Big Picture, Small Picture

Australia s population, foreign policy, trade patterns and everyday culture have changed noticeably in ways which reflect closer connections with Asia. To what degree does this new orientation towards Asia reflect the perceptions and attitudes of ordinary Australians? There have been claims that Australia s Anglo-Celtic working class has been slow to accept the change or even that it displays active hostility. This is reminiscent of similar claims that the Asia-phobic white Australia policy of the past could be explained by the political and industrial strength of the Anglo-Celtic working class. This book investigates the response of Anglo-Celtic working-class Australians to Asia, fitting the small picture perspective of ordinary people within the big picture of Australia s national engagement with Asia. It finds that the values of Anglo-Celtic working-class Australians form an important basis for a more open and Asia-friendly sense of what it means to be an Australian. The book will interest readers in cultural studies, Asian and Australian studies, social and community studies, and policy studies.

Autorentext

Leonie Hardcastle es miembro de la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y del Comportamiento de la Universidad Flinders de Adelaida. Es doctora en Estudios Australianos. Ha publicado sobre inmigración, educación superior y relaciones entre el gobierno y las empresas, y ha impartido clases de estudios asiáticos, relaciones internacionales, políticas públicas, gestión y trabajo social.