AUSTRALIA'S STRATEGY

AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGY

By: George Friedman

Published: May 22, 2012; http://stratfor.com and http://finance.townhall.com . Alternatively, you can just Google the title and author’s name.

Level of Difficulty: ***

Suggestion: It is suggested that you read up on Australia or seek out some related videos to enable deeper understanding of the context. Also, make notes of the major points as you read.

QUESTIONS

1.       In paragraph one, the writer states “This has not been the case”. What has happened?

2.       Australia’s situation in most of the wars it has fought has been very different from other countries at war in that ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3.       What misconception concerning Australia do we need to disabuse ourselves of?

4.       At the beginning of paragraph four, the writer says “This leads to Australia’s strategic problem”. What exactly leads to Australia’s strategic problem?

5.       Australia’s commercial activities are heavily dependent on ……………………………………………………………………….

6.       Why was Australia allied with first the UK and then the US?

7.       By what means can Australia guarantee that the major world power in question will, in fact, keep the sea lanes safe under all circumstances?

8.       What are the two major characteristics of global powers? What are the reasons for each of the above characteristics?

9.       The ultimate reason why Australia entered the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars was to ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

10.   Entering WW2 served two additional purposes for Australia. They were ………………………………..

11.   What does this strategy at the beginning of paragraph 14 refer to and what were the underlying reasons?

12.   In the end, Australia decided against pursuing the above strategy for three main reasons. They were ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

13.   One of Australia’s foreign policy options is high risk, the other is low risk. Which is which?

14.   In the introduction of the article the writer posed a question as to why Australia had been involved in so many wars. What answer does he now provide?

WRITING TASK

Use the notes you made while reading to write a one paragraph summary of the text.

AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGY KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This is another of Mr. Friedman’s beautifully organized texts. In the introduction, he poses a question and in the development, he analyzes the issue. The conclusion ties back tidily to the introduction and answers the question. This wonderful structure screams summary so that is the writing task. Remember that the writing task is also a brilliant reading activity and must not be skipped.

1. Australia has been involved in many wars. OR: since 1900 Australia has… OR: Australia has been at war…
2. In only one of the wars it fought, WW 2, was its internal security directly threatened.
3. That its isolation makes it secure.
4. The fact that without trade, Australia could not have sustained its economic development and reached the extraordinary high standard of living it has.
5. Its sea lanes not being cut or disrupted.
6. Because Australia’s dependence on maritime trade means that it can never simply oppose countries …
7. By making the major power dependent on it.
8. Global maritime powers are continually involved in conflict; global power always seeks allies. / Global interests increase the probability of friction, global power spawns fear; political reasons and military reasons.
9. To induce the US to guarantee Australia’s interests.
10. The preservation of an international system that served Australia, protecting itself from Japan.
11. Limiting Australia’s exposure to US demands while cementing its relationship with its primary customers. / China was the rising power and was essential to Australia’s interests because of its imports; the price of its relationship with the US was high.
12. Japan shifted its behavior and its appetite for Australian goods stagnated; China is in the midst of an economic slowdown; the sea lanes are under the control of the US.
13. High risk: committing to Asia in general and China in particular; Low risk: choosing a relationship with the US.
14. Australia’s wealth is not as secure as it seems.