Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Tables
- Abbreviations
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Australia’s ‘Engagement with Asia’
- 2 An Overview
- 3 The Rhetoric of Asia
- 4 Australia and Asia: A View From Europe
- 5 Australia’s Defence Policies in the Post–Cold War Era
- 6 Australia, Disarmament and Arms Control
- 7 Australia and the World Economy 1991–95: Closer Economic Integration with Asia?
- 8 Australia and the International Environment
- 9 Australia and Japan
- 10 Australia and Southeast Asia
- 11 Australia and China, 1991–95: Asymmetry and Congruence in the Post–Cold War Era
- 12 Australia and the Four Asian Dragons: Beyond the Economic Agenda?
- 13 Reassessed: Australia’s Relationship with the United States
- 14 Australia and the European Union
- 15 Australian Relations with the Former Communist States of Europe and the Soviet Union
- 16 Australia and New Zealand: Unequal Partners on the Periphery
- 17 Australia and the South Pacific: The Rationalist Ascendancy
- Notes
- Index
4 - Australia and Asia: A View From Europe
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 May 2024
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Tables
- Abbreviations
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Australia’s ‘Engagement with Asia’
- 2 An Overview
- 3 The Rhetoric of Asia
- 4 Australia and Asia: A View From Europe
- 5 Australia’s Defence Policies in the Post–Cold War Era
- 6 Australia, Disarmament and Arms Control
- 7 Australia and the World Economy 1991–95: Closer Economic Integration with Asia?
- 8 Australia and the International Environment
- 9 Australia and Japan
- 10 Australia and Southeast Asia
- 11 Australia and China, 1991–95: Asymmetry and Congruence in the Post–Cold War Era
- 12 Australia and the Four Asian Dragons: Beyond the Economic Agenda?
- 13 Reassessed: Australia’s Relationship with the United States
- 14 Australia and the European Union
- 15 Australian Relations with the Former Communist States of Europe and the Soviet Union
- 16 Australia and New Zealand: Unequal Partners on the Periphery
- 17 Australia and the South Pacific: The Rationalist Ascendancy
- Notes
- Index
Summary
Australians visiting Europe often complain about how little they see or hear of their own country in the European media. On the face of it, there is much to justify these reactions. It is exasperating to turn the pages of British newspapers and read the trivia they contain when one knows of the much more reportable, entertaining or significant stories they could print about other parts of the world. But is the situation much better when viewed in reverse? Are not the Australian media as guilty of parochialism when it comes to coverage of the outside world? The sad but very basic fact of the matter is that all politics are local politics. All of us who specialise in international affairs have been frustrated by the leverage of local issues on the attention of politicians, journalists, other academics and public opinion. We, when all is said and done, focus on issues such as whether certain countries will continue to exist, or whether the world will be at peace or war in months or years ahead. Sadly, these topics compete poorly with less vital topics such as the love lives of the Royal family or tales of petty corruption, both in Britain and in Australia.
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- Information
- Australia in World Affairs 1991–1995Seeking Asian Engagement, pp. 33 - 43Publisher: Cambridge University PressFirst published in: 2024