The origins of this book go back 30 years to the stimulation and interest generated by the political geography seminars led by John House at the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. I was very fortunate to graduate among its extremely capable, sporty and enthusiastic "class of '68" from where several academic geographers emerged. Equally fortunately, some of them and their predecessors had already blazed a trail to undertake graduate studies in Canada. At the University of British Columbia I was supervised at different times by Julian Minghi and Victor Prescott, both of whom are not only extremely capable academics but are also very fine people. lowe an enormous debt to John, Julian and Victor and to the British and Canadian taxpayers who provided financial support for my University studies. In 1974, I began an academic career at the University of Western Australia where I have been ever since, save for a two-year period from 1991-3 as Professor of Australian Studies in the Department ofInternational Relations at the University of Tokyo. Viewing Australia and the Asia-Pacific region from this different perspective within an extremely supportive Japanese environment had a profound impact. I am especially grateful for the support provided by so many Japanese academic colleagues and friends beginning as early as 1976. Three individuals deserve special mention for their help, guidance and enduring friendship - George Ohshima, Hiroshi Tanabe and Akihiro Kinda.

Zusammenfassung
In 1974, I began an academic career at the University of Western Australia where I have been ever since, save for a two-year period from 1991-3 as Professor of Australian Studies in the Department of International Relations at the University of Tokyo.

Inhalt
1 Introduction: Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.- I: The Structure of the Asia-Pacific Region.- 2 Australia, the Asia-Pacific and global geopolitical change.- 3 Geopolitical challenges in the Asia-Pacific.- 4 The new regionalism in the Asia-Pacific.- 5 The Asia-Pacific: social and economic structure.- 6 ASEAN: a key Asia-Pacific building block.- 7 Human rights questions in the Asia-Pacific.- 8 Ethnicity, state policy and political stability.- 9 Political boundary issues in the Asia-Pacific.- II: Australia's Regional Linkages.- 10 Economic links: minerals and trade.- 11 Social links: images, invisibles and immigration.- 12 Regional security relations.- 13 Australia's aid front.- 14 Environmental security: the Asia-Pacific and Australia.- 15 The geopolitics of Australia-Japan relations.- 16 Developing the 'fourth front'.- 17 Towards Australasia?.- 18 The new geopolitics, Australia and the Asia-Pacific future.- Appendices.- 1 The Human Development Index.- 2 Population Data.- 3 Economic Data.- 4 Social Development.- 5 Economic Linkages 1990.- 6 Human Rights Instruments 1997.- 7 Australian ODA and Human Development.- 8 Indicators of Environmental Threat.- 9 Environmental Treaties 1998.- 10 States of the Indian Ocean Region.- Useful Web Addresses.