Australian Politics and Policy - Senior, 2019a

Australian Politics and Policy
community (APC), a new multilateral pan-regional grouping to improve stability
and security among the region, was exemplary of such self-styled creative middle
power diplomacy. It has become firmly established in the lexicon of Australian
foreign policy, despite the Liberal’s distaste for the middle-power descriptor itself.
This fact, and further similarities between the parties, reflect the structural
constraints that guide the decision making of middle powers like Australia in the
international system. A core of bipartisanship regarding Australian defence policy
can be identified ‘including a focus on defending the Australian continent, an
alliance with the United States, and the capability to contribute to regional and
global coalition efforts’. 15 Similar levels of bipartisanship exist regarding issues of
foreign policy – trade policy is broadly neoliberal in orientation and supports the
principles of free trade and marketisation (not to be confused with international
relations liberalism or the Liberal Party). As such, the differences between the
Labor and Liberal foreign and defence policy traditions may be better characterised
as different means to similar middle-power ends.
Liberal internationalism
There is considerable bipartisanship between Australia’s major parties regarding
how to engage with the international system. This may be captured by the principle
of ‘liberal internationalism’. 16 Yet, liberal internationalism stands more broadly
for the extroverted role of Australia in engaging with international institutions,
participating in free trade and upholding a ‘rules-based international order’
(anchored in US global primacy). This has its basis in the identification of Australia
as a liberal democratic country with associated interests and values that should be
pursued and defended. This liberal internationalism – defined as an ‘activist foreign
policy that promotes liberal principles abroad, especially through multilateral cooperation
and international institutions’ 17 – reflects Australia’s self-perception as a
‘good international citizen’.
Australia has been active in foreign policy spheres aligned with its national
interests and has pursued its values and support for an international rules-based
order in areas like trade and finance, global governance, human rights and justice,
the environment and aid. For example, the Rudd government played an entrepreneurial
role in encouraging the elevation of the G20 to a leader’s summit in the
context of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Such multilateral forums have reflected
the consensus that Australia’s economic needs are best served by free trade and
open markets, 18 butalsothatbetterglobalgovernancecanbeachievedthroughsuch
forums, too. Australia has been similarly active pursuing international action on
15 Carr 2017, 256.
16 Jahn 2013.
17 Paris 1997, 59.
18 Fenna 2016, 263.
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