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This book sets out to discuss what kind of ´middle power´ Australia is, and whether its identity as a middle power negatively influences its relationship with Asia. It looks at the history of the middle power concept, develops three concepts of middle power status and examines Australia´s relationships with China, Japan and Indonesia as a focus. It argues that Australia is an ´awkward partner´ in its relations with Asia due to both its historical colonial and discriminatory past, as well its current dependence upon the United States for a security alliance. It argues this should be changed by adopting a new middle power concept in Australian foreign policy.

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Allan Patience is a Principal Fellow in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has held chairs in political science and Asian studies in Australia and Japan and visiting academic appointments in China, Taiwan, Burma, and Papua New Guinea.

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