US-Australia Alliance:the Paradox Of Middle Power Strategic Security

Middle powers are states whose capabilities are below that of great powers,but far above most secondary states.Yet mainstream international relations study often neglects the category of middle powers,especially at the regional level,preferring to focus on the plight and contest of great-power relations at the global level.Middle-power theory provides a framework that remedies this deficiency and identifies a specific set of characteristics pertaining to states that exist in this niche,the opportunities and challenges they provide to great powers,and the important balancing role they play during a power shift.But there exists a distinct absence in IR theory on the effect that alliances have on the autonomy of middle-power states.When a middle power sacrifices autonomy for security,it becomes difficult to distinguish a separate identity and interests from that of the dominant alliance partner,and even erodes the so-called "rules-based international order" which middle powers seek and in which they and thrive.As an identifiable traditional middle-power state which prioritises its alliances and the policy strategic dependence,Australia makes for an excellent case study regarding this phenomenon.Australia is a nation born of strategic dependence with a long history of allying which has inevitably shaped its strategic outlook.To rely on a "great and powerful friend" has long been the cornerstone of Australia's national security strategy and remains well-entrenched within the national psyche and the political identity of policy-makers and elites.And yet,while this may have been an appropriate,even necessary strategic policy in the past,variations in the structure and nature of the external security environment challenge the logic of strategic dependence.Chief among these changes is the rise of China as an increasingly powerful international actor.China's rise has had a profound impact on the structure of the international system at the regional,and indeed global level.Even though China is clearly working within the international system without challenging the system itself,nevertheless,the US views the resulting power shift as a challenge to its leadership and regional influence,prompting Washington to respond in the form of an "Asia-Pacific rebalance" strategy.The resulting friction between the US and China caused by this power shift is the catalyst of a debate in Australia,causing some to question the logic strategic dependence.Australia's strategic dependence long ago shifted from Great Britain to the United States,but for the first time in Australia's history its major economic partner is neither an ally,nor the ally of an ally,and does not share Australia's democratic political system and values.Capitalising on the economic reforms initiated by the Labor government in the 90s,and China's seemingly insatiable appetite for Australia's minerals,Howard stepped up Australia's pursuit of deepening economic ties with China.After 9.11,Howard invoked the ANZUS treaty for the first time in history.During the same period,the Government expanded Australia's strategic interests to be consonant with US foreign policy,thus changing Australia's strategic posture.These conditions kicked off a causal relationship in Australia's bifurcated foreign policy that intensified as successive Australian governments sought to strengthen Australia's two most important bilateral relationships:As Australia deepens economic dependency on China,the strategic angst caused by this dependency prompts Canberra to strengthen the security relationship with the US.Australia seeks to maintain a balance between its two key bilateral relationships,between economic and security interests.However,it is a precarious balance that many analysts believe will be impossible to sustain as tensions continue to rise between the US and China.Perhaps most dangerously for Australia,this balancing act has created a paradox in Canberra's national security strategy,for the likelihood that Australia will face a challenge in the external security environment increases as it draws ever closer to the US strategically.This dilemma is compounded by Australia's addiction to alliances and historically induced path-dependency,by military interoperability and joint bases,and as US national interests increasingly diverge from Australia's own.Changes in US foreign policy,which has demonstrably developed unilateralist tendencies,has further reduced the value of the US as an alliance partner,and ultimately threatens the "rules based order" in which middle-power states such as Australia thrive.