
Quarterly Essay 86: Sleepwalk to War
Australia’s Unthinking Alliance with America
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Narrated by:
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Hugh White
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By:
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Hugh White
About this listen
In this gripping essay, Hugh White explores Australia’s fateful choice to back America to the hilt and oppose China. What led both sides of politics to align with America so absolutely? Is this a case of sleepwalking to war? What tests might a new government face?
White assesses America’s credibility and commitment, by examining AUKUS, the Quad, Trump and Biden. He discusses what the Ukraine conflict tells us about the future. And he argues that the US can neither contain China nor win a war over Taiwan. So where does this leave our future security and prosperity in Asia? Is there a better way to navigate the disruption caused by China's rise?
This is a powerful and original essay by Australia’s leading strategic thinker.
Hugh White is the author of The China Choice and How to Defend Australia, and the acclaimed Quarterly Essays Power Shift and Without America. He is emeritus professor of strategic studies at ANU and was the principal author of Australia’s Defence White Paper 2000.
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Critic reviews
"Canberra’s rhetoric helps raise the risk of the worst outcome for Australia: a war between China and America, in which we are likely to be involved. Over the past decade, and without any serious discussion, Australian governments have come to believe that America should go to war with China if necessary to preserve US primacy in Asia, and that Australia should, as a matter of course, go to war with it." (Hugh White, Sleepwalk to War)
What listeners say about Quarterly Essay 86: Sleepwalk to War
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- steveandtoni
- 11-04-22
Truly terrifying
Out previous Prime Minister was setting the stage for war wirh few voices of dissent
Australia does not need ro join America in a war with China and certainly doee not need nuclear submarines unless it plans to be an active part of that war
Australia does not have enough crew for submarines it already has because being in a submarine is really not much fun
Hopefully the new government will veer away from war but I am not hopeful
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- Mark Kelly
- 08-14-22
Well done Hugh
Hugh lady’s it all out here, the history and the possible futures. It’s a compelling essay, one everyone should partake in.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-11-22
Foreign Policy Geek Peak for Asia - Love it
Lucid, concise and brutally honest on current state Asia geo politics. Gem of an essay.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-14-22
incredible information, s
Well researched. great historical data that relates to today's issues
Could be major wakeup call
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