Australian Foreign Policy: Controversies and Debates provides an introduction to a range of debates, issues and problems in Australia's foreign policy and foreign relations. Readers will be introduced to a range of historical and contemporary debates that have shaped, and will continue to influence, Australian foreign policy.

• Introduction


• Part I: Origins and Organisation of Australian Foreign Policy1. Theory and Australian Foreign Policy


• Debate Point: Should Realism guide Australia's National Interest?


• 2. The Liberal/Labor TraditionDebate Point: Is there a distinct Labor/Liberal tradition in Australian Foreign Policy and Practice?


• 3. Media and the Making of Foreign Policy


• Debate Point: It is unwise for governments to make foreign policy in response to media-driven agendas


• 4. Australian Diplomacy and MultilateralismDebate Point: Multilateralism is the 'band aid' of Australian Diplomacy


• 5. The Global Economy


• Debate Point: Does an open-free market economy make Australia more or less secure in a globalised world?Part II: Australia and its region


• 6. Terrorism


• Debate Point: The threat of terrorism is exaggerated7. The US Alliance


• Debate Point: Australia is, and always has been, a pliant ally - a lapdog - that too readily follows the US


• 8. ANZUS and the Rise of ChinaDebate Point: Australia should distance itself from the United States in favour of China


• 9. Relations with Indonesia


• Debate Point: Indonesia remains Australia's biggest blind spot


• 10. Australia in the Pacific


• Debate Point: Australia should be seen as a 'bully' or 'neo-colonialist' in light of its foreign policy in the Pacific region and its relationships with its regional neighbours


• Part III: The Future of Australian Foreign Policy11. Defence spending


• Debate Point: The world is becoming more hostile and Australia should increase its defence spending


• 12. Good International CitizenshipDebate Point: Is Australia a good international citizen?


• 13. Australia and Climate Change


• Debate Point: Is Australia a climate change laggard rather than a climate change leader?14. Asylum seekers


• Debate Point: The debate about asylum seekers proves that Australia is a frightened country


• 15. Religion and Foreign PolicyDebate Point: Religion should be more prominent in Australia's foreign policy

Dr Daniel Baldino is the Head of the Politics and International Relations Discipline at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle. His latest books are Spooked (2013) and the co-edited Contemporary Challenges to Australian Security (2012). He completed his PhD at the University of South Australia. He also has a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Business) and Masters in International Politics.

Dr Andrew Carr is a Lecturer at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, at the Australian National University. He has published on Australian foreign policy and middle power theory. Dr Carr is an editor of the journal Security Challenges and the Centre of Gravity policy paper series.