To what extent has the Hawke Labor government's relationship with Indonesia been shaped by the East Timor question?

How has the Hawke government interpreted its human rights policy to effect the changing relationship?

Abstract

This paper examines the Australian-Indonesian relationship since the election of the Hawke Labor government in Australia in 1983, using Keohane and Nye's concept of complex interdependency as a framework for political analysis.1 The focus is on the bilateral relationship with regard to East Timor, an issue which is inextricably linked to human rights. Therefore, the paper also seeks to relate the bilateral relationship to broader international relations through human rights regimes. The paper examines the Australian- Indonesian relationship and places it on the complex interdependency continuum, it determines how East Timor has shaped the phases of the relationship since 1983, and finally it examines how the Hawke government has interpreted its human rights policy to accomodate the Indonesian government in an effort to improve bilateral relations.

Note: Abstract -- "accomodate" was a typographical error from original text.

Date of Award	1991
Original language	English