Imaging Asia: Modes of Engagement and Australian Cosmopolitism

This essay examines the various modes through which Australia has historically imaged Asia, analyzing the interplay between cultural perceptions, political strategies, and economic opportunities. It delves into the concepts of 'absence,' 'threat,' and 'opportunity' as frameworks shaping Australian views of Asia, highlighting how these perspectives have influenced Australia's engagement with the continent. The essay explores how factors like historical discrimination, strategic alliances, and economic globalization have molded these perceptions. Additionally, the essay discusses the concept of cosmopolitism as a means for Australia to foster a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of Asia, while also addressing the challenges posed by pre-existing biases and cultural barriers. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of Asia literacy and the need for Australia to reimagine its relationship with Asia to achieve global relevance.

IMAGING ASIA
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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion of modes of imaging Asia.............................................................................................3
Cosmopolitism as an Australian ay for engaging Asia....................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
Reference list...................................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
Australia had always looked Asia as a versatile land of images and emotions. Also many of them
did not develop the urge to explore Australia profoundly. Knowing a continent is dynamic and
dependant on artifact of its productivity. Most of the time, it is observed that the knowing is
tainted by the elements of social practice (Paez, 2016). This paper discuss about the three modes
of imaging Asia by Australians. However imagination is somewhat dependent on interpretation
that again relies on language. In this paper it will be observed how language acts a social
commodity carrying perceptions of engagement of Australia with Asia by imagining three modes
absence, opportunity and threat.
Discussion of modes of imaging Asia
This section deals with Australia’s perspective for Asia literacy. It will focus on the impact of
pre-understandings of Australia shaping Asia literacy.
Absence Asia: Australia is a diversified country despite of having a strong history of
discrimination and racialism in the integral parts of the country. According to Gauci and
Curwood, (2017) Australia is the last part of the world accommodating higher races that tend to
enhance civilization. As opined by Neuhaus and Thomas, (2017) the absence mode states that
Australians should consider Asia as something more than economic powerhouse. Unfortunately
many children of Australia have not experienced Asia closely for instance, they are not acquired
with the customs and culture of the country. Their knowledge is confined to flags and food
events. According to Halse, (2018) Asia’s absence is reflected in its psychological factor. The
Australians do not consider them as Asians, they put very less effort to mitigate this absence
Threat Asia: After the World War 1, Australia has described Asia as a tiny drop, symbolizing a
dense populated country in world. (Paez, 2016). A few imaginations such as yellow perils,
faceless Asian hordes and arc of instability laid foundation of Australia. USA alliance helped to
represent Asia and china as the two resourceful countries. Australian strategic policy also states
that Australia is likely to become vulnerable if America withdraws itself from East Asia.
Australia will have to rely on Anglo Saxon power of Asia in this respect (Neuhaus and Thomas,
2017). There is culture competency among Asians as many researchers have found out that
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Asian Americans have allegedly reported for receiving poor service quality from their employer.
Various social workers are trying to address the issue. So there are few tools available for
evaluating cultural competency.
Opportunity Asia: This mode is the arguably positive mode that focuses on the opportunities
offered by Asia to Australia. Australians have utilized the opportunity in terms of trading. As per
globalization, Values of Asia are embedded in the Confucian ideology of hard work, authority
and respect. The Asian values were significant for the rise in economy in other countries.
However in during the 19th century Australia agreed that Asia is a source of immeasurable and
illimitable possibilities for business activity of Australia. The theme reached zenith and attracted
most attention that it got published in Asian century white paper (Neuhaus and Thomas, 2017).
The residing prime minister of that era announced Asia as the producer of highest number of
goods. The prime minister identified the insatiable appetite of Asia’s middle class as a big
challenge for Australia.
Cosmopolitism as an Australian ay for engaging Asia
The opportunity of Asia to Australia is considered as a misnomer by many Australians. The
stability guaranteed by America was more supportive. The country along with east acted as a
great support for restoring world peace (Neuhaus and Thomas, 2017). Asia had affirmed
Australia to bring dynamic chance whereas American government simply dismissed the concept
of capitalism during crisis of the country in mid 90’s. Moreover, Australian imaginations always
invite the probabability for scopes of Asia turning it into threat (Bird, 2016). During 20tyh
centaury Asian labors gave alarm to Asia for staying 5 days away from Australia completely
ignored by whites. In 21st century also alarms are raised against Chinese investments in
Australian enterprise (Gauci and Curwood, 2017). The mode of the imaginations represents
orientalist approach through deep-seated convictions. Australia and Asia elaborated the ways of
shaping identity that challenge cultural barriers between the two communities (Neuhaus and
Thomas, 2017). So far the literacy of Asia is insufficient since many researchers have discoursed
detrimental implication in order to build inter-engagements. Interaction between Australia and
Asia are transnational experience living multicultural activities helping to dislodge identity
boundaries and enhance mutual understanding (Halse, 2018).
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Conclusion
As noted from the modes of Australia’s imaginations, Asia literacy and Australian identity has
been regarded as the process of re-imagination. Government of Australia has taken initiatives to
encourage student exchange program for the purpose of endeavoring Asian knowledge and
resources. This approach will restore unity between Asia and Australia migrant communities.
The Asia literacy concept is based on certain vision of the countries that negotiate through trade
and citizenships. Shifting beyond the concept of Asia literacy by eliminating dichotomous
barriers between Australia and Asia is a prosperous chance for Australia to achieve its dreams as
an adaptation of global science and translational perspective.
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Reference list
Bird, M.I., O’Grady, D. and Ulm, S., 2016. Humans, water, and the colonization of
Australia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(41), pp.11477-11482.
Gauci, R. and Curwood, J.S., 2017. Teaching Asia: English pedagogy and Asia literacy within
the Australian curriculum. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, The, 40(3), p.163.
Halse, C., 2018. Looking in from outside: Schools and schooling in Asia from an outside
perspective. In Routledge International Handbook of Schools and Schooling in Asia. Abingdon:
Routledge.
Neuhaus, S.J. and Thomas, D.M., 2017. Multidisciplinary Approach to Treatment: An Australian
Perspective. In Sarcoma (pp. 461-476). Springer, Cham.
Paez, D., Mariani, G., Pascual, T.N.B. and Kashyap, R., 2016. Worldwide Challenges and
Opportunities of Hybrid Imaging: Perspective from the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA). In PET-CT and PET-MRI in Neurology Springer, Cham.
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