This book examines three alliances to determine the lessons learned that can apply to a possible future expansion of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The study
concludes there are three conditions necessary for the FPDA to endure: whether states in the alliance are democracies, whether democratically elected civilians control the military, and whether the alliance is based on an initial threat plus a common culture and history. Furthermore, whilst the FPDA does not currently have an integrated military
command structure (IMCS), the evidence from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) suggests that if the FPDA were to grow in terms of mission set and member states, then an IMCS would be more important than it has been in the past. Therefore, an IMCS warrants re-examining as the FPDA operates in the evolving security environment of Southeast Asia.
To determine the lessons to apply to the FPDA, I analyse the enduring NATO, the failed SEATO and the conditions present in the FPDA. The book further studies Asia today and determines that favourable conditions exist for FPDA expansion. By learning lessons that contributed to alliance endurance, expansion or failure, Australia can wisely invest its aid and assistance money in the region, to ensure its sphere of influence is maintained and expanded in the evolving security environment. As threats within the Southeast Asian region change, so too must the purpose, size and area in which alliances operate to ensure they facilitate the best possible outcome for the nations involved. This book attempts to provide such guidance, primarily to the Australian Government as it looks to navigate the stormy seas in the Southeast Asian region.
