by Justin Mccauley

Created on: November 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2008

A small fish in a huge pond. How often do we hear that phrase. In terms of Australia's place in the world, it is closer to home than Australian's might think. As a continent it is vast. As a people, it makes up such a small proportion of the world's population and to survive it needs the support of a big brother.

Many people outside of Australia do not realise that this big brown thirsty land did not become a nation in it's own right until the turn of the century and that it did not learn to stand apart from its colonial masters until well into the second world war. The perceived sacrifice by British commanders at Gallipoli of young Australian soldiers planted the seed of doubt in popular society about the value of the relationship with mother England. However it was not until the fall of Singapore and the lack of will and resources to protect Australia from afar that really brought the message home. Australia was wide open to attack from the Japanese and the British could do little to prevent it.

In the aftermath of the war, successive Australian governments realised they needed protection from a superpower and England's demise was palpable. Australia needed someone else to take over the role and the United States became that guardian. Australia, although possessing a superb fighting elite force lacks the numbers and the firepower to protect its assets. America, despite today being fundamentally different in some of its foreign policy options, is the only reasonable choice.

Although devoid of some of the hysterics of American political choices, Australia as a little brother on the world stage is very much a victim of the 'Simon says policy'. Unlike in New Zealand for example which does not depend on the buying power of American multi-nationals for its minerals and assets, Australia does depend very much on a free, although in some cases overtly protectionist, trade policy between the two nations. To lose that special relationship at the political level would mean grave implications at other levels of society.

Perhaps the recent financial crisis will see a certain arrogance left out of the American international process and instead of making a decision and expecting its allies to blindly follow, will slowly abate. Australia has been a victim of this but it is not alone in its error. Many other democratically elected governments have followed the policy-on-the-run dictates set down by the Bush administration without clearly examining the implications. This is why

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