Australia’s Policy Priorities in a Global Era

This policy briefing examines the economic and strategic challenges facing Australia as a middle power, highlighting the tension between its strategic alliance with the US and its economic reliance on China. It discusses the limitations of regional institutions in the Asia-Pacific and suggests that the G-20 may offer a more effective platform for Australia to exert global influence.

• Australia faces a complex strategic dilemma because its primary strategic partner, the United States, and its primary economic partner, China, are economic rivals. This interdependence makes it difficult for policymakers to define and pursue a clear national interest, as domestic and foreign policies have become entwined.
• Australia's economic future is increasingly dependent on its East Asian neighbours, which has elevated the political and economic importance of the natural resource sector. However, global economic integration has limited the ability of policymakers to manage consequences such as structural change and the strengthening of the Australian dollar.
• Regional organisations in the Asia-Pacific are often ineffective due to disagreements over membership, purpose, and operational styles. While Western states like Australia prefer a legalist approach, Asian states prefer the 'ASEAN way' of consensus and informality. Furthermore, competition between rival powers—with China favouring ASEAN Plus Three and the US preferring the East Asia Summit—has hindered the effectiveness of these institutions in addressing territorial disputes, the status of Taiwan, or the Korean Peninsula.
• The G-20 is viewed by Australia as a strategic forum for middle powers to promote new ideas and influence international outcomes, providing opportunities not available in other institutions. However, the G-20 has struggled to achieve consensus or act effectively globally, except in the immediate period following the 2008/09 global financial crisis.

APA

Beeson, M. (2015). Australia’s Policy Priorities in a Global Era. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Policy-Briefing-131.pdf

Chicago

Beeson, Mark. Australia’s Policy Priorities in a Global Era. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Policy-Briefing-131.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Beeson |first1=Mark |title=Australia’s Policy Priorities in a Global Era |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=March 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Policy-Briefing-131.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{beeson2015australias, author = {Beeson, Mark}, title = {{Australia’s Policy Priorities in a Global Era}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Policy-Briefing-131.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }