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Australia, Security and the Pacific Islands: From Empire to Commonwealth

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 18:59 authored by Richard HerrRichard Herr
While Australia did not single-handedly scuttle the prospects of a more tightly knit Commonwealth arrangement in the Pacific Islands, its security ambitions have worked against the development of such ties. This article identifies three key turning points, beginning from 1944, where Australia opted for alliance arrangements that undermined closer Commonwealth ties with and among the Pacific Islands. As the region's hegemonic influence, Australia's decisions have been a significant factor in shaping the contemporary Pacific Islands regional system. Canberra's active commitment and backing would have been essential for closer Commonwealth connections to be developed in this varied and remote region. Yet Australia's search for security in the Southwest Pacific has denied the Commonwealth the benefit of such unqualified support. Commonwealth ties are still a factor within the Pacific Islands region in such areas as contemporary political relationships, including the maintenance of Westminster traditions, but they are probably not what they might have been.

History

Publication title

The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs

Volume

95

Issue

387

Pagination

705-716

ISSN

0035-8533

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Routledge

Place of publication

UK

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

International organisations

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    University Of Tasmania

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