Private economic diplomacy in Australia-Japan relations : the role of business cooperation committees

Abstract

The thesis examines the functions of the AustraliaJapan Business Cooperation Committee (AJBCC) and the Japan-Australia Business Cooperation Committee (JABCC) in · the context of mechanisms used by the business communi ties in both countries to expand communication with foreign countries. It also evaluates the role of the committees in the development of Australia-Japan relations. The concept of private economic diplomacy is used to explain how the significance of each committee in its own domestic environment reflected the importance of the other country as a trading partner. How each committee functioned as an instrument of private economic diplomacy was influenced by the structure of business representation in each country. In particular, the characteristics of the individuals who took the ini tiative in establishing the committees and the peak business organisations that provided administrative backup for the committees tended to determine the limits of committee activities. The two committees made different inputs into their own business communi ties. The AJBCC made an important impact on the development of Australia's private economic diplomacy by introducing the concept of an organised, cross-sectoral approach to foreign countries. fvlany similar commi ttees wi th other countries were later established modelled on the AJBCC. Involvement of these committees in Australia's foreign policy formulation and implementation, however, was limited, mainly because of the service-orientated nature of their umbrella organisations. The AJBCC established more formalised operations and contacts with its own government than the JABCC. The inauguration of the JABCC was significant step in the evolution of Japan's private economic diplomacy, because it represented the establishment of a permanent channel of communication with a foreign country. Throughout its history, the JABCC continued to raise issues at joint meetings with the AJBCC, which strongly reflected the basic goals of Japan's private economic diplomacy at the time. The domestic impact of the JABCC, however, was relatively minor. Compared with other business cooperation committees in Japan, less emphasis was given to domestic political functions in the operation of the JABCC. Both committees' activities centred on holding joint meetings, which provided a channel between the two legitimate communication countries and important opportuni ties for business leaders to extend their personal contacts. The two committees also acted as a medium of communication between the Australian and Japanese governments. As time went by this channel became relatively less significant.