Quarterly Essay 86: Sleepwalk to War

Australia’s Unthinking Alliance with America

By: Hugh White

Narrated by: Hugh White

In this gripping essay, Hugh White explores Australia’s fateful choice to back America to the hilt and oppose China. What led both sides of politics to align with America so absolutely? Is this a case of sleepwalking to war? What tests might a new government face?

White assesses America’s credibility and commitment, by examining AUKUS, the Quad, Trump and Biden. He discusses what the Ukraine conflict tells us about the future. And he argues that the US can neither contain China nor win a war over Taiwan. So where does this leave our future security and prosperity in Asia? Is there a better way to navigate the disruption caused by China's rise?

This is a powerful and original essay by Australia’s leading strategic thinker.

Hugh White is the author of The China Choice and How to Defend Australia, and the acclaimed Quarterly Essays Power Shift and Without America. He is emeritus professor of strategic studies at ANU and was the principal author of Australia’s Defence White Paper 2000.

©2022 Hugh White (P)2022 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Canberra’s rhetoric helps raise the risk of the worst outcome for Australia: a war between China and America, in which we are likely to be involved. Over the past decade, and without any serious discussion, Australian governments have come to believe that America should go to war with China if necessary to preserve US primacy in Asia, and that Australia should, as a matter of course, go to war with it." (Hugh White, Sleepwalk to War)

Truly terrifying

Out previous Prime Minister was setting the stage for war wirh few voices of dissent

Australia does not need ro join America in a war with China and certainly doee not need nuclear submarines unless it plans to be an active part of that war

Australia does not have enough crew for submarines it already has because being in a submarine is really not much fun

Hopefully the new government will veer away from war but I am not hopeful

Well done Hugh

Hugh lady’s it all out here, the history and the possible futures. It’s a compelling essay, one everyone should partake in.

Foreign Policy Geek Peak for Asia - Love it

Lucid, concise and brutally honest on current state Asia geo politics. Gem of an essay.

incredible information, s

Well researched. great historical data that relates to today's issues
Could be major wakeup call