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International Standing, International Reputation and Australian Foreign Policy

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International Standing, International Reputation and Australian Foreign Policy International standing, international reputation and Australian foreign policy by Lancelot F. Schultz, BA (Hons), MA, MSc Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Deakin University December 2010 I certify that the thesis entitled: International standing, international reputation and Australian foreign policy submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the result of my own work and that where reference is made to the work of others, due acknowledgment is given. I also certify that any material in the thesis that has been accepted for a degree or diploma by any university or institution is identified in the text. Full Name.................................................………………………………………... Signed ..................................................................................…………… Date......................................................................................................... Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the support of a number of people and institutions. I would like to thank Deakin University for being willing to consider a research proposal that was innovative and that straddled a number of disciplines. My principal supervisor, Professor David Lowe, provided excellent advice, encouragement and moral support throughout the whole project. My assistant supervisors, Professor David Walker and Dr. Christopher Waters, offered valuable comments and suggested ways in which the thesis could be manageable. Adam Brown proof read the final version. Loic Bahuaud offered advice on French language translation. Deakin University provided assistance for overseas travel, and was also considerate in granting periods of intermission. I wish to thank the thirty interviewees, described in the thesis as ‘key informants’ for agreeing to be interviewed and for providing insights and necessary background information. I am also indebted to a number of institutions which allowed me to examine their records: the National Archives of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the National Archives of the United Kingdom, the Library and Archives Canada, the United States National Archives, Archives New Zealand, the Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, and the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, UN New York. In particular, I would like to express my deep thanks to my wife, Meriel, and members of my family who expressed interest in the subject matter of the thesis, provided support and understanding throughout, and knew when to give constructive criticism and when to praise. i CONTENTS Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... i CONTENTS .................................................................................................... ii Abbreviations used .........................................................................................iv Abstract ………………………………………………………………………….. v INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER 1. KEY WORDS, APPROACHES AND METHODS ................... 16 Key words ................................................................................................. 16 Approaches ............................................................................................... 47 Methods .................................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER 2. CASE STUDY: AUSTRALIA AND THE ORIGINS OF THE COLOMBO PLAN ......................................................................................... 55 Introduction ............................................................................................... 55 The Colombo Conference and Spender’s reputation as world statesman 64 The Consultative Committee Meeting, Sydney, May 1950 ........................ 84 London Consultative Committee Meeting, September 1950 ..................... 97 Summary ................................................................................................. 105 CHAPTER 3. CASE STUDY: AUSTRALIAN PEACE INITIATIVES ON CAMBODIA, 1983-1991 ............................................................................. 109 Introduction ............................................................................................. 109 Phase One: 1983-1989 ........................................................................... 111 Phase Two: The Australian Peace Proposal ........................................... 131 Phase Three: The Permanent Five Framework Agreement .................... 145 ii Phase Four: The final stage of the negotiations ...................................... 150 Summary ................................................................................................. 161 CHAPTER 4. CASE STUDY: AUSTRALIA AND THE FOUNDATION OF APEC .......................................................................................................... 165 Introduction ............................................................................................. 165 The Hawke initiative ................................................................................ 166 Keating and the APEC Leaders’ Meetings .............................................. 189 Summary ................................................................................................. 202 CHAPTER 5. CASE STUDY: AUSTRALIA’S FAILED BID IN 1996 FOR A UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT ....................................... 206 Introduction ............................................................................................. 206 The candidates and their reputations ...................................................... 213 Sweden ............................................................................................... 214 Portugal ............................................................................................... 215 Australia .............................................................................................. 217 DFAT reactions ....................................................................................... 241 Summary ................................................................................................. 245 CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................... 247 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................... 254 TABLES Table 1: Typology of the use of the word ‘reputation’ in international relations…… 27 Table 2: Toolbox for taking international standing and international reputation into account when developing or reviewing existing foreign policy ………………..250 iii Abbreviations used ALP Australian Labor Party APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ASEAN Association of South-East Asian Nations DEA Department of External Affairs DFAT Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade EU European Union GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development PICC Paris International Conference on Cambodia P-5 Permanent Five members of the United Nations UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNGA United Nations General Assembly UNSC United Nations Security Council UNTAC United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia US United States WEOG Western European and Other States Group, electoral group in the UN iv Abstract This thesis examines the importance of the concepts of international standing and international reputation for understanding Australian foreign policy in the second half of the 20th Century. It examines the two concepts both as objects of policy and as instruments of policy: as dependent and independent variables. The study is not a comprehensive account of the interface between foreign policy and international standing and reputation over the whole period. Rather, it is built around four case studies which examine the issues in some depth from a multi-country perspective. These case studies are: Australia and the Colombo Plan; the Australian peace initiative in Cambodia; Australia and foundation of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum; and Australia’s failed bid to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 1996. Analysing Australian foreign policy during these episodes through the prism of international standing and reputation using a multi-country perspectives approach sheds light on hitherto unexplored aspects of Australia’s role on the world and regional stages, and on its relations with other countries. The thesis finds that international standing and international reputation were crucial, but largely overlooked, factors in the articulation and implementation of Australian foreign policy goals. Australia’s international standing is directly related to the influence it could exert on the world and regional stages, and Australia’s international reputation is an important factor for the achievement of these goals. Both concepts are of continuing importance for Australia to be heard and taken seriously in international affairs, for establishing and maintaining Australian esteem and respect in the world, and for Australian national identity and self-respect. v INTRODUCTION This thesis examines the importance of the concepts of ‘international standing’ and ‘international reputation’ for understanding Australian foreign policy in the second half of the 20th Century. It examines the two concepts as objects of policy and as instruments of policy: as dependent
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