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Title: |
Good International Citizenship |
| Sub-title: |
The Case for Decency |
Search Result:
| By (author): |
Gareth Evans |
| ISBN10-13: |
192246497X : 9781922464972 |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Size: |
175x111mm |
| Pages: |
96 |
| Weight: |
.000 Kg. |
| Published: |
Monash University Publishing - March 2022 |
| List Price: |
13.99 Pounds Sterling |
| Availability: |
In Stock
Qty Available: 1 |
| Subjects: |
International relations |
| Why should we in Australia, or any country, care about poverty, human rights atrocities, health epidemics, environmental catastrophes, weapons proliferation or any other problems afflicting faraway countries, when they donâ t, as is often the case, have any direct or immediate impact on our own safety or prosperity? Gareth Evansâ answer is the approach he adopted when Australiaâ s foreign minister. He argues that to be, and be seen to be, a good international citizenâ a state that cares about other peopleâ s suffering, and does everything reasonably possible to alleviate itâ is both a moral imperative and a matter of hard-headed national interest. The case for decency in conducting our international relations is based both on the reality of our common humanity, and a national interest just as compelling as the traditional duo of security and prosperity. Four key benchmarks matter most in assessing any countryâ s record as a good international citizen: its foreign aid generosity; its response to human rights violations; its reaction to conflict, mass atrocities, and the refugee flows that are so often their aftermath; and its contribution to addressing the global existential threats posed by climate change, pandemics and nuclear war. Measured against them, Australiaâ s overall record has been patchy at best, lamentable at worst, and is presently embarrassingly poor. The better news is that, on all available evidence, the problem lies not with the negative attitudes of our people, but our governments. Those in office might prefer Berthold Brechtâ s solution: â dissolve the people and elect another.â But the right course for the rest of us is to persuade our political leaders, on both moral and national interest grounds, to change their ways, and to vote them out if they donâ t. |
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