Australia And The British Embrace: The Demise of the Imperial IdealUntil a generation ago, 'Britishness' lay at the heart of Australian political culture. How and why did this fundamental idea lose its meaning for Australians and their political institutions? The popular view is that the British ideal succumbed to a triumphant, long-thwarted Australian nationalism. The reality is much more complex. Having weighed the documentary evidence, Stuart Ward vigorously argues that it was not Australia but the 'Mother Country' that set the pace. The critical move was the Macmillan Government's decision in the early 1960s to seek membership of the European Economic Community. Thereafter, the ties of imperial sentiment and the dictates of national self-interest were essentially irreconcilable. Australia's attachment to being British was profoundly shaken, and the contours of Australian nationhood were irreversibly redrawn. Australia and the British Embrace is an engrossing account of the unravelling of Britishness in Australian political life. The consequences of that unravelling continue to dominate Australian politics—from multiculturalism to Aboriginal reconciliation, engagement with Asia and, above all, the prospect of a republic. |
Contents
| 8 | |
not just another European country | |
A Matter of Preference | |
a real and fundamental clash of interests | |
without a friend in the world | |
on the horns of a dilemma | |
a challenge to get cracking | |
Other editions - View all
Australia and the British Embrace: The Demise of the Imperial Ideal Stuart Ward No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
agreement agricultural American Anglo-Australian relations ANZUS Asia assessment August Australian Financial Review Australian Government Australian interests Australian national Australian political culture Australian Prime Minister Australian trade Britain Britain’s EEC British entry British Government British membership British race patriotism Brussels negotiations Cabinet Submission Canberra clear clearly Common Market problem Commonwealth countries Commonwealth preferences Commonwealth Prime Ministers Commonwealth trade concerned Conference Crawford debate decision defence discussion Duncan Sandys Edward Heath EEC membership application emphasised Europe European Community European Economic Community exports External Affairs Foreign French fundamental future Gaulle Government's Harold Macmillan Heath ibid idea imperial important influence issue July June London Macmillan Government McEwen meeting Menzies Government Mother Country officials outlook particularly position post-war prospect quoted recognised relationship response Robert Menzies seemed sense sentiment September 1962 Sydney Morning Herald tariff traditional Treasury Treaty of Rome United Kingdom Westerman Whitlam wider Zealand