When the Australian Labor government announced the deployment of a naval contingent to the Persian Gulf on the 10th August 1990, Prime Minister Bob Hawke described the commitment as being ”proportionate to the interests we have at stake” . What Hawke refers to in his statement is the importance of national interests in the formulation of foreign policy and a country’s reaction to world events such as Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
This paper will analyse to which extent the Prime Minister’s claim to have acted in and proportionate to the national interest is true. In order to be in a position to answer this question, one has to agree on a definition of the term ”national interest”.
Table of Contents
1. Australia’s Gulf War Commitment 1990-91
2. Redefining Australia’s security interests
3. ‘So that no other bastard takes over the trade’
4. ‘The world is a pretty unfair place’
5. ‘Paying whatever price is necessary’?
6. ‘Together forever’ or ‘beyond the great and powerful’?
7. In the name of the national or personal interest?
8. ‘About symbolism and rites of passage’
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the motivations behind the Australian Labor government's decision to commit a naval contingent to the Persian Gulf during the 1990-91 Gulf Crisis, questioning whether this action was truly aligned with national interests or driven by other political factors.
- Analysis of the concept and definition of "national interest" in Australian foreign policy.
- Evaluation of strategic, economic, and trade-related justifications for Australian military involvement.
- Examination of the "good international citizen" role in the context of post-Cold War international relations.
- Assessment of the influence of personal interests and political ideology of Prime Minister Bob Hawke on the decision-making process.
- Investigation into the nature of the Australia-United States alliance and its impact on independent foreign policy making.
Excerpt from the Book
Redefining Australia’s security interests
In the majority of existing literature on Australia’s involvement in the Gulf War strong emphasis is given to the strategic dimension. In 1990 Australian defence policy was that of continental defence also known as self-reliance. One wanted to avoid fighting in wars overseas and wanted to restrict military action and involvement to the defence of the own continent should it be threatened. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, Australia’s domestic security regarding possible military aggression was, at no stage of the conflict, directly threatened.
As a result, the question has to be asked why the Hawke government decided to commit troops to the Gulf War, despite not being threatened militarily. It was clear that the suggestion that ”the commitment was a return to past practices of ‘forward defence’” was not far fetched. This statement is exaggerated, but Hawke’s defence policy at this stage surely was, as we will see, a mixture of old and new.
The White Paper The Defence of Australia 1987 spoke of an area of direct military interest which, apart from the Australian mainland, comprised ”its territories and proximate ocean areas, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and other nearby countries of the South-West Pacific”. According to this definition Australia had no interest in an involvement in the Middle East. Following extensive research it becomes, however, apparent that Australia did have one important strategic interest in the region. The Gulf was extremely important to civil aviation links with Europe. As a geographical isolated country it was feared that Iraq’s control of this region could cause restriction which would be further detrimental to Australia.
Summary of Chapters
Australia’s Gulf War Commitment 1990-91: This chapter introduces the core research question regarding the extent to which the government’s claim of acting in the "national interest" during the Gulf War is valid, setting the stage for a critical analysis of foreign policy.
Redefining Australia’s security interests: This section analyzes the strategic motivations for participation, noting that while the Australian mainland was not directly threatened, the government sought to adapt to a new global security landscape.
‘So that no other bastard takes over the trade’: This chapter evaluates the economic impact of the war, highlighting the protection of key trade interests and the balancing of short-term economic losses with long-term international obligations.
‘The world is a pretty unfair place’: The text examines the "good international citizen" justification, arguing that humanitarian concerns were often overshadowed by political opportunism and inconsistent applications of international law.
‘Paying whatever price is necessary’?: This chapter investigates the proportionality of the Australian commitment, concluding that the military contribution was carefully managed to avoid undue risk while maintaining support for the multinational coalition.
‘Together forever’ or ‘beyond the great and powerful’?: The author explores the tensions in the Australia-United States alliance, focusing on the attempt by the Labor government to assert a more independent foreign policy stance.
In the name of the national or personal interest?: This section addresses the role of Prime Minister Bob Hawke, debating whether the decision-making process was influenced by personal relationships and political ego rather than solely national strategic goals.
‘About symbolism and rites of passage’: The final chapter summarizes the nature of the Australian contribution as a symbolic act of aligning the nation with the post-Cold War global order.
Keywords
Australia, Gulf War, National Interest, Foreign Policy, Bob Hawke, Labor Government, United States, International Relations, Security, Trade, Economic Sanctions, Diplomacy, Multilateralism, Realism, Global Citizenship
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper evaluates the motivations of the Australian Labor government under Bob Hawke for joining the international military intervention in the 1990-91 Gulf War, specifically focusing on whether the actions served Australia's national interests.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The work explores strategic security interests, economic and trade considerations, the pursuit of "good international citizenship," and the influence of the US-Australia alliance on national foreign policy.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks to what extent the Prime Minister's claim that the commitment to the Gulf War was "proportionate to the interests we have at stake" is an accurate representation of the government's true objectives.
Which scientific or analytical method is utilized?
The author employs a qualitative policy analysis by reviewing governmental records, historical documents, speeches, and existing international relations theories to assess the consistency and drivers of Australian foreign policy.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body breaks down the justifications for the war into three categories: strategic necessity, protection of economic trade routes, and humanitarian/international moral responsibilities, while critically examining the political pressures faced by the government.
How can this work be characterized by its keywords?
The work is defined by the intersection of realist foreign policy, middle-power diplomacy, and the specific historical context of Australia’s relationship with the United States in a post-Cold War era.
To what extent did personal relationships influence the Prime Minister?
The paper investigates whether Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s personal friendship with George Bush played a role in the decision, ultimately concluding that while personal factors existed, national and party-line interests were the decisive drivers.
Why does the author argue that the "good international citizen" concept was opportunistic?
The author points to the inconsistent handling of similar human rights issues, such as the occupation of East Timor, suggesting that the moral stance in the Gulf was selective rather than based on an unwavering global principle.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Belinda Helmke (Author), 2002, Australia's Gulf War Commitment 1990-91, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/174529
