In Search of a Maritime Strategy: The maritime element in Australian defence planning since 1901

This book is the proceedings of a seminar held in Canberra on 20 August 1996. Australia is and always has been a maritime nation. From the earliest days of European settlement, Australians have look t the sea for their protection; initially under the umbrella of the Royal Navy, and then its own navy. Since Federation in 1901, there has bee a continuing struggle to reconcile differing perceptions of threat, competing defence strategies, conflicting force structure priorities and economic and political constraints. This book examines Australia’s search for an effective maritime strategy, providing a succinct overview of changing maritime priorities and the evolution of broader strategic planning.