Dependent And Independent Analysis Of The Non-dominant Country's Foreign Policy

Alliance, as an important phenomenon in international politics, is always the focus for IR scholars. But during alliance research, there are less research on foreign policy of non-dominant countries rather than that of dominant countries.Australia, as an important country in Asian-Pacific Area, is of significance membership in the military alliance of the U.S. after the Second World War. Australia- U.S Alliance, of great importance in America's control of West Pacific Area, is vital to maintain the interests and membership in this area. It is also a significant component in America's realization of Asia-Pacific Peaceful strategy.As following the policy of U.S, Australia is a non-dominant country in Australia–American Asymmetric System with the foreign policy of conflict between dependence on America and self-independence. On the basis of the investigation of reason and significant development phases of Australia-U.S Alliance, and"the middle developed country"foreign policy of Kevin Rudd, this thesis will analyze the dependence and independence of Australia in the frame of Australia-U.S Alliance.This thesis is a case analysis paper. Based on realism theory, this paper first defined the category and conception of alliance, then analyzes why nation alliances with other nations, and defines the conception of non-dominant country in asymmetric alliance, analysis dependence and independence of non-dominant countries foreign policy. Then use the case of Australia foreign policy. First analysis the reason and process why Australia decide to alliance with U.S ; then analysis conflict on Australia's foreign policy between dependence on U.S and self-dependence in the development of Australia-U.S Alliance; finally use Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd's"middle-power country"foreign policy as example. Point out dependence and independence appearance of Australian foreign policy, based on this , discuss the relation between dependence and independence. Finally, point out that foreign policy of non-dominant country in alliance is based on dependence and non-dominants optimize their interests with independence from dependence.This paper shows out: although Australia tries to develop independent foreign policy, there is a balance between its independent foreign policy and the policy dependent on America. Because its core secure interests are under the shelter of America. In another word, Australia's foreign policy is for optimizing interests of the country on the basis of dependence, with the focus of developing its independence.