Big Picture, Small Picture

Australia''s population, foreign policy, trade patterns and everyday culture have changed noticeably in ways which reflect closer connections with Asia. To what degree does this new orientation towards Asia reflect the perceptions and attitudes of ‘ordinary'' Australians? There have been claims that Australia''s ‘Anglo-Celtic working class'' has been slow to accept the change or even that it displays active hostility. This is reminiscent of similar claims that the Asia-phobic ‘white Australia policy'' of the past could be explained by the political and industrial strength of the Anglo-Celtic working class. This book investigates the response of Anglo-Celtic working-class Australians to Asia, fitting the ‘small picture'' perspective of ordinary people within the ‘big picture'' of Australia''s national engagement with Asia. It finds that the values of Anglo-Celtic working-class Australians form an important basis for a more open and Asia-friendly sense of what it means to be an Australian. The book will interest readers in cultural studies, Asian and Australian studies, social and community studies, and policy studies.