How has multiculturalism assisted in developing better relations with Asia?
Multiculturalism is a term used in ethics for the purpose of acceptance and respect of a community’s cultural diversity, harmony, and inclusion. As a result of Australian multiculturalism, more than 6 million immigrants have already settled there since the Second World War. The 2006 census report shows that approximately 24% of Australians were born in other countries, and another 20% have their parents born in overseas countries (Henry, 2010). According to Australian Government, the National Agenda of Multiculturalism developed in 1989 came up with principles and values related to multicultural policy that gave people different rights (2012). First, the policy came up with a right to expressing individual heritage, religion, and language. Secondly, the policy gave the right to equal treatment and eradication of racial, religious, and gender barriers. Thirdly, the policy gave the Australians right to use their talents and skill for their own benefits and those of immigrants. Finally, the policy obliged all Australians to accept the cultural structure and principles of Australian society (Koleth, 2010).
Multiculturalism in Australia has assisted in developing good relations with Asia and other countries. Because of this, Australia has many collaboration areas with Asians and this has assisted it in boosting their economy. On the other hand, Australian Culture has a positive effect on other nearby communities. Australia strictly adheres to the culture influence and property ownership within its region, showing that the great participation in Asian market has improved the country’s economy. In addition, most transactions occurring in Australia are affected by the market conditions in Asia. Through developing of this good relation, Australia’s economy has improved while at the same time, development in terms of technology advancement has increased. Before the Second World War, Australian multiculturalism has boosted its relationship with Asia in many different ways that saw the country improve economically, politically, and socially. To start with, multiculturalism allowed Australia to invite people from other countries to settle in their territory. This boosted business activities within the country since different people came up with different business ideas. In so doing, Australia was regarded as one of the developed places in the continent. Secondly, on the issue of welcoming immigrants, Australia developed good relations with other countries like China and America therefore, they carried most business transactions together (Sullivan, 1998).
On the other hand, the Australia-Asia relationship is more durable and vital since, Australia partnered with Japan and developed strategic plans that saw it improve its economy in the Asia-pacific region and become politically stable. Asia has been trading with Australia for more than 30 years. The National Agenda for Multiculturalism developed in 1989 also assisted Australia in a big way towards multiculturalism policy. The fact that individuals can easily express their heritage, language, and religion made Asia cooperate with Australia in most cultural and religious activities. In so doing, Australia learned a lot of things concerning Asian’s culture, which enabled Australian people, migrate to Asia and start up their businesses there. Moreover, the agenda gave right to equal treatment and opportunity for all. This gave Asians a chance to venture into the Australian government and come up with development projects that boosted Australians through the creation of employment opportunities and improving its currency (Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA), 2010).
Multiculturalism in Australia was meant to allow ethnic groups express their identity with subject to Australian laws, without giving out their rights regarding equal access to community resources. In that context, the Australian government allowed settlement of immigrants from different continents that made Australia a place that houses many ethnicities. Australia benefited from goods and services from the immigrants although there were claims that Australia had very little knowledge on the groups living among them. Despite this, Asia assisted Australia in many ways some of which other immigrants could not manage. Asia made Australia recognize their culture and change their views towards the minority communities within the countries. In addition, multiculturalism in Australia brought about good interpersonal relations between different immigrants allowing people to share their cultures and others adopt some practices from other groups (Henry, 2010).
In conclusion, after the introduction of multiculturalism, there was a high rate of immigration in Australia and from the survey taken, 78 % of these people were of benefit to the country. Asia falls in the category of beneficial immigrants. From another survey carried out in Australia, the groups indicated a high level of intercultural understanding though the groups that separated themselves from other cultures were ignored. In addition, the Australian people valued multiculturalism and from the benefits it brought towards them and therefore; supported cultural diversity as part and parcel of Australian life.
Describe Australia's fear of Asia. Was Australia's fear justified?
Although multiculturalism assisted Australia in developing better relations with Asia, it also brought about some fear. To start with, Australia fell at the instant of invasion by the Asian invaders (Giffard-Foret, 2011). The Asian invaders had one characteristic of raping the Australian ladies and taking people revenge to work for them. This made Australia to develop a lot of fear towards the Asian society. However, their invasion in Australia occurred through the use of threat and force. The Asian invaders seized and extorted Australian subjects by the use of the threat of force. The invaders settled in the new acquired territories without establishing any consensus with the natives on how to share resources.
As a result of the Australia invasion by foreigners, the inauguration of Australia Commonwealth in 1970 ensured that non-White would not migrate to Australia. The policy was developed through the Immigration Restriction Act that also legalized discrimination of racial policy. Before the Second World War, the Australia as a nation was very secure under the homogeneous European population. After the Second World War, Australia came up with White Australian Policy that ensured no admission of non-Europeans to Australia. This was because of fear developed towards Asians resulting from the threats they gave to Australians. In addition, after the Second World War, some factors came into being that affected Australia’s position and reduced the adherence to the White Australian Policy. As a result of Second World War, the British Government reduced their armed forces to Asia therefore, Australia lacked protection from the British Navy who assisted in protecting Australia from Asia. On the other hand, Australia fear was also because of spectre of commission that swept through various countries like Philippines, Malaya, and China. The Australian Government believed that any military threat given to them came from Asia, with an aim of pursuing the world revolution goal. The Australian government came up with a treaty to maintain its defense capability by seeking defensive alliances and contributing to wars of containment like those of Korean and Vietnam (Ironbank resources, 2012).
The Australian government engaged into a treaty signing with neighboring states, which resulted in other countries extorting and conquering a large area, and expansion of power in most of the areas in Australia. This invasion resulted into the emergence of a vigorous armed resistance organized by the state heads and other effective leaders within the Australian continent. The invasion had a consequence of declining food source; consequently, the natives were reduced to a level of eating grass. Moreover, famine emerged in the region, and most of the natives lost their lives because of the reduction of the source of food. Australia had a strong military power, and it had a long succession of administrators and leaders (Cottle and Bolger, 2010).
Another source of fear for Australia towards Asia was because of pressure from the new independent Asian countries. Many Asian countries gained independent allowing them to choose their own leaders after the Second World War. Prior to the War, these Asian countries were administered by White colonials, who were friendlier to the White Australia. Australians developed more fear towards Asians since the new anti-colonialist administrators were extremely rude towards them. More fear resulted from the racism policy. Australians were afraid of Asians due to the fact that their races were very different and Asians were capable of wiping out the entire White Australia since their defense was weak. This prompted the Australian government to seek assistant from other European nations, who had a stable defense force. After the Britain withdrew its army from Australia, the country felt departed and feared the potential strength of Asia in area related to economy, politics, and military. In order to respond to those fears, Australia cooperated with different nations whose economy and defense were stable. Because of this collaboration, Australia acquired protection from Americans who ensured that Asia offered no threats towards Australians.
References
Australian Government. (2012). Australia Belief: Ancient Heritage, Modern Society. Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved from:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/aib/history.html/
Cottle, D and Bolger, D. (2010). Race and Australian Immigration Policy. Retrieved from:
http://www.pol.mq.edu.au/apsa/papers/Refereed%20papers/Bolger%20and%20Cottle%20Race%20in%20Australian%20Immigration%20Policy.pdf
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA). (2010). FECCA Policies.
Retrieved from:
http://www.fecca.org.au/Policies.cfm
Giffard-Foret, P. (2011). Advance Australia Fear: Performing Feminised Asia in Simone
Lazaroo and Hsu-ming Teo’s Work. An E-Journal of Emerging Humanities Work. Volume 9.
Henry, N. (2010). A Multicultural Australia. The Australian Collaboration. Retrieved from:
http://www.australiancollaboration.com.au/_factsheets/Multicultural_FactSheet.pdf
Ironbank resources. (2012). Post-War Australiaaa; Fears, Foreign Policy, and the Demise of
White Australian Policy. Retrieved from:
http://www.ironbarkresources.com/demise/demise01.htm
Making Multicultural Australia. (n.d). A Multicultural History of Australia. Retrieved from:
http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/history/
Murphy, J. (1993). Harvest of Fear: A History of Australia’s Vietnam War. Boulder Colo:
Westview Press
Simond, M. (2008). Multiculturalism in Society. Retrieved from:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Psychology---A-Science-As-Well-As-an-Art&id=961082
Sullivan, C. (1998). Australia’s Key Asia-Pacific Relations: Continuity and Change. Australian
Government. Retrieved from:
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/release.cfm?BC=Speech&ID=2404_7406_6041_9745_8792
Special Broadcasting service (SBS). (2002). Living Diversity: Australia’s Multicultural Future
Retrieved from:
http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/aboutus/tab-listings/detail/i/2/article/4927/Living
Diversity
Koleth, E. (2010). Multiculturalsim: A Review of Australian Policy Statements and Recent
Debates in Australia and Overseas. Parliamentary Library Research Paper. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved from:
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/2010-11/11rp06.pdf
