Abstract

Australia’s history since European settlement has been significantly shaped by the complexities of its relations with its neighbours in Asia and the Pacific. How Australia has perceived and navigated the great differences in culture, history and in many cases, development with its neighbours has been a defining influence on it as a society. This lecture will explore the history and evolution of Australian perceptions of and policies toward its neighbours, as well as how Asian and Pacific countries and organisations have responded to Australia’s interactions with them.

About the Speaker

Michael Wesley as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global, Culture and Engagement at the University of Melbourne, provides leadership across the University, with overall responsibility for strategic guidance and expert advice on internationalisation and global engagement.

He is also Professor of Politics at the University of Melbourne. His research and writing focuses on Australian foreign policy and international affairs of Asia and the Pacific.

Before joining the University of Melbourne, he was Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. He also held positions as the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University, and Assistant Director-General for Transnational Issues at the Office of National Assessments. He has a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews.