Australia under construction : nation-building : past, present and future / edited by John Butcher.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Butcher, John, editor.

Series:

ANZSOG (Series)

Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Federal government--Australia--Congresses.

Federal government.

Politics and culture--Australia--Congresses.

Politics and culture.

Australia--Economic conditions--Congresses.

Australia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 171 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory : ANU Press, 2008.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

text file

Summary:

The Australian nation is a work in progress. So conclude the authors whose views are represented in this most recent offering in the ANZSOG monograph series, Australia Under Construction: Nation-building past, present and future. From its beginnings as a settler society through to present day concerns about 'broadbanding the nation', the nation-building narrative has resonated with Australians. The very idea of nation-building has both excited the popular imagination about what we might achieve as a society and a nation, and has occasioned despair about missed opportunities. The eleven authors contributing to this monograph reflect on these, and other themes from a variety of perspectives. They challenge our understanding of the term 'nation-building', reflect on its contemporary relevance as a framework for public policy and even re-appraise the contribution of past 'iconic' nation-building endeavours. To this subject the authors bring intelligence, wit and a healthy disdain for sacred cows. A stimulating read for anyone interested in the history, challenges and prospects of nation-building in Australia.

Contents:

1. Nation-building in Australia: a discourse, iconic project or tradition of resonance?

2. The unfinished business of nation-building

3. In the wake of economic reform …new prospects for nation-building?

4. The challenge of teaching Australian history

5. A passion for white elephants: some lessons from Australia’s experience of nation building

6. Populate, parch and panic: two centuries of dreaming about nation-building in inland Australia

7. Australia’s fiscal straitjacket

8. The ‘Building Better Cities’ program 1991-96: a nation-building initiative of the Commonwealth Government

9. Stumbling towards nation-building: impediments to progress

10. Broadbanding the nation: lessons from Canada or shortcomings in Australian federalism?

11. Re-imagining the Australian state: political structures and policy strategies.

Notes:

"This monograph arose from the special workshop, 'Nation-building in Australia: Past, Present and Future', offered as part of the Governing by Looking Back conference held at The Australian National University from 12-14 December 2007."

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapter.

CC BY-NC-ND

Description based on: online resource; title from pdf title page (JSTOR, viewed June 3, 2020).

ISBN:

9781921313783

1921313781

OCLC:

236168000

Publisher Number:

10.26530/OAPEN_458814

Access Restriction:

Open access Unrestricted online access