a re-evaluation of Australia's regional ties. In particular, Canberra's leadership of the INTERFET intervention in East Timor provoked unease in South-East Asia regarding Australia's ultimate loyalties and intentions, while raising questions domestically about the future configuration and character of the nation's military forces. At the same time, the country confronted ever more exacting demands as global regimes sought to regulate environmental standards, human rights and economic policies.

The National Interest in a Global Era: Australia in World Affairs 1996-2000 charts the struggles of policy-makers and the public to come to terms with these challenges. It provides comprehensive accounts of Australia's defence policy, its policies on the environment and human rights, its place in the world economy and its vital bilateral relationships.

I. Setting The Scene
Australia in World Affairs 1996-2000—James Cotton & John Ravenhill
An Overview—David Goldsworthy
Balancing ‘Asia’ against Australian Values— Anthony Milner

II. Relationships
Australia’s Relations with South Asia— Devin T. Hagerty
Australia and Japan—Rikki Kersten
Peripheral Relations: Australia and Latin America—Jim R. Levy with Peter Ross
Australia and China: Divergence and Convergence of Interests—Mohan Malik
Australia and Europe—Elim Papadakis
Reassessing Australia’s Role in Papua New Guinea and the Island Pacific—Anthony J. Regan and R. J. May
Australia and the United States—William T. Tow

III. Issues
Facing an Uncertain Future: Defence and Security under the Howard Government—Graeme Cheeseman
The East Timor Commitment and Its Consequences—James Cotton
Australia in World Environmental Affairs— Lorraine Elliott
Australia and the International Human Rights Regime—Ann Kent
Australia and the Global Economy—John Ravenhill
Australia and the Asian Economic Crisis—Michael Wesley

References

Index

James Cotton — School of Politics, Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales

John Ravenhill —  Department of Politics, University of Edinburgh