Where's Asia? How serious are we about our knowledge of our region?

George Miller

Two recent important publications highlight the different approaches that exist between government and academia on the issue of Australia's relations with Asia. While they differ in style and substance, both publications should be essential reading for those in the library and information profession responsible for the provision of information about the Asian region.

Gerard Henderson has pointed out that even the mention of Asia in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 2003 'White Paper' entitled Advancing the National Interest [1] is in itself quite remarkable. The previous white paper from the Howard government on foreign affairs, published in 1997, played down the importance of Asia as the prime minister sought to distance himself from the policies of the Keating government. The latter had placed a priority on Australia's engagement with the countries of the region. The Howard government now seems to be acknowledging to a minor extent the reality of our geography, while continuing to emphasise that 'Australia's links with the United States are fundamental to our security and prosperity' and that 'functional affinities with countries with which we share specific interests' will be more important. Policies will still be determined 'less in geographic terms' (p.5).

The document talks mostly about 'security' and 'prosperity' in respect of Asia. As one would expect, it is a true reflection of the current Government's free-enterprise, hard-nosed approach to foreign affairs and economics. Confronting terrorism, making the most of business opportunities presented by globalisation and safeguardin our trade and investments are all important issues. Among the ways of enhancing the depth and scope of our relationship within Asia the white paper does list 'educational co-operation' and 'people to people links through tourism and academic interaction' (p.xvi). However, one is disappointed to learn that 'educational co-operation' appears to mean attracting more overseas students, with education being seen simply as an export earner (pp. 13, 75).

The only mention of any tertiary institution is the establishment of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the ANU. Enhancing Australia's language, teaching and research on Asia is only mentioned in terms of the language abilities of recent arrivals (p.13). It presents statistics about Australia's 'highly skilled' workforce but does not discuss the stagnation and decline in Asia-related courses, particularly language courses, at Australian universities, nor does it mention how this will impact negatively on our diplomacy and trade. Information is only mentioned twice: firstly, in respect of intelligence information to combat terrorism and secondly in regard to the benefits of the internet for the rapid dissemination of information.

For those who believe the country's security and prosperity are based on a well-informed and better-educated population rather than on military alliances and business partnerships, the Asian Studies Association of Australia's latest report provides some startling facts relating to the declining pool of teachers, lecturers and researchers on Asia. But it does present practical suggestions for improvement. Maximising Australia's Asia Knowledge: Repositioning and Renewal of a National Asset [2] traces the 1980s growth and current decline of Australia's body of expertise on Asia. Like the DFAT report, it too outlines the challenges facing the country in an era of globalisation, but at the same time presents opportunities that are available if Australia only had the necessary skills required to take advantage of these opportunities.

It quotes Greg Sheridan (The Australian) as saying that government departments are dominated by 'functionalists and generic managers', while what are required are area specialists. While there are now more university subjects available which 'touch on' Asia, specialist subjects about Asia (and language studies) have made little progress or have declined. Those fewer and fewer 'specialists' who remain, increasingly find themselves being approached by staff and students from the generalist courses. The ASAA report sets out a plan for reversing the decline in Australia's knowledge about Asia. This is founded on its main recommendation to the Government for the establishment of a Council for Maximising Australia's Asia Knowledge and Skills (C-MAAKS).

A serious failing of both reports is the absence of any reference to the importance of library or information resources. In the three previous major reports on Asian studies in Australia by Auchmuty (1970), FitzGerald (1980) and Ingleson (1989) at least some attention was given to improving library and information resources. The failure to do so in the present reports may be due, at least in the case of the ASAA report, to the limited financial resources available to the authors, or it may be due to the failure of libraries to make submissions to the review. If the latter be true, it in turn may be part of a decline in the number of area specialist librarians to be found employed in research libraries.

The ASAA report does make mention of the importance of electronic resources and the authors must be commended for recommending the creation of an 'Asia-Australia knowledge portal'. However, they are rather dismissive of what they call 'the old world of print'. This is a curious term for scholars to employ in light of the volume of unique research material from Asian countries which is still produced only in print-on-paper format.

While the two reports address different issues and it is probably inappropriate to compare apples with oranges, one cannot but be struck by the different tone of the two reports. The DFAT report reflects a sense that Asian countries are there to be guarded against, to be traded with for our own benefit and to be dealt with from necessity because we just happen to be neighbours. The ASAA reports has a more positive tone, suggesting that from our proximity with Asia there is much to be gained not only in political and economic terms, but in terms of the contribution an understanding of these countries can make to our humanity and to Australian society.

1. Advancing the National Interest: Australia's Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper. Canberra, 2003. ISBN 0642502293.

2. Maximizing Australia's Asia Knowledge: Repositioning and Renewal of a National Asset. A Report by the Asian Studies Association of Australia, Inc. (Melbourne?) ASAA, 2002. ISBN 0958083703.

A a