Australia and the rise of the rest
"The Post-American World" is the title of a new book by the Newsweek columnist and global big thinker, Fareed Zakaria, which argues that the US is in slow decline, and that the world has entered a period of "post-Americanism".
It is one of those "Honey: Who Shrunk the Superpower?" sort of books. It notes that America can no longer boast the world's tallest building - that honour goes to Taipei; Bollywood has overtaken Hollywood; the European-made A380 is bigger than the American-made jumbo jet.
This is something much broader than the much-ballyhooed rise of China or even Asia, writes the Indian-born Zakaria; "It is the rise of the rest."
The book comes out here in August, and I wonder how many times it will mention "Australia", "Howard", and "Rudd". But Australia is unquestionably part of Zakaria's "rise of the rest" - I would argue a big part.
First all the boring stuff: the Australia exports that are feeding, fashioning and fuelling the rise of the rest. Australia is the world's biggest exporter of black coal, the third biggest producer of iron ore and has the largest known recoverable resources of uranium, which is essential for the nuclear ambitions of India and China.
By the end of the decade, it should be able to boast the planet's largest solar energy plant, and be the world leader in geothermal "hot rock" power generation.
Australia is the world's fourth largest exporter of wheat, and the fourth largest exporter of wine. If you want to fully understand why there are wheat riots in Egypt and pasta protests in Italy, then go see the empty grain silos in rural Australia.
In investment banking, Macquarie Bank, the Sydney-based "Millionaires Factory", is now estimated to be the world's largest non-governmental owner of infrastructure. It owns all manner of things, from Thames Water in London to the Indiana Tollway, from the Chicago Skyway to Red Bee Media, which was perhaps better known in its previous incarnation, BBC Broadcast. Staying with global finance, up until 2005 the World Bank was run by an Australian, James Wolfensohn, who grew up in Sydney and who fenced for Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
On the geopolitical front, Kevin Rudd has just made it into Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People List". At a tribute dinner for John Howard in Sydney earlier this month, George W Bush and Tony Blair sent video good wishes, a measure of Australia's enhanced global standing.
Even under Kevin Rudd, Australia remains America's closest Asia-Pacific ally. When John McCain set out his foreign policy vision in an essay late last year, he noted: "I will tend carefully to our ever-stronger alliance with Australia." In the same essay, Britain did not merit an equivalent mention.
Culturally, Australia boasts at least three of the finest prose stylists in the English language, the two-time Booker prize winner, Peter Carey (although he lives in New York and his latest book, in my uneducated opinion, is a bit of a dud), Tim Winton and Booker prize winner Thomas Keneally. And is there a more accomplished film star in the world right now than the saintly Cate Blanchett - who, in a wonderful historical inversion, rose to global prominence playing an English monarch?
In media, just two words: Rupert Murdoch. The world's most influential business newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, is now not only owned by a native Australian, Murdoch, but edited by one as well, Robert Thomson.
Australia's culture is influencing the world in more subtle ways as well. Just think of all those Chinese students studying in Australian universities, drawn Down Under partly because of the strict visa requirements introduced by the US in the aftermath of 9/11.
In sport, Australia's sporting academies are the envy of the world, and have helped regularly give it one of the highest ratios of Olympic medals per capita of any country. At the Athens Olympics in 2004 it came third in the "medal tally by population" league table, behind the Bahamas and Norway (the UK came 29th, the US came 34th and India was last).
Its anti-doping regimes provide the global gold standard. In cricket, the world's second most popular sport, Australia still dominates the field of play, if not the corridors of power.
Australia remains a lifestyle superpower. For all its infrastructure problems, Sydney still ranks as the world's favourite city among tourists, according to Conde Nast Traveller magazine - the 12th time it has topped this readers' poll. Sydney and Melbourne can boast some of the finest restaurants on the planet.
I'd love to hear what you think about Australia's cultural, diplomatic and economic reach. Am I overestimating or underestimating it? And what about the notion of post-Americanism? Having spent the past week with a US naval task stationed off the coast of Burma - America is the only country that could come close to mounting that scale of operation so far from its shores - I suspect it's a little early to write off the US.
But I am in no doubt that the rise of the rest extends to this far-flung corner of the planet. The land down under is increasingly front and centre.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~49~RS~)
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I spent nearly a month is Sydney back in January (I'm from New York City) and couldn't believe how futuristic and modern it was! Also, they seem much more concerned about using their economic prosperity to beef up the overall lifestyle/comfort level of the residents, than we do here in NYC. I definitely felt that I was getting a look at the future of the western world. Having said that, they really need to lose the "thimble-full" measured portions of booze in their mixed drinks and early closing times if they ever want to really step up as a world-beating metropolis! I don't want beer or wine, I want liquor!!
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Australia probably pulls more than its weight in global affairs. As you've pointed out, especially in the commodities field and as individuals, Australia/Australians have excelled.
However, Australia only has a population of some 25 million--although one of the largest countries in terms of land area. With such a small population, it's difficult to see how Australia will be a major power. It might become even wealthier in comparison to the world, as Singapore is wealthy in comparison to the rest of South-East Asia. But, as with Singapore in South-East Asia, Australia's economy and military will be eclipsed by other countries (as a whole, nation vs. nation; Australia might be more advanced per capita). It just doesn't have the potential to be a world power unless Australians start having a LOT more babies and let in enormously more immigrants (which poses a cultural risk).
(Will let others tackle the 'is the USA set to fall' question--have already made a decision on that, but it's still useful to read others' opinions).
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It is inevitable [the decline of America] and although many people in America do not want to believe it, we are in a Post America World. The Governing Elite of Republicans and Democrats are to blame for this situation.
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As an Aussie living in London, it's nice to hear these things from a foreigners perspective, although most Nick Bryant's points I'm already aware of.
I'd like to add that Australia, in general, is a very underrated country and under the radar type country. In many ways it's far in advance of the UK in respects to lifestyle, culture (by that I mean way of life and general atmosphere, rather than history and historical importance, as the UK beats all hands down), government policy and the countries continued growth (or at least under Howard). Not to mention our vast natural resources.
In the early years of the country's existence, Australia thrived on for wool and raw materials and these days raw materials and international business. In the future our natural resources will probably continue to be the biggest part and backbone of our future. Once oil runs out and if/when the world goes nuclear, Australia will literally be the world's powerhouse with coal and uranium reserves/exports being in the number one and two or positions.
Not to mention the biggest mining companies in the world are Australian, Rio Tinto and BHP.
If you know your history you'll be aware of Australia's prominent role in winning WW1 and highly successful role in WW2. It's a fact that the Germans in WW1 and Japanese in WW2 and the Vietnamese in the Vietnam conflict all stated that the opponents they most feared to fight were Australians. It's a fact that Australia accounted for 9% of the Entente powers during WW1 yet took over 23% of captures, a massive and disproportionate contribution to victory. It's also a fact that the AIF soldiers and commanders were responsible for the allied victories of 1917-18 leading to the capture and breaking of the Hindenburg Line and it's also a fact that Ludendorff and the German high command stated that the victories led and planned by Australian, General Sir John Monash (the first commander to be knighted in the field of battle in over 200 years) and won by the all volunteer AIF (no other country could boast this) on, after and before the 8th August broke the German army leading to their retreat and eventual surrender causing Ludendorff to call it the "Black Day of the German army in the history of the war". And it's also a fact the Australians were the first to defeat the Germans and Japanese on land in WW2. Not even the Britain, the US or Russia can boast this.
Yes I'm going on a bit but my point is that Australia has always been an no doubt will continue to be an under-valued and under-rated 'world power'. Or at least in popular culture and knowledge - but not at least in the history books. As a nation, we've always been a huge player in world events but hadn't necessarily been a major player in creating those world events, that credit goes to the big boys of world powers.
So in summing up, all I can say is Advance Australia Fair!!
Evan
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After looking at the other comments, and pondering the main blog post some more....
Australia COULD become a power, but it depends on your definition of what a power is. Using the criteria used in the second comment, then Australia wouldn't be a power. But if your definition of a power is a country in the center of things, then, yes, Australia could be a power. A country need not be big and strong (militarily and economically) to be a power if it can be the focus of attention by other methods. Using the Singapore/South-East Asia analogy again, Singapore is not the biggest country in terms of population, GDP, or military size, but because it sticks out compared to its neighbors--and has an immensely convenient location--it is often at the center of ASEAN, and often leads that group in decision-making, and therefore could be considered a power, or even the preeminent power, in that organization.
So, if Australia can do a similar balancing act, then it can be a power. (The added bonus is that those types of powers don't get criticized for all the things they do badly).
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You are correct concerning the decline of the United States both politically and economically. And surely Australia is by far one of the most up and coming nations to fill that void. However, as the US reverts to its true introverted nature, the reassigning of the worlds most powerful miltary will leave large gaps throughout the world.
As stated previously, with only twenty five million people Australia will be hard pressed to fill that void in the Asia Pacific area. In Asia-Pacific arena, China will undoubly hold sway, however, any mutual alignment between Japan, South Korea, Australia and possibly Taiwan could create an unbearable situation for the Chinese.
For South Asia, both India and Pakistan will continue to vie for both a position of dominace and leadership.
The Europeans will surely hate to see the Americans realign, for pullout from NATO would create a very large unfunded hole to be filled.
The Russians will have no problem holding their own in Eurpean Asia.
On the African Continent, no one seems capable or interested in taking the leadership.
And in the Middle East, surely Isreal is the sole power there, but it cannot continue to hold unlateral power. Thus either a major treaty with Syria as co-leader or watch the Irans ascend. Iraq will neither be capable or ready to fill its former role.
So as you can see the problem isn't just filling the shoes militarily, but who will step up leadership wise.
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You are correct concerning the decline of the United States both politically and economically. And surely Australia is by far one of the most up and coming nations to fill that void. However, as the US reverts to its true introverted nature, the reassigning of the worlds most powerful miltary will leave large gaps throughout the world.
As stated previously, with only twenty five million people Australia will be hard pressed to fill that void in the Asia Pacific area. In Asia-Pacific arena, China will undoubly hold sway, however, any mutual alignment between Japan, South Korea, Australia and possibly Taiwan could create an unbearable situation for the Chinese.
For South Asia, both India and Pakistan will continue to vie for both a position of dominace and leadership.
The Europeans will surely hate to see the Americans realign, for pullout from NATO would create a very large unfunded hole to be filled.
The Russians will have no problem holding their own in Eurpean Asia.
On the African Continent, no one seems capable or interested in taking the leadership.
And in the Middle East, surely Isreal is the sole power there, but it cannot continue to hold unlateral power. Thus either a major treaty with Syria as co-leader or watch the Irans ascend. Iraq will neither be capable or ready to fill its former role.
So as you can see the problem isn't just filling the shoes militarily, but who will step up leadership wise.
by newsman
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I am fascinated by the reference to the vast natural resources found in Australia as "belonging" to Australia, the clear implication being that they lend potential power to the culture on the world stage. I think this is, with respect, wistful nationalism in a globalized world.
Since the second world war the US sponsored system of world trade has created a web of "western" (for want of a better word) multinational corporations who, under the rule of the common law, literally own most of the resources in, forgive the term, the colonies.
Before this US dominated system, the English and Dutch had pioneered corporate colonialism in the asian pacific region for two hundred years.
Unless you want to do violence to the idea of property at law and modern corporate reality, it doesn't seem reasonable to describe Australia as a nation state, with its own agenda. Just as the union jack graces the flag and our head of state resides in another state, there is no way our own military could prevent our resources falling under Chinese influence without US aid.
These are facts, but they need not be shameful facts. It is open to us to shun nationalism, to point at nationalist feeling as mindless, selfish pride, redundant in a globalized world.
And we ought never resent the English people, nor the Americans. Our own citizens are at liberty to purchase shares in multinationals, and to have their say in the world. Just ask Rupert Murdoch. And further, most Americans and English folks are as much in debt to the same multinationals as Australian nationals.
We are all the same in the global village. We should hold hands and compare credit card statements, not flags.
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I love my country above all others but the idea that Australia will become a "super power" is fanciful rubbish". I've said it before and I'll say it again, you don't understand Australia. We don't want to be a super power. We want to be strong enough to protect ourselves and our friends; rich enough to give our citizens a good life and influential enough that we can stand up to Europe and Asia when they try pushing us around. As for the USA collapsing, well I thinhk that's a little bit of pommy wishful thinking.
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As an Englishman living in Perth, Western Australia I can only agree with the majority of this article. I recently obtained a 4 year work permit as a graduate civil engineer here in Perth, working within the booming mining industry. I previously travelled Australia for 2 years and quickly fell in love with the country and the lifestyle it can offer.
After speaking with friends back in England it seems clear to me that Australia is a very much underrated country still, in terms of economy and opportunities. The economy is exploding at the moment and I am looking forward to going back to England for a month as the current state of the Aussie dollar means that England will actually be cheaper than Australia. Also, my salary as a graduate engineer is 50% higher than anything I could expect in England because of the mining boom.
A comment that was made from an American said that because Australia only has 25 million people living here it could never be a world power. I don't believe that world power focuses entirely on population figures. It's not that black and white. Australia is thriving while other Western countries are suffering potential economic decline.
I just feel that the US and UK have a certain arrogance, believing they are Number 1 and cannot be moved from top spot. With, Australia, the most sustainable country in the world, quickly growing behind their big fat heads!!!!
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As a Brit living in Oz for the last 9 months, i would agree with most of the compliments being paid to the country.
However as evidenced in some of these comments "but don't they just know it!"
Nothing wrong with being proud of, and talking up your country, but it does introduce the risk of complacency.
For example, my experience of the work culture here is that there is a sense that becuse the economy is booming, everyone has a right to perform their job on THEIR terms, and criticism of under acheivement is frowned upon. Everywhere there is an assumption that "whatever I do will be good enough"
In the ultra competive globalized world of today, this attitude does not bode well for the future.
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As another Brit living in Australia and working for another Engineering company, there are parts of Nick's article I can agree with, but some of the descriptions of Australia that you frequently hear just don't ring true.
The country's mineral deposits and geographical position in the world have made it richer and helped to increase its importance as an ally for the likes of the USA, in this respect it definitely punches above its weight. To every English cricket fans pain, they are undoubtedly very good at all sports they take part in, and it's easy to see why, given the facilities and effort that everyone puts into sport here. Finally the major cities (all five of them!) do feature great architecture, waterside settings and some good restaurants.
But to every Brit who's heard about the wonderful lifestyle all Australians enjoy, well it's not quite as simple as that. For starters, just like everywhere else, you need the money, and there are plenty of people here who don't have enough to live in a beachside villa or right next to Sydney Harbour. Come to think of it, there are plenty of people who live outside of a state capital, where life is very different. Add to this that many aspects of daily life the average Brit has come to expect (we're talking opening hours, quality and availability of goods/services, a centralised government...things that make life more convenient) just don't stack up here. Small things but highly frustrating and not something many people mention before you get here!
To sum it up then - A great country punching above its weight politically and economically (helped no doubt by all us foreigners ? there are a lot of us!), but don't get carried away, either by the extent of that political influence or the carefree, easy going lifestyle!
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As an American, I love my country passionately and want it to be good, but I don't necessarily want my country to be the only superpower in the world. I don't think having the US as a sole superpower is good for the world stability anymore. World is changing fast, and it would be nice to see stable superpower emerge from each geographical region to balance our the power. I don't think my country will collapse, as many people seems to wish, but we definitely have gotten lazy. I think being the only superpower for so long has made us lose our ways.
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... the news of USA death have been greatly exaggerated. Empires do not disintegrate in a deacade or so. After Iraq and the financial crisis gets sorted out, the USA will be back... I assume to the pain of both Russia and China for their increasing arrogance and often childlike spite in world affairs.
This should not take anything from the importance of Australia. However, as wjburt said in #9, Aussies are not interested in world domination. It is directly against the Aussies ethos of laid back lifestyle. Any Australian government which seriously suggested trying to turn Austraia in a world power, would probably end up getting kicked out at the next election.
With its size, the main continent, islands, about half of Antarctica (not recognised by all, but part of Australia), territorial waters, Australia concentrates on protecting what it already has and asserting claim to it (Antarctica for example of the last). This is why it relies on alliances, with the US, and the newer Japan and more local alliance.
Plus Australia has its own prolems. It overachieves in sport, but under achieves in science, innovation, and manufacturing. Science and innovation is imported. Its wealth is driven by and beholden to commodity boom and bust cycles. Right now we are having a commodity boom, so Australia is cocky... but this will change in the near future. If Australia ever diversifies its economy to have a high tech component as a proof against the future, this is when it will start rising to a stable world prominence.
One final point to consider is that the size of the military IS NOT the funtion of population size, but a function of the economic size. Thus as long as Australia grows its economy, it should be able to afford to defend itself.
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To Paulcrossley,
You have got to be kidding me did you say you were from the UK?
the same UK where all shops even the ones that boast '' open 24hrs'' shut at 5.00pm on a Sunday how pathetic and drives me insanely mad! as Sunday night is best for shopping. And I am from a small town? So how is it possible that I feel things are more accessible then you? as for the Country towns here wow talk about slow town mentality!
When I got the UK I almost felt like I had been in a time machine where I had been back in time! except for the transport system.
I love reading everyone else?s comments it is great to see people who see in Australia what I do.4 months and counting until I am home can't wait to smell fresh air, eat good unprocessed food and see people smiling!
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If Australia has so many good things going for it, why have so many of our children left for greener pastures, especially in London? I will have a much more lonely old age than my parents if the birds don't return to the nest! Or at least a nearby tree. The thought of constantly braving Heathrow for a family reunion is not pleasant!
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In my case I am hear because of my husband! he needed a visa to get back to Australia , as he is South African. Most other people are here because of the pound or travelling Europe Definately NOT because of a love for England... well most of them SOrry to Nick who Is English.
Dont worry as the Dollar keeps getting better and better you will see less young people heading this way!
As I watched two men in suits have a punch up on the tube yesterday because I quote ' the other guy was elbowing me and was taking up to much of the arm rest' I realised people really are kidding ourselves coming to england.... as I said before I am sorry to the english as I really do not mean to insult you.
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An Australian, I'm all for the Rise of the Rest, to at least a maintainable state. I'm sick of superpowers, sick of Big Business usurping the role of Gvmt, sick of superpower policies dooming 'the Rest' to famine, strife and misery, sick of the big-kid-in-the-playground mentality, sick of the notion that one group of people has the wherewithal, and therefore the right to decide how other countries function.
I deplore the idea of Australia, or any other country, being a Superpower.
That good old American who waxed lyrically on how 'Good fences make good neighbours' knew a thing or two. Talk to our neighbours over the fence, visit from time to time, help him out when needed, then look after our own patch well because it, not our neighbour's patch, has to sustain us.
All touted future superpowers are mythical. The next decade will be monumental in realignments, then when the energy has gone and the global economy has collapsed, where we are will be all we have. We need to tend our own patches, that's all.
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As an Australian that recently moved to New York, the contrast is striking. Australia has been booming for all of my adult life and is still on a big upward swing. New York, and I believe most of the rest of the USA, is really sliding backwards on quality of life, financial might, infrastructure, cultural events and all kinds of other criteria. Neither Sydney nor Melbourne can claim to edge out New York as a premier global city, yet but that day might be on the horizon.
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Nick,
In your list of all-things-Australia, you forgot to mention the Wiggles. I have two young children here in Chicago, USA, constantly singing in Australian accents about fruit salad and Dorothy the Dinosaur.
I do think Australia has a very strong global presence but it seems to me that China has become the true global superpower by virtue of its tremendous manufacturing base.
Most of the consumer products available to me locally are made in China. It seems that very few products are manufactured in the USA these days. In my opinion, the future will be dominated economically by the Chinese.
As far as military, I do not see how the USA can financially sustain its current global presence so there will be a much greater need in the future for a sharing of the load in international policing situations and a more subjective military policy by the US government.
Oh, and by the way, the tallest building in the world is still in Chicago. That building in Taipei claims to be the world's tallest building by virtue of a spire. The Sears Tower has more floors and two large antennas that dwarf the Taipei spire.
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Australia,
is moving ahead of the United States in the role of diplomacy....
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Sorry TGordon41, but thats another ranking that the US has slipped in.
The tallest building/structure/anything built by man on earth is Burj Dubai, which is of course in Dubai.
It is currently under construction and is about 650m tall, and wont stop rising until it hits 819m tall.
My view is that Australia will continue to rise in relative importance with Western powers throughout this century, but this will be driven by the Australian population's growth in size. We will always be dwarfed by the large Asian countries, but our disproportionate share of the world's resources will put us in a certain notable club of resource countries that command more attention than they are otherwise worthy of.
I don't think Australia's role in the world will really mature until the end of the century (outside of our viewpoints) when it will start to reach a more stable population that suits the size and climate of the country.
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Australia?? Where's that?? Come on Mr Reporter, hard up for a story????????!!!!!!!!
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The question which needs answering is: who would really want to be a part of a superpower? It strikes me that the rest of the world spend their time predicting the demise of the superpower, whilst the inhabitants of the superpower continuously worry about their own downfall. Surely, it's better to avoid this situation in the first place? Australian's will have their moment and then sure enough it will pass.
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Generally Australia is a terrible place to visit and live. The main reason it will not become a "superpower" is deficiency in intelligence.
To add to the list of Australian's great companies they will no doubt mention Cadbury's..........oh wait a moment.
You have give them credit for being the only country with no unemployment. The way Aussies bang on about it, its like they all work for the tourist board.
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Though Australia is plainly a great and beautiful land, to suggest that it will rise into independent great power status is to deny that it has been colonised these last 30 years by US corporations, who will continue to own the true Land of the Free much the same way as a lovelorn hound owns an attractive sack.
As the mainland US slides into ruin those same families will move to more comfortable climes and carry on the business of pillage as usual.
It will only be when US dominance is cauterized from from the Global psyche (they are vulnerable and will remain so until their much vaunted shields are fully operational) that true freedom will find expression.
I forsee a time when many nations will cooperate secretly to ensure the destruction of a common threat. So many of us have moved beyond colonialism.
So, yes, planning now for a "The Post-American World" is wise indeed.
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Australia sounds like a wonderful place -
don't go the superpower route, you don't
know what you're getting yourselves into.
As for the population only being 25 million -
this only proves that you haven't told
enough people how wonderful the place
is, which is a policy that you should
continue if you want to retain any
quality of life.
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The article is interesting if a little flawed in some respects.
It was certainly interesting to read the comments, and the way others see us through their eyes. wjburt was close to my feelings and paulcrossley just has to be a Londoner with "Come to think of it, there are plenty of people who live outside of a state capital, where life is very different. Add to this that many aspects of daily life the average Brit has come to expect (we're talking opening hours, quality and availability of goods/services, a centralised government...things that make life more convenient) just don't stack up here." I love living away from the big smoke - and 99% of those living in my town agree with me. Given the choice the majority would, but economic circumstances tend to cause young people to gravitate to the cities and we have slowly become one of the most urbanised nations on the planet. And quite a few seemed perturbed about getting a drink in the wee small hours; they should talk to the local cabby. Every city has 24 hour places. Thank goodness my village doesn't.
I really liked this one, they have the right priorities: "In your list of all-things-Australia, you forgot to mention the Wiggles. I have two young children here in Chicago, USA, constantly singing in Australian accents about fruit salad and Dorothy the Dinosaur."
Finally, we don't want to be a superpower anywhere but on the cricket ground or the Olympics. We do want to lead life our way, make our own mistakes and reap our own rewards. Sadly, we would be fools to attempt to do that in isolation, ignoring the umbrella of islands and small nations to our north with a combined population of hundreds of millions, most of them Islamic and some of them fanatics. Indonesia, for example, is the largest Islamic nation by population.
Similarly, any nation that doesn't recognise the rising economic might of China and India (which nobody mentioned in the comments) is doomed to become irrelevant. Those factors alone mean that we need sufficient military might and expertise to let any possible invader know that our resources will come at a high price (we might not beat them in the long run, but we could sure annoy the heck out of them), enough economic wealth to maintain that military and also to forge economic links with the rest of the world, particularly Asia, and enough diplomatic savvy to maintain a network of alliances and friendships to balance all those aspects and, hopefully, make the military unnecessary.
And just for the record, Rupert Murdoch is an EX-Australian. We tend to stress the prefix. Many here have the same contradictory feelings that I do; a grudging respect for the fact that he made it to where he is and a thankful relief that he chose to be no longer here or one of us.
Alan
PS (delete this if links aren't allowed) this may explain why I'm not a city dweller:
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/2006/10/home-in-pottsville.html
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To youngspeaker and loralgt, thanks for taking the time to read my comments. It may surprise you to learn that I come from rural North Yorkshire and have no intention or desire of ever living in London. I love living in the countryside and can certainly sympathise with loralgt in that respect.
Even though I come from that background, I was still surprised at how hard it was to, for example, go to the fish and chip shop or Off License after 8pm or do any shopping in the evening, and I live in a the 3rd largest city in the country. Some of this is obviously a Brit adjusting to another country (Aussies get up earlier and go to bed earlier it seems ? fair enough!, your supermarkets, at least in QLD, shut early on Sat but later on Sun) but some of it makes me appreciate just how good things are back home (TV Stations, UK Driving ? really!, even internet shopping).
Overall, it?s a small price to pay for the chance to live in such an interesting continent for a few years, but the point I was trying to make to others considering the same is that unfortunately while you?re here, the chances are that you?re still going to be living an everyday 9-5, working life most of the time ? which is when you?ll miss home the most!
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I will soon be moving from the US to Sydney for at least two years. I have been to Australia twice and agree in part with its central role in the Asia Pacific region and to some extent, the global scene as well. As a well respected political player and provider of natural resources to developing Aisa, Australia's influence will only grow.
I read Sakaria's pre-publication essay in Foreign Affairs and agree, at least in principle, with his assertion that other nations will rise and the US will dim a bit, but not really decline. The reach of the US is still quite extensive, despite the mud on our face from the past eight years.
Both the US and Australia will continue to exert influence on developing nations through foreign policy that combines our shared values of democracy and capitalism with the realism that regimes such as China and Russia will not embrace our values, but will certainly see their self interest and the rest of the world's as much more tightly linked.
Australia will be a natural leader in APAC, and if the US is smart about it, we will seek to leverage this leadership. Australia, with Rudd's deep understanding of countries such as China, can play a key role in shaping the next generation of leaders who are APAC savvy, yet have a more global view. The country can have significan influence on China and India, but must not waver on human rights issues.
Australia's true essence might be a combiniation of its important natural resources, its strong economy and the respect it has earned from western powers. This will position the country to act as the intermediary in APAC with its unique bridge of knowledge spanning both east and west.
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I lived in Sydeny in the last century. I liked Australia, may be I even love Australia.
There are so many good things about Australia, but it is the people that counts.
I have Turkish nurse who helped me, I tasted my first Lebanese Keba, tried the best Combination noodles at Cabrammata , a very good maths teacher who told me he was a pom and my neighbour was a maltase worker who was very very friendly.
And I was invited to live with an aboriginal clan at an outback excursion.
I don't think making a super power will do any good. Australia has a very good system to breed the people living on this land. It is a global village, sure Aussie will continue to contribute, not for superpower, but for the world peace and humanity.
If the world modelled after Australian values and attitudes, give everyone a fair chance and a fair go , with some blessing from above, the world will be a better place.
If Australia changed the world in that direction, persuades the US, liase India, Japan and China, know your role.
You will be respected.
Honestly, apart from UK, Australia really does not have much role in Europe proper.
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Rupert Murdoch a native Australian? Well technicaly. He dumped his Australian passport for greedy reasons . Now he's a greedy yank but that could easily change with the fall of the American empire or maybe his family with their collection of passports will keep the the insatiable appetite of the Murdoch empire satisfied.
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