51st State?

As Australia and the United States grow closer economically and militarily, Dennis Altman, one of the most respected commentators on the U.S.-Australian relationship, questions the success of the cooperation between the two nations. While many Australians see the growing relationship as a threat to their country's sovereignty, Altman challenges this consensus, showing that the resilience of the Australian identity is hindering the application of the United States's neo-liberal principles. Elegant and succinct, this well-grounded reflection confronts the opinion that Australia is fast on its way to becoming essentially an American state, and examines the deeper questions of international exchange, such as what the model is for national success and how Australians imagine their own future.