Australia And Communism
Semester One – Assessment Task Number II - Australia and Anti Communism
Fears about communism within and outside of Australia had a significant effect on the pattern of politics through the whole period of Coalition dominance from 1949to the late sixties.
During the 1950’s Australia succumbed to the threat of communism. Fears were reflected through domestic and foreign policies [1] made by the government of Australia in union with other non-communist countries. Australia’s changing attitude towards their responsibility in international wars was reflected in the “forward defense” policy. The threat saw treaties taken out with ally nations. Internal communism also became a threat which saw the government try to pass unconstitutional legislation attempting to ban the communist party and eventually lead to Coalition dominance for two decades.
The threat of communism in the Asia-Pacific region was the grounds upon which the Australian government signed anti-communism treaties with the US. This provided the Australian government justification for a larger role in the fight against communism. These larger roles included actively supporting the US in the Korean and Vietnam War. The two treaties signed were the ANZUS and SEATO Treaties.
An important part of Menzies anti-communism policies was creating a closer link with the US [2]. Closer ties would prevent a communist invasion from the north. This was formalized on September 1951. While the Korean War was raging, Australia, New Zealand and The US signed the ANZUS Treaty. This saw Australia as an ally to the US, against the threat of communism. In return the US gained a secure stake in the Pacific [3].
When the French were defeated by Indochina in 1954 the threat of communism became increasingly strong in South East Asia. There was unrest in Malaya and in Indonesia, and the Korean War had shown China was willing to provide armed support...
View Full Essay