The Bear and the Kangaroo: poles apart?

Whatever its security stance, Australia is undoubtedly a modern democratic nation. Can Russia become the same?

There is little reason to think that Russia is about to turn into a genuine democracy. It has no experience of such a condition, and the recent efforts of strong-man Putin to constrain business, the media and human rights, shows that authoritarian government has not disappeared.

In recent years Australia has adhered itself to the great Anglophone power more than ever. Its economy, culture and foreign policy are so in sync with the United States it increasingly seems like a vassal state. Its military and security are so tied in with the United States that it is unlikely Australia could take serious action against American wishes.

The United States under the Bush administration has gone off on a highly unilateralist line, which has alienated virtually everyone but its most dependent allies, such as Japan and Australia.

With Russia resurgent, thanks largely to oil, and reasserting its power, including growing ties with China and Iran, it is hard to see relations between it and the United States becoming much better. Russia remains the second greatest nuclear power, the only nation that could go toe-to-toe with the United States in a nuclear war. Its high technology armaments production sector remains a major source of modern weapons, and thus appeals to rising powers like China and India.

Currently, Australia’s unquestioning acceptance of the American line and Russia’s refusal to accede to American hegemony suggest a problematic relationship between them. However, a new government in Washington might change course (like re-engaging in international negotiations and getting serious about climate change) which would necessarily bring abut a change of stance in Australia as well.

The hard reality is human civilisation can no longer afford the sort of international rivalries, especially imperialism, that has characterised modern world history up till now. All countries have to participate fully in resolving crucial global issues like climate change, the energy crunch and nuclear proliferation. Australia’s simple acceptance of the recent Washington line has been a disaster for both countries, and the world generally, because it has wasted valuable time.

This need for a totally new approach to international relations is nowhere more clear than in relation to global warming. With its dreams of world power still alive, Russia has been a reticent participant in global initiatives like Kyoto, although it did finally join up. Australia has the invidious position of being one of two developed countries to hold out, the other being the last claimant to global imperial status.

Notions of national and imperial power achieved through aggression and the threat of violence belong to the last bloody century. With such manifest global problems and devastating weapons, the world simply cannot afford this kind of thing any more.

With a little luck, Australia and Russia will find themselves as willing partners in efforts to construct a global consensus that is not dominated by imperial interests, and places human well being over global power plays.