A study of right-wing movements during Australia's Great Depression. This project studies the social roots of political extremism in Australia and seeks to explain why decent, law-abiding citizens joined organisations like the New Guard which flouted the conventions of liberal, parliamentary democracy. The project will provide historical context for understanding contemporary right-wing political violence. In studying the transformation of a organisation whose initial objectives were civic and h ....A study of right-wing movements during Australia's Great Depression. This project studies the social roots of political extremism in Australia and seeks to explain why decent, law-abiding citizens joined organisations like the New Guard which flouted the conventions of liberal, parliamentary democracy. The project will provide historical context for understanding contemporary right-wing political violence. In studying the transformation of a organisation whose initial objectives were civic and high-minded into a terrorist organisation that contemplated mounting a coup against a democratically elected government, the project will seek to shed light on why 'ordinary people' embraced 'home grown terrorism'.Read moreRead less
Australian politicians and the uses of history: from Federation to the present. While competing interpretations of Australian history occasionally attract controversy, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis, over time, of the significance of histories and history-making for Australian politicians. In taking the longer view of Australian political speech and thought since the Federation, this study will provide a stronger foundation for both political engagement with historical themes and p ....Australian politicians and the uses of history: from Federation to the present. While competing interpretations of Australian history occasionally attract controversy, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis, over time, of the significance of histories and history-making for Australian politicians. In taking the longer view of Australian political speech and thought since the Federation, this study will provide a stronger foundation for both political engagement with historical themes and public appreciation of the continuing role of history in contemporary policy debates. It will add depth to public understanding of political dialogue and how it is informed by national and international histories.Read moreRead less
Gough Whitlam: A Living Democracy. This project will contribute to knowledge of a significant public figure, the former Labor Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, his government and his life after politics. This second volume of the Whitlam biography will complete the definitive, contemporary, biographical study of him. It will create an original store of knowledge through its extensive interviews with key individuals including Gough Whitlam that will augment the Oral History collection held by the Na ....Gough Whitlam: A Living Democracy. This project will contribute to knowledge of a significant public figure, the former Labor Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, his government and his life after politics. This second volume of the Whitlam biography will complete the definitive, contemporary, biographical study of him. It will create an original store of knowledge through its extensive interviews with key individuals including Gough Whitlam that will augment the Oral History collection held by the National Library of Australia. The project will also generate a unique multimedia platform for researchers to access digitized research materials repurposed through the Whitlam section of the Prime Ministers web-site with the National Archives of Australia.Read moreRead less
Australian Public Policy Responses to Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Comparativist and Historical Perspectives. Furnishing the first comprehensive history of Australia's response to refugees and asylum seekers, the project will enhance our understanding of the genealogy of current Australian policy and inform debate in an area of intense concern to policy makers and the general public. The project will put the Australian response into context by comparing it with that of New Zealand and by analysi ....Australian Public Policy Responses to Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Comparativist and Historical Perspectives. Furnishing the first comprehensive history of Australia's response to refugees and asylum seekers, the project will enhance our understanding of the genealogy of current Australian policy and inform debate in an area of intense concern to policy makers and the general public. The project will put the Australian response into context by comparing it with that of New Zealand and by analysing it against the backdrop of the evolution of the international refugee regime.Read moreRead less
Face to Face with Asia: Australia, the Colombo Plan and the Asian Engagement Debate, 1950-1975. This project will be the first comprehensive study of Australia's involvement in the Colombo Plan for aid to South and Southeast Asia. It will examine this involvement as a central part of Australia's engagement with Asia in the postwar period. It will do so under three main headings: Australian foreign policy; cultural diplomacy; and the internationalisation of higher education. The project will be i ....Face to Face with Asia: Australia, the Colombo Plan and the Asian Engagement Debate, 1950-1975. This project will be the first comprehensive study of Australia's involvement in the Colombo Plan for aid to South and Southeast Asia. It will examine this involvement as a central part of Australia's engagement with Asia in the postwar period. It will do so under three main headings: Australian foreign policy; cultural diplomacy; and the internationalisation of higher education. The project will be innovative in bridging the gap between histories of Australian foreign policy and cultural histories of Australian-Asian relations. It will provide an excellent foundation for on-going research into the consequent reconfiguring of our identity as an Asia-Pacific nation.Read moreRead less
The Enigmatic Mr Deakin. A new single volume biography of Alfred Deakin will make this most intriguing and influential of Australia's early Prime Ministers available to contemporary readers (including politicians, policy makers, journalists, teachers, broadcasters, and the politically engaged public). It will re-enliven his place in Australians' political memory and imagination so that knowledge of his achievements and limitations will inform the choices facing contemporary Australia and enlarge ....The Enigmatic Mr Deakin. A new single volume biography of Alfred Deakin will make this most intriguing and influential of Australia's early Prime Ministers available to contemporary readers (including politicians, policy makers, journalists, teachers, broadcasters, and the politically engaged public). It will re-enliven his place in Australians' political memory and imagination so that knowledge of his achievements and limitations will inform the choices facing contemporary Australia and enlarge their understanding of the possibilities of politics. It will also provide the basis for further exploration of his life and influence in other media, such as film, television and radio.Read moreRead less
Gough Whitlam: People, Party, Politics. This project will be the first contemporary, definitive, biographical study of Gough Whitlam. The biography is part of a broader multimedia platform proposed by the project, enabling access to a range of archival materials on Whitlam, family and colleagues, drawing on its unprecedented access to manuscripts, archival material and the subject himself, together with the creation of an extensive Oral History collection. This project provides a unique opportu ....Gough Whitlam: People, Party, Politics. This project will be the first contemporary, definitive, biographical study of Gough Whitlam. The biography is part of a broader multimedia platform proposed by the project, enabling access to a range of archival materials on Whitlam, family and colleagues, drawing on its unprecedented access to manuscripts, archival material and the subject himself, together with the creation of an extensive Oral History collection. This project provides a unique opportunity to examine Australian political and cultural developments in the twentieth century through the life of one of its most significant public figures.Read moreRead less
Australia's post-Second World War reconstruction reassessed, 1941-1949. The project will provide a better understanding of a major phase of Australian history. While there is substantial awareness of the national effort in the Second World War, the magnitude of the commitment to apply the same spirit to secure peace and redeem sacrifice is less widely recognised. This project will assess the substantial innovation in national government to meet augmented expectations and explore the domestic and ....Australia's post-Second World War reconstruction reassessed, 1941-1949. The project will provide a better understanding of a major phase of Australian history. While there is substantial awareness of the national effort in the Second World War, the magnitude of the commitment to apply the same spirit to secure peace and redeem sacrifice is less widely recognised. This project will assess the substantial innovation in national government to meet augmented expectations and explore the domestic and international context of such actions. It will thus enhance awareness of mid-century social, political and cultural transitions, particularly as they relate to issues that continue to shape our national and international experience.Read moreRead less
A study of the scholarship on Indonesia in Australia and its implications for foreign policy. This project explores Australia's scholarly engagement with Indonesia and the impact of disciplinary, political and moral influences on their interpretations and knowledge. The importance of Indonesia for Australia has never been more acute. The impact of instability in Indonesia on Australia's own security and place in the region cannot be understated. It is essential that we have the tools for interpr ....A study of the scholarship on Indonesia in Australia and its implications for foreign policy. This project explores Australia's scholarly engagement with Indonesia and the impact of disciplinary, political and moral influences on their interpretations and knowledge. The importance of Indonesia for Australia has never been more acute. The impact of instability in Indonesia on Australia's own security and place in the region cannot be understated. It is essential that we have the tools for interpreting and understanding cultural, religious and political differences. Australian scholars have a deep and lasting engagement with Indonesia. Investigation of the debates within the field of Indonesian studies will help us to interpret better the perceptions and politics informing our study.Read moreRead less
Graham Berry and the making of colonial democracy. This project offers the first major biography of Graham Berry - Victoria's leading statesman of the nineteenth century. It uses Berry's life and career as a parliamentarian, newspaper proprietor, party-builder, radical orator, and federationist as a means of better understanding the development and significance of Australian colonial democracy.