A good international citizen? Australia at the World Summit on Sustainable Development

1. The research for this paper was undertaken whilst I was a visiting fellow at the National Europe Centre (NEC), Australian National University. I would like to thank the NEC, especially Simon Bronitt, for their support during my time there. The Menzies Centre for Australian Studies in London awarded me an Australian Bicentennial Fellowship which funded the trip and I acknowledge that support with thanks. Thanks are also due to the many people who helped my thinking on this issue, in particular Stephen Dovers, Hugh Dyer, Richard Grant, Clive Hamilton, Karen Hussey, Andrew Ross, Kelvin Thomson, Bill Tow and the referees of the journal. Any errors are my own. This article is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Jeanne, who died suddenly whilst I was in Australia undertaking this research.

Abstract

Australia has often been identified as a middle power in foreign policy terms. This article assesses the worth of the concept in understanding the role of Australia in global environmental governance. Using a case study of the role played at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, it assesses whether Australia conformed to a classic middle power role, building coalitions as a ‘good international citizen’ or whether its role was more like a veto state, preventing positive change. This is done via a reflection of Australia's Summit priorities and an assessment of its impact over the Summit outcomes. The article shows that Australia was able to offer leadership in certain specific areas, but overall domestic policy preferences, a growing mistrust of multilateralism, and a strong defence of the national interest meant that Australia played the role of a veto state, often in coalition with the United States of America.

Notes

1. The research for this paper was undertaken whilst I was a visiting fellow at the National Europe Centre (NEC), Australian National University. I would like to thank the NEC, especially Simon Bronitt, for their support during my time there. The Menzies Centre for Australian Studies in London awarded me an Australian Bicentennial Fellowship which funded the trip and I acknowledge that support with thanks. Thanks are also due to the many people who helped my thinking on this issue, in particular Stephen Dovers, Hugh Dyer, Richard Grant, Clive Hamilton, Karen Hussey, Andrew Ross, Kelvin Thomson, Bill Tow and the referees of the journal. Any errors are my own. This article is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Jeanne, who died suddenly whilst I was in Australia undertaking this research.