The Drum

'Anti-Americanism' in Australia



In 2004 Griffith University political scientist Brendon O'Connor noted that, because 'anti-Americanism' lacks a precise definition, what differentiates anti-Americanism from legitimate criticism of the United States 'is often confused or, in fact, deliberately distorted'.

Interestingly, strongly anti-American comment frequently comes from individuals who follow American fashions, enjoy American music and benefit directly from American technology. People who pour contempt on Americans and their religious practices nevertheless admire Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister.

Despite the obvious contradictions, individuals skilled in the abusive art of condemning an entire nation of 300 million people, clearly vent huge amounts of personal anger when it comes to most things related to the United States.

Delivering a lecture on anti-Americanism at the University of Dundee in 2003, Professor Godfrey Hodgson spoke three home truths when he noted, firstly, that much of what passes for anti-Americanism is just plain bad manners: '...anti-Americanism, in the sense of a prejudice, is shameful and unpleasant, just as is prejudice against any national or ethnic group'.


Thirdly, even today, anti-Americanism as it exists in Australia, Europe and elsewhere often 'coexists with an extraordinarily strong pro-American sentiment'. How many people showed up in Berlin to cheer on Barack Obama?

In Australia, one thing that differentiates legitimate criticism of the United States from a general dummy-spit is the willingness to shoulder some measure of personal responsibility. Eighteen years ago I wrote an article titled 'On the Virtues of "Anti-Americanism"' for an Australian magazine.

The theme of the article was simply that, in an asymmetrical relationship such as middle-power Australia enjoys with superpower America, it is wise for the junior partner not to be deluded to the point of dependence by relying on a so-called 'special relationship'.

This was not to suggest that our ANZUS relationship with the US is a pact with the devil. But it was to argue that former Prime Ministers were wrong when they proclaimed that Australians and Americans 'think the same, act the same, and want the same things'.

Today Australia supposedly has a defence policy that stresses 'self-reliance within an alliance context'. I am not the only one to ask if the 'self-reliance' bit in that policy really means anything.

Are we, in fact, capable of creating a more independently minded Australian foreign policy - one in which we identify and act upon our own national interests without assuming, as we do so often, that we share everything in common with the United States? And are we willing to individually and collectively bear the financial responsibility and personal commitment necessary to provide effectively for our own defence?

Rather than grapple with serious questions like that, some find it far easier to fall back on common slurs and amuse themselves with cheap jibes about the 'Septics'. We might more profitably go to work on substantive suggestions for a more independent and independently minded Australian foreign and defence policy.

On occasions when I have thrown out that challenge, the most common response from real die-hard America haters, is to blame our politicians and/or suggest that US imperialism is so comprehensive, clever and lethal that we are all victims of it.

How convenient! A ready excuse to dismiss any positive and constructive independent action on our own behalf. Apparently, there is nothing left for us to do but moan and bitterly blame others.

In his 2004 article O'Connor noted,

"Professed hatred [of the US] generally relies on a series of stereotypes or caricatures that tells one more about the individual or group passing judgement than it does about America. None of this is to suggest that America is always right, honourable or just, but rather I would suggest that the slide into anti-Americanism distinguishes no one.

Prejudiced rhetoric weakens justifiable critiques of America's many faults. At the same time, it hinders the ability to appreciate the promise that America still holds for itself and the world."

A few years ago, while teaching a university course in international politics, I asked a member of the Australian Defence Forces to deliver a guest lecture on the work of the ADF in peace-keeping operations around the world. When he completed an excellent lecture, this young officer was subjected to a barrage of hostile questions from my students about Australia's defence ties with the United States and the 'militarisation' of Australian foreign policy.

He handled all the questions with such cool detachment that, as I walked him to his car, I asked if he wasn't disturbed by some of the student attitudes he had just observed. He smiled and said,

"These young Australians have grown up as beneficiaries of an American shield that has allowed them as individuals to ignore any personal responsibility for the defence of Australia and we, as a nation, to spend much less on defence than if we did not rely so heavily on America for our ultimate security.

But I am confident that if tomorrow we awoke to find an invading force just off our shores, these young people would awake to reality and learn very quickly that all of us, individually, have a stake in the defence of Australia."

Let's hope he was right.

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