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By Rooan Al Kalmashi, Y20 National Scholar
Disclaimer: This paper was drafted prior to the recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict and before the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the analysis incorporates insights from the 2023-24 Federal Budget regarding aid allocations. Consequently, some of the recommendations and observations made herein may be affected by these significant geopolitical developments and shifts in policy.
'Despite ending its 20-year military operations in the Middle East, Australia’s diplomatic, defence, and economic equities in the region are now more substantial than when the global war on terror was declared in 2001.' (Shanahan, 2022).
Executive Summary
Australia's involvement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has historically been shaped by its strong alignment with the United States, guided by the principles of liberal internationalism. The belief that transforming fragile states into stable democracies would lead to lasting peace, known as the 'democratic peace' hypothesis, has steered peacebuilding efforts. However, despite significant commitments of resources and personnel, the application of neoliberal approaches, coupled with inadequate 'exit strategies,' has exacerbated tensions and resulted in security vacuums. The failure to achieve set objectives has subsequently diminished Australia's appetite for intervention in the region.
These military engagements have disproportionately harmed women and local communities, leaving them more vulnerable to violence and displacement. To address these challenges, this paper recommends:
Adaptation of the Peace Monitoring Group Model (MPMG): A neutral, multinational group to facilitate peace processes in conflict-affected areas, incorporating lessons from Pacific interventions like the Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) and Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), with a strong focus on regional partnerships and clear exit strategies.
Appointment of a Special Envoy for the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda: To champion gender-inclusive peacebuilding, enhance women's participation in peace processes, and prevent gender-based violence in MENA conflict zones.
The implementation of these recommendations is estimated to cost $45 million over five years, including personnel and programmatic funding for peace monitoring and gender-based initiatives.
Problem Identification
The Australian Position on Peacebuilding
Australia has been deeply engaged in peace operations for over 75 years, both independently and as part of United Nations and multilateral peace and security efforts (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, n.d.). Despite this, there is a notable gap in proactive peacebuilding within Australia’s official discourse. While Australia has committed significant resources to peacekeeping missions, there remains an absence of focus on peacebuilding efforts that address the root causes of conflicts. Unlike peacekeeping, which primarily enforces ceasefires, peacebuilding aims for long-term solutions through support for the UN Peacebuilding Architecture and contributions to the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Australia’s past efforts in the Pacific, such as in Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, have demonstrated the impact of investing in conflict prevention and sustainable peace, but this focus has largely been limited to the Pacific region (Langmore, Miletic, Martin, & Breen, 2020).
Australia continues to spend approximately $100 million annually in the MENA region on military and humanitarian initiatives (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, n.d.). Pivoting even a fraction of these funds towards peacebuilding strategies, such as conflict mediation and gender-inclusive peace processes, could significantly enhance Australia's impact and strengthen regional stability. Given the proven success of peacebuilding in the Pacific and the increasing instability in MENA, this shift in focus would offer a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to Australia's engagement in the region.
Context
Options
Policy Recommendation
Conclusion
References
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