Vaha, Milla (2025) Responsibility and anxiety in the ‘Pacific family’: AUKUS as a source of ontological insecurity. Australian Journal of International Affairs, NA . NA. ISSN 1035-7718
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
In 2021 Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced a trilateral defence partnership (AUKUS) that provided, among other things, Australia access to nuclear-powered submarines. This partnership was received with anxiety by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to whom climate change is considered the single greatest threat over traditional militaristic security. This article analyses AUKUS from the perspective of Ontological Security Studies (OSS) and its analytical concepts of anxiety and ontological (in)security. By looking at the contemporary existential threat of the climate crisis as well as the traumatic history of the Pacific region as a nuclear weapons testing ground, the article contributes to the study of existential threats in the Pacific region. It argues that due to its capabilities and proximity, as well as its self-claimed identity as a member of the ‘Pacific family’, Australia as a party to AUKUS has a responsibility to mitigate the ontological insecurities of its family members.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Divisions: | School of Law and Social Sciences (SoLaSS) |
| Depositing User: | Ms Shalni Sanjana |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Mar 2025 00:13 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2025 00:13 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/14883 |
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