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https://www.smh.com.au/national/new...zealand-s-influence-20190528-p51rzo.html?btis
A new analysis of the comparative power of Asia Pacific nations shows New Zealand’s influence has climbed over the past year due to Jacinda Ardern’s leadership, while Australia’s has flatlined thanks to the revolving door in Canberra.
According to the Lowy Institute’s second annual Asia Power Index, New Zealand’s ability to use its diplomatic influence to achieve its strategic goals has increased because of the relationships with regional leaders Ms Ardern has been able to forge or deepen.
The project’s lead researcher Herve Lemahieu said each of the middle power nations - Malaysia, Vietnam and New Zealand - that had done well in the index had benefited from strong leadership.
“You should never underestimate the capacity of leaders to shape their country and advance their foreign policy interests," he said.
"For New Zealand it is down to Jacinda Ardern, who is ranked fourth among leaders in the region in terms of her ability to advance her country’s interests.
“That contrasts with the Australian position, which ... suffered in our survey of regional experts.”
Nonetheless, both nations benefited from improvements in their economic networks as a result of the rebooted Trans Pacific Partnership, known as the TPP11.
Both are also rated as resilient powers, in part due to their strategic location.
The Asia Power Index is an analytical tool developed to track changes in the distribution of power in the region.
The Index ranks 25 countries and territories in terms of their capacity to influence regional events. The project evaluates state power through 126 indicators across eight thematic measures: military capability and defence networks, economic resources and relationships, diplomatic and cultural influence, as well as resilience and future resources.
According to the analysis Australia remains the seventh most powerful nation in the region, with the United States and China first and second. The index not only ranks nations, but scores them and tracks the movement of those scores.
Over the past year the US lead over China has diminished in large part due to President Donald Trump’s efforts to upend the trading norms and rules that made it so powerful in the first place. This has undermined the US’s network of economic relationships.
By contrast Japan has become a quintessential smart power, according to Mr Lemahieu, able to leverage its limited resources to exert influence due to the effective leadership of Shinzo Abe. The Abe government led the resuscitation of the TPP11 after it was abandoned by Mr Trump, to the benefit of its members and at the expense of the US.
Mr Lemahieu said the findings suggest that Japan is now the leader of the liberal order in the region.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s score advanced so far that it overtook the Philippines.
This advancement was due in part to the way in which its leader, Kim Jong-un, was able to use high-profile talks with Mr Trump to increase his standing and regional authority without ceding North Korea’s nuclear program.
“North Korea has its vulnerabilities, but it has played a weak hand very well,” Mr Lemahieu said.
Considered in zero-sum terms, its gains came at the expense of the US, he said.
A new analysis of the comparative power of Asia Pacific nations shows New Zealand’s influence has climbed over the past year due to Jacinda Ardern’s leadership, while Australia’s has flatlined thanks to the revolving door in Canberra.
According to the Lowy Institute’s second annual Asia Power Index, New Zealand’s ability to use its diplomatic influence to achieve its strategic goals has increased because of the relationships with regional leaders Ms Ardern has been able to forge or deepen.
The project’s lead researcher Herve Lemahieu said each of the middle power nations - Malaysia, Vietnam and New Zealand - that had done well in the index had benefited from strong leadership.
“You should never underestimate the capacity of leaders to shape their country and advance their foreign policy interests," he said.
"For New Zealand it is down to Jacinda Ardern, who is ranked fourth among leaders in the region in terms of her ability to advance her country’s interests.
“That contrasts with the Australian position, which ... suffered in our survey of regional experts.”
Nonetheless, both nations benefited from improvements in their economic networks as a result of the rebooted Trans Pacific Partnership, known as the TPP11.
Both are also rated as resilient powers, in part due to their strategic location.
The Asia Power Index is an analytical tool developed to track changes in the distribution of power in the region.
The Index ranks 25 countries and territories in terms of their capacity to influence regional events. The project evaluates state power through 126 indicators across eight thematic measures: military capability and defence networks, economic resources and relationships, diplomatic and cultural influence, as well as resilience and future resources.
According to the analysis Australia remains the seventh most powerful nation in the region, with the United States and China first and second. The index not only ranks nations, but scores them and tracks the movement of those scores.
Over the past year the US lead over China has diminished in large part due to President Donald Trump’s efforts to upend the trading norms and rules that made it so powerful in the first place. This has undermined the US’s network of economic relationships.
By contrast Japan has become a quintessential smart power, according to Mr Lemahieu, able to leverage its limited resources to exert influence due to the effective leadership of Shinzo Abe. The Abe government led the resuscitation of the TPP11 after it was abandoned by Mr Trump, to the benefit of its members and at the expense of the US.
Mr Lemahieu said the findings suggest that Japan is now the leader of the liberal order in the region.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s score advanced so far that it overtook the Philippines.
This advancement was due in part to the way in which its leader, Kim Jong-un, was able to use high-profile talks with Mr Trump to increase his standing and regional authority without ceding North Korea’s nuclear program.
“North Korea has its vulnerabilities, but it has played a weak hand very well,” Mr Lemahieu said.
Considered in zero-sum terms, its gains came at the expense of the US, he said.
