51st State?

Explore the profound insights of Australian identity with '51st State?' by Dennis Altman, published in 2006 by Scribe Publications. This compelling trade paperback, ISBN 9781920769987, delves into the intricate relationship between Australia and the United States, particularly under the governance of John Howard. In this insightful analysis, Altman argues that recent economic and military policies have led to an intense connection between the two nations, prompting many Australians to question their sovereignty and national identity. Is Australia becoming America's 51st state? The book examines critical themes such as the impact of US-style neo-liberalism on Australia's social safety nets and public services, alongside an exploration of Australia’s foreign and domestic policies. Though the connection to the US is undeniable, Altman highlights the resilience of the Australian social contract and the need for Australia to carve out its future amidst shifting global powers. With 144 pages of thought-provoking discussion, '51st State?' offers readers an elegant perspective on contemporary Australian challenges and aspirations.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781920769987
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2006
Publisher: Scribe Publications
Pages: 144


Description:
Australian prime ministers since Harold Holt have all fostered close relationships with the United States, but John Howard has initiated economic and military policies that have bound the two countries even tighter. As a result, many Australians now believe that not only our sovereignty but also our very identity as a nation is under threat, and that we are fast becoming America's 51st state.
If this view is correct, it should be reflected not only in our foreign policy but also in our domestic policies. Indeed, the weakening of social safety nets, the privatisation of areas long seen as government responsibilities, and the signing of the Free Trade Agreement all point to the triumph of US-style neo-liberalism.
Yet, as Dennis Altman shows, the story is not so simple. Even as official rhetoric immerses us ever deeper into the US worldview, the resilience of the Australian social contract is imposing real limits on the application of neo-liberal principles. And, despite his enthusiastic membership of the coalition of the willing, Howard has assiduously cultivated economic and political ties within our region which, as the global balance of power shifts, will become increasingly relevant.
In this elegant and sophisticated meditation on Australian identity, Altman suggests that the tendency to attribute malign American influence to everything we dislike about the contemporary world is the flipside of seeing the US as the only model worthy of emulation, and serves to conceal the deeper questions we face namely, how does Australia imagine its future?


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