A Space in which “Asia” and “the West” Intersect Sayoko Iizasa 　　　　　The conferring of such a prestigious award as the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize on my book was entirely unexpected, and in fact still seems like a dream to me. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Directors, to the members of the Selection Committee and its Chairperson, Professor Akio Watanabe, and to everyone else involved with the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Foundation. 　　　　　I first commenced the research on which my book is based ten years ago, during an extended period of research in Australia. At that time, I was provided with a warm welcome by Professor Stephen FitzGerald, the Chairman of the Asia-Australia Institute of the University of New South Wales, and a scholar who also served as Australia’s first ambassador to China. Professor FitzGerald believes that Australia is part of Asia, and has worked tirelessly to promote exchanges between Australia and the nations of the region. I believe that his efforts resonate with Prime Minister Ohira’s “Pacific Basin Community Concept”. The opportunity to study Australian views of Asia under Professor FitzGerald’s guidance was a particularly valuable one for me personally, and has had a significant effect on the direction my research has taken. 　　　　　Controversy often erupts in Australia over whether the nation is part of “Asia” or part of “the West.” In the background of these disputes lie the historical fact that the nation was founded by transplanted Europeans and the geographical fact that it is in close proximity to Asia, in addition to the phenomenon of the rapid transition that Australia has made from the era of the White Australia Policy to its present status as a multicultural nation which is also open to migrants from the Asian region. 　　　　　In a situation like this, in which no resolution has been achieved between the claims of “Asia” and “the West,” how has Australia redrawn the “borders” which define who “belongs” to the nation and who does not? My book is an attempt to consider this issue using citizenship as the key concept. It examines policies relating to border control, migrants and refugees, nationality, the indigenous population, citizenship education, and multiculturalism. Against a background of advancing globalization, trends in Australia provide valuable suggestions for Japan and for the other countries of Asia. This award provides me with tremendous encouragement to continue with my research in order to contribute to a greater understanding of Australia’s place in Asia. 　　　　　Thank you again.