The development of Australia's navy has been a vital factor in its history and evolution as a nation in the century since Federation. Australia has a maritime environment and its national interests stretch far beyond its coastline.

Southern Trident examines the influences on the rise of Australian naval power and discusses current international and strategic issues in the light of history. The authors show how the creation of the Australian navy was no simple display of nationalism, but rather the culmination of various complex and often revolutionary developments in such areas as politics, diplomacy, strategy, economic relations and technology in the Asia-Pacific region and far beyond.

This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Australian history, of naval issues and of international and strategic studies as well as to the general reader.