NAH 534 (Australia and the Asia-Pacific)

School of Arts, Division of History, Programme: BA with DIP ED (Honours)
Course Convener: Dr Kevin Blackburn

General Course Description:

This course traces the changing relations between Australia and the countries of the Asia-Pacific. The subject matter will focus on the transformations in Australia's foreign policy, cultural, and economic relations, as well as immigration policies towards the countries of the region. The course looks at the images that Australia has had of the Asia-Pacific and how the people of the region have viewed Australia. Included in the course is an examination of Australia's changing relationships with Britain and the United States.

Specific Seminar Topics for NAH 534

1. A Survey
2. 'Orientalism' Australian Style - Broinowski's thesis
3. Australians and the British Empire in the Pacific
4. The Countries of the South Pacific and Australia
5. Immigration and Asia
6. Australia and Japan
7. Australia and China
8. Australian Involvement in the Malayan Emergency.
9. Australia's Relations with Indonesia
10. The Australian-American Alliance
11. Australian Involvement in Vietnam
12. Australia and the Asian Ascendancy - The Garnaut thesis
13. An overview

Assessment

• 30% Presentations on the seminar topics, and one 2500 word assignment based on one of the seminar topics.
• 70% Examination

HONOURS LEVEL (SEMESTER1) EXAMINATION 1998-99

• Saturday, 7 November 98, 0900-1130 (2 1/2 hours)

  INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions.
  2. Answer TWO (2) questions.
  3. All questions carry equal marks

1. Evaluate the relevance of Peter Alter's idea of there existing not one form of nationalism but several nationalisms to Australia from the 1890s to the 1930s.

2. Critically assess Gavin Souter's interpretation of John Curtin's 27 December 1941 appeal to the United States to protect Australia against Japan, that it was 'one of the most crucial remarks ever made by an Australian Prime Minister'.

3. Lachlan Strahan has described various Australian stereotypes of China in the twentieth century. Examine two of these images, and trace their origins in Australian history.

4. How close did Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and Malaysia come to going to war against Indonesia during the Confrontation? Explain the reasons for your answer.

HONOURS LEVEL (SEMESTER 1) EXAMINATION 1997-98

• Monday, 10 November 97 - 0900-1130 (2 1/2 hours)

  INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions.
  2. Answer TWO (2) questions.
  3. All questions carry equal marks

1. Describe the new insights into Australia's involvement in the Indonesian independence struggle in the 1940s offered by the document collection, 'Diplomasi'. How does Margaret George's account, written before the official records were released, fare in the light of these published documents?

2. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of Orientalism as a theoretical framework for explaining the nature of gender relations between white men and Asian women in Australian history.

3. Evaluate whether it is appropriate to describe David Day's interpretation of the fall of Singapore as the Australian perspective in the historical controversy on the topic.

4. Roger C. Thompson argues that Australia's activities in the South Pacific in the nineteenth century can be described as "sub-imperialism". What does Thompson mean by this description, and is it appropriate?

HONOURS LEVEL (SEMESTER 1) EXAMINATION 1996-97

• Monday, 21 October 96 - 0900-1130 (2 1/2 hours)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions.
2. Answer TWO (2) questions.
3. All questions carry equal marks

1. Evaluate Verity Burgmann's argument on the origins of racism against non-white immigrants in Australia. Test her argument using the work of other historians on Australian race relations.

2. Edmund Fung and Colin Mackerras have described the relationship between Australia and China, between the Communist takeover in 1949 and Australia's cordial relations with the People's Republic of China in the early 1980s, as having gone 'from fear to friendship'. Explain what they mean. Determine whether this phrase explains the complexity of relations between the two countries.

3. Why do Peter Edwards and Gregory Pemberton disagree in their interpretations of Australian involvement in the conflicts in Malaya and Vietnam?

4. Critically assess how Paul Kelly and Greg Sheridan have interpreted Ross Garnaut's thesis on the Australian identity and the 'Asian ascendancy'.