Shall We or Shall We Not? The Japanese, Australian, and New Zealand Decisions to Apply for Membership in the OECD, 1960–1973

This chapter examines the reasons for the marked variation in enthusiasm for membership of the OECD displayed by Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, the first three states from outside the European and North Atlantic area to gain OECD membership. Japan, the first new OECD member after its establishment in 1961, achieved membership only 4 years after first deciding to apply, first becoming a member of the Development Assistance Committee. In contrast, Australia took nearly 10 years to decide to apply, gaining entry in 1971, and New Zealand took 12 years, gaining entry in 1973.