College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University

Foreign relations

Jim McCormick traveled to New Zealand this summer to discuss U.S. politics.
You might call New Zealand Jim McCormick's second home.

This summer, for the fourth time, McCormick, professor and chair of the political science department, has ventured to the other side of the world. "I like New Zealand," McCormick said. "It's a wonderful place to visit."

McCormick's journeys to New Zealand aren't all fun and games. On the contrary - each time he has visited the country the political science professor has given numerous presentations. On this visit he gave four - each sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of State and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. On one of his first visits overseas, McCormick spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

This particular trip, McCormick gave the closing address, "Foreign Policy Legacies of the Clinton Administration," at the 35th annual Foreign Policy School Conference held at the University of Otago in Dunedin. "This yearly conference is typically centered around defense and policy issues which affect New Zealand," McCormick said. "They bring in scholars literally from around the world."

His other presentations were given at the University of Auckland, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Command and Staff, and International Pacific College in Palmerston North.

While most Americans would have trouble placing New Zealand on a map, let alone naming any government official, it's exactly the opposite for New Zealand residents.

"I received very positive responses to my presentations," McCormick said. "They're very interested in what will happen in the upcoming Presidential election, particularly now that New Zealand and U.S. relationships aren't the best.

"They are very alert to what is going on in the U.S. They follow American politics and other issues constantly."

The two countries' relations began to waver back in the mid-'80s when New Zealand passed legislation which prohibited ships with nuclear weapons or nuclear-propelled vessels to enter their ports. The U.S. and Great Britain were the two countries primarily affected by the law.

Foreign relations between the U.S. And New Zealand reached such a low that no New Zealand prime minister was received at the White House for an official state visit for over 10 years.

"There is cooperation between the two countries, but not the close relationship that the U.S. has with Australia," McCormick said. "There is unfinished business between the U.S.

And New Zealand and I discussed that unfinished business while I was there."

While New Zealand is fiercely independent on defense issues, McCormick says that New Zealand is deeply tied with the U.S. both economically and socially.

"New Zealand is more Americanized now," he said. "The U.S. is the predominant external influence on the country.

"There is a certain sense of anti-Americanism in New Zealand however," McCormick continued. "They want America around but every now and then, they like to see us taken down a notch or two."