Will Australia’s election make any difference to its foreign policy?

Source: www.newsonjapan.com --- Sunday, June 12, 2016
Source: East Asia Forum Author: Editors, East Asia Forum The traditional conception of foreign policy choice is that it is embedded in the DNA of nation states, where they sit in the international community and how they calculate their interests in international affairs. In this conception, Japan’s shift from Democratic Party of Japan leaderships to the Shinzo Abe Liberal Democratic Party administration, for example, was more about transitional atmospherics than foreign policy substance. If Abe dreamed of a Japan that was a great power with a more independent foreign policy stance once more, the reality cut his ambitions back to Japanese size — on breaking free of the restraint of the US security alliance framework, on his ambitions for new security laws, on changing the constitution’s peace clause and on how to play tough with China. What changes he made were adjustments on a clear trend. Japan’s foreign policy remains steady as she goes. Some hold the same hope for the United States should Donald Trump take the US Presidency, but they may be overly optimistic . There are other conceptions of foreign policy choice, especially when the underlying structure of national interests is undergoing great change and there are forks in the road. What is the chance Australia’s upcoming election will make any difference to its foreign policy? Not much, according to Russell Trood, former government Senator now back to university life, and au ...

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