Fear, honour and interests: cooperation, competition and contestation and Australia's engagement in regional affairs

Abstract

Australia’s political leaders struggle to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent to manage the longer term issues. But some visionary leadership is needed. Great power contestation is in full swing and likely will present flash points, while regional governance challenges and environmental concerns will compete for attention. War is not likely, at least not yet; and talk of a Cold War is overly binary and reductionist. But a three-way overlap is at work including great power contestation, environmental challenges and governance crises, like we have seen in Solomon Islands in late 2021. The combination calls for a clear-eyed management of concurrent demands for cooperation, compromise, collaboration, competition, contestation, coercion and conflict. AUKUS and the Quad security arrangements have their place, but Australia must also address felt needs of neighbouring states and of those marginalised and angry. A grand compact with Pacific Island states and a regional maritime cooperation forum could help.