The question remains: how to explain this apparent diplomatic shift by Australia? To address this, this article contextualizes Australia’s recognition of Palestine within its historical framework, arguing that the government’s decision to recognize Palestine stems from the interaction between Australia’s strategic culture and its liberal internationalism in defining what it means to be a “good international citizen” (GIC). International relations professor Hakan Mehmetcik defines GIC as “a multidimensional concept that encompasses not only states’ actions but also their motivations, commitments, and broader ethical considerations that guide their behavior on the global stage”.
On one side of the debate about GIC is Australia’s strategic culture. This refers to a distinct set of beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of force, stemming from a unique and prolonged historical process. This process reflects Australia’s Anglo-Saxon colonial heritage and the corresponding need for protective powers to defend its interests against potential foreign aggression. Consequently, Australia’s strategic culture prioritizes Israel’s ongoing security over Palestinian claims for a state. Since Israel’s establishment, Australia has followed the orthodox line of US foreign policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which tolerates, appeases, and supports Israeli colonial settlement policies aimed at subduing and pacifying Palestinians until they no longer pose a threat to the Israeli state. From this perspective, for Australia to consider itself a GIC, its foreign policy must be finely aligned with US strategic calculations.
On the other side of the debate is Australia’s adherence to a framework of liberal international foreign policy that promotes diplomatic openness, sovereign equality, respect for human rights, and democratic accountability. This translates into Australia’s support for collective peacekeeping operations, the promotion of the rule of law, and the array of international institutions designed to address complex global issues. As stated by Penny Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs: “We want a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and sovereign-respecting world. A world where differences are resolved in accordance with law and international norms, not by force and size.” From this perspective, for Australia, being considered a GIC means not only acting in line with these principles but also refusing to accept or tolerate actions by other states that contradict them.
The interplay between these two concepts sometimes creates tensions in the formulation of Australian foreign policy, as the strategic culture favors maintaining the status quo while respect for liberal internationalist values requires vigilance and, at times, necessary changes.
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[Context: The article discusses the reasons behind Australia’s decision to recognize Palestine within the framework of its strategic culture and liberal internationalist values.] [Fact Check: The article highlights the tensions that can arise in Australian foreign policy formulation due to the interplay between strategic culture and liberal internationalist values.]
