What were they thinking? : the politics of ideas in Australia / James Walter with Tod Moore.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Walter, James, 1949-

Contributor:

Moore, Tod.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--Australia--History.

Political science.

Australia--Politics and governrment--History.

Australia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (490 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Sydney : University of New South Wales, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Challenging conventional ways of thinking about politics, this ambitious history of 20th-century Australian political thought explains how several of the most well-established Australian political ideas, such as franchise and the welfare state, came to be. By examining the impact of these ideas and the ways they have inspired individuals and movements from before the first prime minister, Edmund Barton, all the way to current incumbent Kevin Rudd, this robust study makes what often seems arcane or abstract come to life.

Contents:

Cover; About the author; Title; Copyright Page; Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I: The way we live now; 1: A seismic shift?; Part II: Democracy by degrees; 2: 'Really respectable settlers' or 'most furious democrats'?; 3: Defining interests; Part III: The 'new liberal' agenda; 4: A true Commonwealth?; 5: Parallel visions: the settlement in question?; 6: A civic order; Part IV: Reconstructions: policies for prosperity; 7: Building the 'modern' nation; 8: Unintended consequences; Part V: The American songbook; 9: Life is not meant to be easy; 10: A veto on politics

Part VI: Reconsiderations: the way we live now, reprise11: Conclusion: political reasoning and political action; Guide to sources; Notes

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 354-373) and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781742240039

1742240038

9781742232485

1742232485

OCLC:

649915970