Issues in Australian Foreign Policy January to July 2015

Abstract

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's foreign policy throughout the six months between January and July 2015 reflected the increasing tension between domestic and foreign policy interests. This trend was already evident, yet it was exacerbated by the challenge to his leadership of the Liberal Party in February, highlighting his growing vulnerability.1 Understanding the relationship between domestic political insecurity and its impact on foreign policy is important in understanding the often reactionary policies pursued during this period. As Matt McDonald has argued, populist domestic considerations have played a key role in shaping the Abbott government's foreign policy outlook.2 The significant amount of attention the Abbott government paid to issues relating to asylum-seekers and linking this to border security, transnational terrorist threats and a recommitment of troops to Iraq to fight Islamic State (IS), and domestic anger over Indonesia's execution of two Australians, all appeared to reinforce a "politics of fear" approach to international issues. At the same time, however, the Abbott government's economic diplomacy received far less attention, partly because it didn't fit neatly with the discourse emphasising security and threat.This review focuses on the intensification of this security discourse and the way in which key issues and relationships were framed as part of this emerging need to protect Australian borders, and thus Australian national interests. What has become apparent is that foreign policy issues such as climate change, Australia's role in the Pacific, and even its economic and trade interests, were explained within the context of a more volatile global security environment. The result over the last six months was an array of policy decisions that demonstrated the continuation of a shift away from an emphasis on internationalism and good international citizenship, towards a more narrow focus on national interest. As a result Australia has received significant international criticism of its actions and key regional relationships have been placed under severe strain.In the period under review it was clear that domestic context matters profoundly when assessing foreign policy. As Robert Putnam has argued, international diplomacy, and thus foreign policy, is the product of a two-level game, whereby policy makers attempt to communicate with and reconcile the competing interests of both domestic  I would like to thank Andrew Philips for his comments on the article, which greatly improved it.

Analisis Kebijakan Luar Negeri Australia di Era Pemerintahan PM Tony Abbott

“…Sebagaimana yang diargumentasikan oleh Matt McDonald, bahwa pertimbangan domestik yang populis memegang peran kunci dalam membentuk kebijakan luar negeri Australia di bawah kepemimpinan Tony Abbott (Simpson, 2015). Pemerintah Australia cenderung mengutamakan pertimbangan politik dalam negeri, khususnya opini publik, untuk urusan terhadap dunia luar (McDonald, 2015).…”

“…Vol 05, No. 02 April -September 2020 ISSN 2541-318X isu keamanan perbatasan dan isu ancaman teror lintas negara dan kembalinya komitmen tentara Irak untuk memberantas ISIS (Simpson, 2015). Dalam merespons peristiwa serangan terhadap pesawat MH17 dan ancaman oleh PM Tony Abbott kepada Vladimir Putin pada sebuah event di pertemuan G20 pun menunjukkan bahwa kebijakan-kebijakan luar negeri pada akhirnya dilihat melalui sudut pandang politik domestik.…”