EXTERNAL SECURITY

Question

Covid-19 is the greatest challenge posed to the international order in generation. it is possible that the US and UK could be severely weakened by the crisi, while other powers emerge largely unscathed

Given that Australia will always need an external source of security, will Australia ever rely on a non-English speaking country, or group of countries, as its principle security guarantor?

Answer 1

Hello Jessica,

I saw your question before, and here is my attempt to help you begin your essay:

First, you will need to define what is “security”:

Since the prompt does not define or indicate what “security” is, then you could define security as defense, health, political, or even economic. It is up to you. Keep in mind that, pending on how you define security, your essay would need to focus on that definition. For example, if you define security as defense, then you might have to take a military-approach to your essay.

Secondly, you would need to take a position (thesis statement):

Option 1: No, Australia will not need to rely on a non-English speaking country

Option 2: Yes, Australia will need to rely on a non-English speaking country

Next, you would need to explain why. Normally, using three reasons would be enough:

Option 1: No, Australia will not need to rely on a non-English speaking country because….

------ Example of Possible Reasons: Even if the U.S. and U.K. are weakened, they are not weakened to the point of taking an isolationist stance in their foreign policy (if you define security as defense).

Option 2: Yes, Australia will need to rely on a non-English speaking country because ….

------ Example of Possible Reason: Chinese dominance of the Asian economy makes them a critical partner to Australia (if you define security as economic).

This is an example of what a paper could look like:

Introduction

-----why this topic is important.

-----how this topic impacts/or does not impact Australia.

-----your thesis statement. At the end of the thesis statement, you would state your three reasons that you will address to support your thesis statement (e.g., this paper will explore three critical reasons that Australia will/will not require assistance from a non-English speaking country as an external source of security: reason 1, reason 2, and reason 3).

Reason 1 (repeat the same for Reason 2 and Reason 3):

1. Reason 1: Supporting your thesis statement.
2. Example: Use a historical or contemporary example to support your reason.
3. Evidence: Use data (e.g., statistics), quotes, or other quantitative/qualitative evidence to support your claim.
4. Impact: How this impacts the thesis statement. It can be short-term and/or long-term impacts.
5. Why it matters: Reason 1 matters because (the Evidence and Impact you selected) proves your thesis statement true.
6. Transition to the next reason.

Conclusion

- Overview of what you discovered

- Explain why this topic is important for further research

Brainstorming - Here are some questions to think about to help you with your research:

1. Defense: 1) With a contraction in the American economy, and China swiftly recovering their loses, is it possible that China will be able to exponentially modernize their military, which the U.S. puts that in its back-burner?
2. Economics: 1) The current U.S. administration has been on a "tit-for-tat" approach that has led to increase in sanctions - has sanctions impacted economic treaties between the U.S., U.K., China, and other regional economic powerhouses that could negatively/positively influence Australia? 2) Is the Australian economy self-sufficient to the point that it does not depend on extensive economic partnerships to maintain its growth rate?
3. Health: 1) The U.S. Public Health system has faced unprecedented pressure that has led to national crisis - with a high number of confirmed cases, with areas still seeing COVID-19 community transitions, will the U.S. be able to help Australia in an emergency public health crisis or does the U.S. have too much on their plate? 2) The current U.S. administration has announced that the U.S. will stop funding the World Health Organization (WHO), consequently impacting necessary funds to ensure the sustainability of global health projects, as well as research & development - How does cutting fund to the WHO impact Australia's public health sector?
4. Political: 1) The U.S. and Australia have enjoyed a close military alliance. With the U.S. taking a more isolationist and aggressive foreign policy approach, is it possible for China, India, or other non-English speaking countries to increase its influence on Australia? 2) Has Australian foreign policy been hesitant in deepening diplomatic ties with non-democracies in the region?

I hope that this help! Please let me know if you need further assistance!