Title
Occupying the "other": Australia and military occupations from Japan to Iraq
Document Type
Edited Book
Publication Date
2009
Abstract
In late 1945, Australia eagerly put up its hand to join the American-led military occupation of war-devastated Japan: the old enemy was still hated, yet the Australian involvement was motivated by ideals of democratic reconstruction rather than retribution. In the age of Iraq, when Australia has again participated in a US occupation of a “rogue” non-Western state humbled in war, it is time to consider troubling questions surrounding the nation’s engagement in contentious overseas occupations. Can Western conceptions of democracy be imposed militarily on other societies? To what extent has Australia’s willingness to support the United States been an expression of independent policy-making or meek acquiescence in the neocolonial imperatives of the global superpower? How do occupations differ? When does “intervention” become “occupation”? To what extent are entrenched cultural attitudes to race and religion a factor in decisions to occupy, and on how these occupations are perceived at home? And how has the Australian media influenced public attitudes to these ventures?
Recommended Citation
de Matos, C. (2009). Occupying the "other": Australia and military occupations from Japan to Iraq. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Comments
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Staff and Students of the University of Notre Dame Australia may access Occupying the "other": Australia and military occupations from Japan to Iraq from St Benedict's Library (Sydney Campus) at 355.033594 OCC 2009
Occupying the "other": Australia and military occupations from Japan to Iraq may be accessed from the publisher here
Occupying the "other": Australia and military occupations from Japan to Iraq may be accessed from the National Library of Australia here