Reconnaissance Man

Professor Hugh White

Rose Khalilizadeh discusses defence policy with Professor Hugh White, Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University.

I became interested in Defence Policy because …

Growing up in the 1960s, with the Vietnam War and the Cold War, defence policy seemed so important to get right, so easy to get wrong, and so intrinsically interesting in the way it combined conceptual, ethical and practical issues. Oh, and [through] my Dad, who worked in the field and quietly convinced me that ordinary people working in government can make a big difference.

I think Australia should …

Think very hard about our place in Asia, if Asia is no longer dominated by an ‘Anglo-Saxon’ naval power. Since 1788, our big allies have (almost) always ruled the Western Pacific, but in the Asian century things may be very different. We have hardly begun to think about how different [things are] and how we should adapt.

Australia’s biggest responsibility in our region is …

To help find a way to ensure that the next forty years in Asia will be as peaceful as the last forty years, and we need to begin by understanding why they might not be.

“Since 1788, our big allies have (almost) always ruled the Western Pacific, but in the Asian century things may be very different. We have hardly begun to think about how different [things are] and how we should adapt.”

I wish I had …

Worked on a fishing boat, taken a posting in Washington, finished my book on defence policy (so I can get on with the next one), pushed harder for Australia to promote a full-scale military peacekeeping force in East Timor in the early months of 1999, not recommended the purchase of the Seasprite helicopters …

The Rudd Government needs to …

Overcome its curious combination of lassitude and timidity, and become more courageous in explaining to Australians the issues we face and the steps we need to take.

Young people should be interested in politics because …

It is so much easier than you think to make a difference, and really help shape Australia’s directions. All you need are good ideas, and the skills to insinuate them into the debate. It’s not as hard as you might expect, and more rewarding than anything else I can imagine.

The toughest choice Australia has to make this year is …

Whether we have the courage to start telling Americans they need to treat China as an equal.

Rose Khalilizadeh is in her fourth year of a combined degree in Arts and Law, majoring in Government and International Relations.