AUSTRALIA'S POLICY AND ROLE IN ASIA : IMPERATIVES FOR REORIENTATION

This article examines the imperatives driving a fundamental reorientation of Australia's policy and role in Asia in the mid-1990s. It argues that the end of the Cold War and the spectacular economic rise of Asia compelled Australia to move beyond its traditional identity as a Western outpost and to redefine itself as a country of the Asia-Pacific region. The study analyzes the key components of this policy reorientation, often referred to as "enmeshment" with Asia. It explores the diplomatic push to build closer ties with ASEAN, the championing of regional economic forums like APEC, and the new emphasis on multiculturalism at home as a bridge to the region. The research also discusses the challenges and internal debates surrounding this shift, including the persistent security reliance on the United States and the cultural adjustments required. The paper concludes that this reorientation was not merely a foreign policy choice but a necessary response to the changing geopolitical and geo-economic realities facing Australia.

Historically, Australia's identity and foreign policy were overwhelmingly oriented towards Britain and the United States. This paper analyzes the profound reorientation that took place in the late 1980s and 1990s, as Australia began to earnestly redefine its role in Asia. The study begins by outlining the powerful imperatives for this shift. The primary driver identified is economic: the rapid growth of the East Asian economies transformed them into Australia's most important trading partners, making deeper engagement a matter of national prosperity. The geopolitical driver was the end of the Cold War, which created a more fluid regional security environment and demanded a more independent Australian foreign policy. The core of the article is an examination of the specific policies that constituted this reorientation. It provides a detailed analysis of the Keating government's policy of "enmeshment," which involved a concerted diplomatic effort to integrate Australia into the political and economic architecture of Asia. Key initiatives discussed include the push for the creation of APEC and Australia's efforts to build a new security dialogue through the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The paper also explores the domestic dimension of this shift, particularly the promotion of multiculturalism and Asian studies as essential tools for engaging with the region. The findings suggest that this was a historic and largely successful re-imagining of Australia's place in the world, a recognition that its future security and prosperity were inextricably linked to its immediate neighborhood.