Power in Australian Foreign Policy

Darren J. Lim & Victor A. Ferguson (2018) Power in Australian foreign policy, Australian Journal of International Affairs, 72:4, 306-313, DOI: 10.1080/10357718.2018.1484072

12 Pages Posted: 16 Jan 2019

See all articles by Darren J. Lim

Darren J. Lim

School of Politics and International Relations, ANU

Victor Ferguson

Australian National University (ANU), College of Arts and Social Sciences Australian National University (ANU), College of Arts and Social Sciences

Date Written: June 18, 2018

Abstract

The 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper emphasises the importance of ‘maximising’ Australia’s power and influence, however the White Paper and much of the commentary on Australian foreign policy do not clearly conceptualise ‘power’ or indicate how it ought to be increased. The Lowy Institute’s recent ‘Asia Power Index’ implies one possible strategy via its resource-based approach to measuring power. We outline a different approach and argue that power should be conceptualised and evaluated as a specific relationship causing behavioural change, rather than as a general attribute of its wielder. To complement the Lowy Institute’s carefully catalogued database, and facilitate a more focused conversation about maximising power and influence in Australian foreign policy, we offer a typology identifying five pathways through which states can translate their material and non-material resources into outcomes.

Keywords: Australian foreign policy, power, coercion, persuasion, diplomacy, agenda-setting

Suggested Citation

Lim, Darren and Ferguson, Victor, Power in Australian Foreign Policy (June 18, 2018). Darren J. Lim & Victor A. Ferguson (2018) Power in Australian foreign policy, Australian Journal of International Affairs, 72:4, 306-313, DOI: 10.1080/10357718.2018.1484072 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3310977

Darren Lim (Contact Author)

School of Politics and International Relations, ANU ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia
+61261253584 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/lim-dj

Victor Ferguson

Australian National University (ANU), College of Arts and Social Sciences Australian National University (ANU), College of Arts and Social Sciences ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

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