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This article explores the contested public uses of the phrase “Asian Australian” and the relationship between Asia and Australia through the lens of local community associations, their objectives, publications and activities. It examines the historical context in which these associations were established, according to three distinctive postwar historical periods; it examines the cultural milieu in which the phrase Asian Australian has assembled meaning; and it locates the role of the term as both an identity marker and as a basis for intra-ethnic mobilisation. The article finds that iterations of the combination of Asia and Australia—as either adjectives or nouns—have consistently delineated between identity and nation, nation and belonging, belonging and territoriality. Through the embodied passions and politics of associational life, this article investigates the figurative boundary between Asia and Australia and shows how the paired use of these terms has often reflected profoundly if not epistemologically divergent worldviews. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article looks at the history of Australia's relationship with Asia. The majority of people in Australia were less open to cross-cultural relationships. It redesigned its military policy in response to Japanese threat but has a close trade relationship with Japan before the war. It discusses how Asia was depicted in Australian art and literature.

The article focuses on the Australia, New Zealand, United States (ANZUS) Security Treaty, that binds together the nations in cases of any armed conflicts endangering the peace and safety of the signatory nations.Topics include the role of Australian diplomacy, military pacts between U.S. and nations in the Pacific region, and U.S. relations with Japan. Also discussed is Communism in Asia and the impacts of the Cold War.

This essay identifies two streams of middle power imagining in Australian foreign policy. The first springs from four sources, forming a version of middle power imagining that emphasizes security challenges facing Australia, requiring alliances with 'great and powerful friends'. The second stream, springing from the fifth source outlined below, reflects an ambiguous idealism in the middle power imagining it produces. The essay notes that the first stream of middle power imagining is the dominant one in Australian foreign policy thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Colombo Plan is a foreign relations agreement that has had a singularly significant impact on Australian diplomacy and the nation's political image in the Asian region since the early 1950s. This article examines the promotion of the Colombo Plan by focusing on a handful of documentaries that were produced by government bodies, according to different requirements, representing the Colombo Plan's aims and ideals for an international audience. It contextualizes this film in relation to the stylistic and industrial conditions of documentary production of the time and the diverse political sensibilities of post-war Australia. Not least amongst these is unease about the maintenance of the White Australia policy, also known as the Immigration Restriction Act. This article seeks to examine how, given their historical context, these documentaries express a narrative about Asia and Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The refocussing of Australia- Asia relations is manifest in a combination of national policy moves in Australia. Parallel shifts have been made in Europe, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. In Australia, the curricular response to this shift has become known as ' Asia literacy.' This study is drawn from a wider project that explores representations of Asia literacy in both espoused and enacted policy. Teachers in this study are welcoming of Asia literacy, however lack confidence in their ability to engage with it as 'tricky sort of subject matter' that requires significant theoretical work to 'know Asia,' and ' Asian culture' in an 'authentic' way. A seemingly insurmountable barrier is created by assumptions that knowledge of Asia can be discretely inserted into curriculum. Critical reflection on residual imperial notions that are evident in such assumptions can in turn open new possibilities to theorise curricular responses to Asia literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the new Colombo Plan. It explores whether the new Colombo Plan can achieve multiple and meaningful understanding of Asian culture. It mentions the former Australian Labor Government's white paper, entitled "Australia in the Asian Century's Implementation Plan, which second objective is for Australia to have cultural links with Asian nations. Also discussed are Abbot Government's Foreign Affairs Policy and the Australian Coalition Government's Schools Policy.

The article discusses relations being maintained by the U.S. with Australia and East Asian regions as of September 2012. It reports goals of two U.S. force posture initiatives in Australia announced by U.S. President Barack Obama. It cites possibility of increased U.S. Navy utilization of Australian ports and naval bases. A timeline is also presented which highlights events such as the 14th Annual Australia-China Defense Strategic Dialogue and the launch of a Defence Relationship Framework.

One of the most notable trends in contemporary Australian sport has been an increased focus on sporting contacts with Asia. It is also a topic that has began to receive attention from sports historians. One aspect of this relationship that has been overlooked, however, has been sporting contacts with Sri Lanka. A sporting relationship between the two countries is generally only seen to have emerged in the late-1970s, and then only in one sport, cricket. This overlooks the fact that before the advent of air travel, Ceylon (as it was then known) was a common stopping-off point for ships to and from the UK. As a consequence, the vast majority of Australian sporting tours to Britain in the pre-World War Two era involved a stop on the island, and a vast number of matches were played there by Australian teams from a variety of sports. Far from being a peripheral player in sporting contacts, Ceylon provided Australia with both its earliest, and most extensive, set of links with Asia. Given the number of these sporting contacts, and the time scale involved, this hitherto neglected relationship provides a valuable case-study of Australia's emerging sporting relationship with Asia. This article analyses these contacts, paying particular attention to questions of race and racial identity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sporting connections to Asia in the inter-war years are best understood against the wider background of responses to Asia from the late nineteenth century. This article reviews the essays that comprise this collection and in doing so notes that sporting connections to Asia are more numerous and diverse than is generally recognized by either sport's historians or in mainstream histories. Where some contributors to this collection speculate that because the discipline of sport's history is frequently overlooked by historians it is unsurprising that sporting contacts with Asia should have attracted scant attention. This article argues that while there may be marginalising factors specific to sport's history, including a tendency to focus on the empirical and the particular at the expense of larger themes, the failure to address sporting connections to Asia mirrors a more widespread failure to see Australia's engagement with Asia as a subject with a history worth examining. This neglect is particularly true of the period before World War Two. Yet the collection demonstrates that key themes of race, identity, belonging and gender are raised in Australia's multiple sporting connections to Asia in the decades between the wars. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This historiographical article explores a lacuna in the study of the Australia's relationship with the broad Asian region. The study of Australia's Asian context has neglected the role played by sport, especially in the period before the Pacific War. By considering hitherto neglected Australian-Asian sporting contests in the 1920s and 30s, the article problematises much of the existing historiography (with its focus on the “White Australia Policy” and the “Yellow Peril”) and enhances our understanding of Australia's cultural interactions with its region in the period before the Pacific War. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper seeks to fill one of the knowledge gaps in the history of Australian sport. Its focus is the motivations behind, and the experiences of, Australia's first dedicated national sporting team tour of Asia. Within the framework of Australia's Asian context, the paper tests one of the major theoretical approaches to Australian sports history, the notion of the ‘imaginary grandstand’. Further, it explores the tour as an exercise in cultural diplomacy and considers the Indonesian context to this tour. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Largely neglected within studies of Australian attitudes - and changing Australian attitudes - toward Asia throughout the twentieth century are the diverse views expressed by the single major group of Australians to encounter the region, namely the servicemen and women of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who served the nation during the Pacific War 1941-1945. Within forums offered by soldier publications such as Salt, Australian troops were engaged in discussions about why the war had been fought (often with reference to the merits and ideals outlined within the Atlantic Charter, Declaration by United Nations and United Nations Charter). Central to such discussions were attitudes toward race, colonialism and Australia's role and future role in regional and world affairs. Importantly, well-informed understandings of Asian affairs were crucial to discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a study of the Chifley government's foreign policy towards Asia, in particular India and Indonesia, as evidenced by Australia's attendance at the 1947 Asian Relations Conference and the 1949 New Delhi Conference on the Indonesian-Dutch conflict. Australia's presence at these two conferences provides an ideal opportunity to examine the Chifley government's response to the momentous changes that occurred in post-war Asia as a result of the dismantling of the European colonial world order. Through detailed examination of the archival material and contemporary accounts generated from Australia's involvement in the New Delhi conferences, this article will argue that despite significant political constraints, the Chifley government did adopt a distinctive and innovative policy towards the emergent nations of Asia in the immediate post-war years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of its movement toward ‘normal country’ status, Japan has begun to engage in a policy of alliance/alignment restructuring and diversification. This is a twin-track policy – the reconfiguration of existing allied relationships and the creation of new cooperative bilateral links. In recent years, Tokyo has deepened its ties with the United States and Australia on the one hand, while cultivating new partners such as India, as well as several Southeast Asian states. This article examines the nature and dynamics of two of the most important new strategic partnerships: India and Australia. Through a comparative analysis, it seeks to account for their formation, structure, and prospects using a specifically designed model of ‘strategic partnership’ drawn from Organizational Theories literature. It concludes that these strategic partnerships represent a major platform of a more robust and comprehensive security policy on the part of Japan, forged in response to a shifting international environment in the Asia-Pacific region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the place of Australia in an economically prosperous Asia and how closely the economies of countries in the region are intertwined. The growth of the term "Asia-Pacific" in the 1980s and the creation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 1989 is also discussed as is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Other topics include the relationship between production in China and American consumerism, the growth of international trade in goods produced in Asia, and foreign relations between Asian countries.

Australia and Japan have come to rely on each other for their economic security. However, they both share a worrisome distancing from their Asian neighbours. For a variety of reasons—some similar, some dissimilar, but all of them potent—they remain outsiders in the Asia-Pacific region. They are often perceived as states that relate awkwardly, sometimes counterproductively within the region: with each other, and with other regional contenders and would-be partners. This is evident in the suspicious pragmatism with which a rising China, for example, treats both Japan and Australia—for different reasons but with almost identical consequences. The causes of this alienation from mainstream Asia lie first in Australia's clinging to its British past and its dependence on its alliance with the Unites States. Secondly, Japan's failure to face up to its record of militarism during the Pacific War seriously constrains its relations with countries in the region—all of whom suffered from the crazy Japanese ambition to create a `Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere'. And Japan's reliance on the US security umbrella aggravates its isolation. Australia and Japan need to work together to help overcome their respective though similar forms of estrangement within the Asia-Pacific region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has recently announced plans to develop greater regional integration and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Historically, Australian opinion, however, has expressed some anxiety about forging closer economic, political and security ties with Asia. Using trend data from the Australian Election Study and the Lowy Institute Poll, this article examines changes in Australian public opinion on closer engagement with Asia and whether the Australian public is likely to support the Rudd government's push towards developing deeper regional diplomacy. The article finds a shift in opinion since the 1990s with a younger generation of voters who are moderately supportive of Australia's engagement with Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia's diplomatic and political relationship with Asia has been the basis on which the boundaries and membership of its political community have been constructed. This essay uses the example of the Australian Settlement as a strategy of citizenship and state building located within the political framework of an imperial association. Hence, the narrative of Australian Settlement depended on a notion of freedom - a civic identity - in a liberal imperial association and set against a racial order within her immediate region. This dual sovereignty became especially important as a middle power 'mask' of the state. This paper argues that these middle power ideas with respect to Australia's position in a liberal imperial association provided the basis for an eclectic group of individuals to develop innovative ideas about Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific that anticipated ideas of Asian engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a time of increasing national security, this article explores the ways in which migrant communities from Asia feel a sense of attachment to exclusive and inclusive forms of national citizenship while at the same time maintaining transnational links. Drawing on data from the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (2003), the study utilises a quantitative methodology. The strength of this methodological approach lies in its capacity to describe the importance of different categories in shaping public opinion on citizenship and transnational connections in Asia. This study compares the views of Asian-Australians with the rest of the Australian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian international migration has undergone a massive transformation in the last decade, in part as a result of globalization. Although Australia has long been a country of immigration with a relatively high proportion of its residents foreign-born, the nature of international migration shaping the country has undergone profound change in the era of globalization. This paper outlines some of the major dimensions of this change in international migration. The links between globalization and migration are complex and two-way but there can be no doubt that processes which have accelerated international exchanges of goods, information, ideas, trade and finance and led to an internationalization of labour markets have been associated with shifts in Australian migration. This change has had a number of components which have increased the complexity of the international migration influencing Australia. The changes examined include the increasing significance of skill-related migration compared with other forms, increasing non-permanent migration, the increasing nexus between temporary and permanent migration, the increasing movement of Australians out of the country, the significance of student migration and the increasing significance of migration in influencing Australia's relationship with its Asia-Pacific neighbours. These changes have profound implications for Australia's contemporary and future demography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces a series of articles on Asian security outlook. Strategic importance of Australia's ties with the United States; Hierarchical system of states, rather than a system of power-balancing states; Potential impact of regional terrorism.

Examines the different dimensions of the growing relations between Latin America as a region with one of the major constituents of Asia-Pacific. Origins, development and prospects of Latin America's relations with Australia; Multi-dimensinoal nature of the relations not only between individual countries of Latin American with Australia but also Latin America as a region and its interaction with Australia in multilateral bodies; Increase in the net inflow of foreign direct investments in Latin America.

Focuses on Australia's relations with Asian countries. Debate about whether Australia is an 'Asian' country; Public support for deeper engagement; Developments in the region which challenge Australia's previous assumptions; Consequences of the Bali terrorist attack.

Discusses the role that Asia could be expected to play in shaping Australia's future. Explores the future of Australia through futurist writing and literature; Considers the existence of the British race under Australian conditions.

Addresses several issues involved in the creation of foreign policy in Australia. Exclusion of Australia from discussions intended to create agreements in Asia; Tensions with Indonesia; Peacemaking process of Australia with Melanesia.

Examines the history of Australian relationship with Asia. Economic transformations due to foreign relations; Role of Australian Prime Minister H.V. Evatt on the establishment of United nations; Issues on the alliance of the country with the United States.

Focuses on the relationship between Australia and Asia. Citation on the political and economic engagements between the countries; Consolidation of Australia security position through bilateral relationships; Details on the pursuit for practical regionalism.

Scrutinizes the relations between Australia and Asia in the wake of the Asian financial crises and the rise of the populist One Nation Party in 1998. Rise of politician, Pauline Hanson despite disendorsement from the Labor Party for anti-aboriginal and -Asian views; Hanson's criticism of `economic rationalism'; Hanson's failure to exploit the Asian crises.

Analyzes Australian attitudes towards Europe in the 1990s. Cultural and oriental orientation towards Great Britain in the early half of the 20th century; Changes in the composition of population; Efforts to link economy to Asia; Impediments to a close relationship with Europe.

Focuses on the record which the Prime Minster of Australia, John Howard, says his government has with Asia. What the Howard government may be guilty of; Definition of the black armband history by Howard; Information on the 1957 Australia-Japan Trade Agreement.

Explores how the ideal of `white Australia' and its perception of Asia as the alien other have been discarded and replaced by the notion of multicultural society and as an integral part of Asia. History of the `white Australia'; `White Australia' as foundation policy; Western presence in Cold War Asia; Australia's constructive engagement with Asia; Multiculturalism movement in Australia.

Investigates the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade's cultural relations strategies to improve its image in Asia. Bilateral foundation model; Australia's commercial imperative; Australia's television diplomacy in Asia.

Assesses the impact of academician W. Macmahon Ball's goodwill trip to Asia in 1948. Ball's advocacy of closer Australian relations with Asia; Decision to send an Australian mission to Asian countries; Reasons behind failure of mission to Malaya and Singapore.

Examines the presence of Australia in the Asia-Pacific region. Similarities in the views of foreign ministers H.V. Evatt in the 1940s and Gareth Evans in the 1990s; Achievement of security and prosperity by being part of wider grouping of states; Post-war options from 1945 to 1949; Asia's lack of understanding in Australia.

Discusses the role of Australia in the political and economic affairs of Asia. Transition from theory to reality of concept of Asia-Pacific community; Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's (APEC) commitment to free and open trade and investment; Basic rationale behind the APEC.

Provides insights into Australia's foreign policy in 1994. Outcome of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at Bogor, Indonesia in November 1994; Benefits to Australia as a result of APEC summit; Division within the APEC; Appropriateness of a free trade policy.

Explores the array of initiatives undertaken to market Australian public services in Asia-Pacific. Programs to attract foreign film production units; Marketing of land titling services; Radio broadcasting technologies; Education services.

Investigates Australia's position in the Asian-Pacific region. Maintenance of a positive security and strategic environment; Pursuance of trade, investment and economic cooperation; Contributions to global security; Economic restructuring of the region; Regional capability and regional defense cooperation.

Information about the first conference hosted by Melbourne School of Government, the University of Melbourne on the theme "Public Policy in the Asian Century" held December 9, 2013, at Langham Hotel in Melbourne, Victoria, is presented. Topics include opportunities and challenges for Australian policy-makers in Asia, Australian government's policy towards Asia, growth of urbanization in Asia, and emergence of Asia as a research powerhouse.