This is the first book which examines Australia's external relations from a political-geographical perspective. It stresses above all the changing orientation of these relationships towards the Asia-Pacific region. It takes a realistic perspective, emphasising the internal relationships among environment, society, economy and politics in a spatial context.
Introduction - Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Part I The structure of the Asia-Pacific region; Australia, the Asia-Pacific and global geopolitical change; geopolitical challenges in the Asia-Pacific; the new regionalism in the Asia-Pacific; the Asia-Pacific - social and economic structure; ASEAN - a key Asia-Pacific building block; human rights questions in the Asia-Pacific; ethnicity, state policy and political stability; political boundary issues in the Asia-Pacific. Part II Australia's regional linkages: economic links - minerals and trade' social links - images, invisibles and immigration; regional security relations; Australia's aid front; Environmental security - the Asia-Pacific and Australia; the geopolitics of Australia-Japan relations; developing the "fourth front"; towards Australasia?; Australia, the new geopolitics and the Asia-Pacific future; useful web addresses.