A warrior nation

Alomes, Stephen 2004, A warrior nation, in Zwischen Asien und dem Westen : zur politischen, ökonomischen und kulturellen Orientierung Australiens, Stauffenburg Verlag, Tubingen, Germany, pp.35-48.

Document type: Book Chapter
Collection: School of Social and International Studies
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Title A warrior nation
Author(s) Alomes, Stephen
Title of book Zwischen Asien und dem Westen : zur politischen, ökonomischen und kulturellen Orientierung Australiens
Editor(s) Platz, Norbert H.
Publication date 2004
Series Konzepte, Orientierungen, Abhandlungen, Lekturen, Australien Studien
Chapter number 2
Total chapters 12
Start page 35
End page 48
Total pages 14
Publisher Stauffenburg Verlag
Place of Publication Tubingen, Germany
Keyword(s) Australia - Relations - Asia
Asia - Relations - Australia
Australia - History - 20th century
Summary Under Prime Minister John Howard, Australia today appears to have turned away from Asia, returning to a Western oriantation. Has racial invasion fear, once expressed in the 'White Australia' policy, been the determinant of relations with Asia? I argue, in contrast, first, that invasion fear preceded race fear and, second, that Australia was unlucky, in coming to nationhood during the eras of Social Darwinism and New Imperialism, scaling ideas of race citizenship into its national formation. It was unlucky to associate national 'manhood' with Gallipoli and war, making the national tradition expeditionary nationalism, or ANZAC. War is central in national memory and public patriotism, primarily because war has been carried out overseas rather than through fighting on Australian soil, and the devastation of Australian cities. Even after the retreat of Western empires in Asia, and of racial ideology, why has this romantic and foolish view of war as an expression of the nation persisted? Paradoxically, Australians romanticise war even though, after 1788, there has been no other invasion of a continent which is harder to invade than it is to defend.
Notes Tranlated book title : Between Asia and the West: the political, economic, and cultural orientation, Australia
ISBN 3860577557
9783860577554
Language eng
Field of Research 210303 Australian History (excl Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History)
HERDC Research category B1 Book chapter
ERA Research output type B Book chapter
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30000647
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